#NoStigma a film produced by Forth Valley College Media students will be highly commended at this year’s Safety Group UK (SGUK) awards.
As it is not yet finished – the Grangemouth Contractors Safety Alliance (GCSA) commissioned film is due to be premiered at INEOS on Friday 22 February - it could not receive a full award, but the GCSA will receive a certificate at a ceremony at the House of Lords on Monday 28 January.
A spokesperson for the SGUK said: “The judges were very impressed with the calibre of entries and this submission stood out as one that was highly commended. The video that you are in the process of developing shows innovative thinking and approaches to its production. This is an important subject matter and worthy of the recognition we are providing today.”
Creative Industries lecturer Fiona Milligan Rennie, who has been working closely with the students on this project, said: “I’m delighted to learn that our project with GCSA, to raise awareness of mental health in the contracting industries, has been recognised by the Safety Alliance UK as an innovation. The experience has been exceptional for our students as it has engaged them in working within a real life industry context with a high profile client.”
Media students from Forth Valley College were commissioned to make the film to help raise awareness of mental illness and reduce accidents at the Grangemouth refinery.
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.