#NoStigma a film produced by Forth Valley College Media students has been received very positively at a preview screening held at The Engine Shed auditorium in Stirling on Tueasday 19 February.
The film, which was recently highly commended at this year’s Safety Group UK (SGUK) awards, was commissioned by the Grangemouth Contractors Safety Alliance (GCSA) and is due to be officially premiered at INEOS on Friday 22 February.
Media students from Forth Valley College made the film to help raise awareness of mental illness and reduce accidents at the Grangemouth refinery. Several of those who worked on the film, along with other several students from other FVC Creative Industries courses and industry professionals, attended the sneak preview.
The GCSA - a committee of Senior Contractor Managers and HSE professionals who are committed to reducing injuries, accidents and environmental impacts, and ensuring both companies’ and legislative compliance within and beyond the Grangemouth complex – entrusted a team of FVC students with directing, producing, scripting, casting, filming and editing the short film.
Titled ‘#NoStigma’ the film aims to highlight the need for openness in discussing and addressing mental health issues in the workplace. It features professional actors Duncan Rennie and Lauren McCusker, along with cast from both GCSA and FVC and was shot over two days in November 2018.
Professional TV Director/Producer Craig Collinson also agreed to mentor and advise the student team involved throughout the creative filming process.
The film centres around Adam, a construction worker at INEOS. Adam is experiencing challenges with his mental health however he appears unwilling to seek or accept help. The film will follow Adam through his day as he wrestles with the feelings he is experiencing while trying to pretend everything is alright. While his colleagues are aware that something is amiss, they initially seem unwilling to help. The film uses imagery to convey its messages with little dialogue.