Tackling hate crime on film (From Warrington Guardian)

Penketh High School tackles hate crime on film

3:09pm Thursday 5th April 2012 in News

A SHORT film highlighting the dangers of hate crime is the latest big screen project at Penketh High School.

The Heath Road school has been commissioned by the children and young peoples services and adult social care team to produce a DVD to tackle the issue.

Written by sisters Lucy, aged 23, and Leanne Adams, aged 26, the film called No Hate was put together with the help of the school’s Red Rose Media production company.

Jonathon Kay, director and head of production, said: “The film was lots of fun to make and at the same time delivers a strong message about the effects of hate crime.

“The film deals with three storylines that all connect with each main character either becoming a victim of hate crime or commiting an act of hate ranging from verbal to physical abuse.

“We explore issues of disability, race and homophobia and it is quite hard hitting at times, we didn’t want to hold back.”

Pinaki Goshal, assistant director of children and young people’s services, said the school was commissioned to make the film after seeing them produce other work of a ‘high quality’.

It is hoped the film will be distributed to other schools following a premiere at the Odeon cinema in Westbrook.