Fantastic turn-out for the We Need To Talk About Masculinity film premiere. We had a packed hall, and a big thanks to everyone who came: the local police, NHS experts, Youth Justice, Street Teams, Walsall Council, friends and family of the participants, the Mayor and, of course, the staff and students of Aldridge School who’d all been involved in helping the film come into being and making it a success.
Speeches from the students tugged at the heart of the Catcher crew and everyone else. Harry (right), one of the students said, “I would have to argue that being involved (in the film) was probably one of the most interesting and fascinating experiences during my time at Aldridge School from start to end.(…) As a young man I have found the topic extremely useful, and I feel I can use this experience and what I have learnt to my advantage when I become a man. (…) I feel it will make young male teenagers listen and start to understand the stereotypical views that are put on men in today’s society”.
In his own speech to the audience, Christian, who played the male protagonist in the film (and is onscreen left), added, “What does it mean to be a real man? Muscles, being controlling or being yourself and respecting others?” In his summing up Christian echoed the ending fo the film when he said, “(…) I think the film really shows who you shouldn’t be but it also shows who you are supposed to be: you should always be yourself.”
We’ve had some great feedback from health experts, and the film and accompanying resources are now available on www.EasySRE.net.
“Its a great resource!! Very impressive, it allows for lots of different avenues of discussion and debate for pupils to follow as led by a professional from various different agencies involved with that age group. I could imagine the film being used all over the country in schools for PSHE lessons and debates in tutor time etc. Very thought provoking generally!” Richard Knight (Headteacher) from Amberleigh Therapeutic School, Welshpool.