May 2008

Met Film School Tutor Rebecca Johnson's production company Fierce Productions have won Best Drama for their film Fast Break at the First Light Awards.

At a time when gang violence in South London is dominating the headlines, Fast Break has garnered high praise for its a treatment of the issue of young people carrying weapons.

Fast Break tells the story of two basketball-obsessed brothers whose future is thrown into doubt when one of them is caught with a knife. The film addresses the consequences of carrying weapons not only for those who do but for the people in their lives. "Fast Break worked so well on an emotional level - I was totally engaged in the story" enthused Rebecca O'Brien, producer of last year's Ken Loach-directed Palm D'Or winner The Wind That Shakes the Barley and one of the Awards judges.

Fast Break was made with a group of fifteen 13-15 year olds from Battersea Technology College together with Brixton-based production company Fierce Productions. The film was created over a week in the Easter holidays last year, during which the young people devised the story and learned how to use the film equipment.

Danielle Johnson, 15, one of the film's stars who collected her award from members of the cast of Harry Potter, said "Working on the film was brilliant but I never expected it to lead to all this!"

"All this" has included not only the star-studded awards ceremony but an appearance on yesterday's Richard and Judy and a reception for the nominees at 11 Downing Street hosted by Gordon Brown.

Fierce Productions are a not-for-profit production company bringing together director and producer Rebecca Johnson and Victoria Lorkin-Lange. Fierce are currently in pre-production on She Got Game, a coming-of-age story that views gang culture from a girl's perspective and their most ambitious film to date.

As for the Fast Break filmmakers, they too are moving on up. Danielle has just got into the BRITS performing arts school (graduates include Amy Winehouse and Katie Melua) and has promised new friends Richard and Judy she'll give them an exclusive when she's plugging her next project.

Fast Break and Fierce Productions have been supported by the Lottery through the UK Film Council's First Light Movies initiative.

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Laura Morgan

(Part-Time Producing) produced theatre at university and wanted to move into film/TV after graduation. She took our course to learn more about the industry. "I had my heart set on being a producer but this course opened my eyes to alternatives, like marketing." Through the knowledge gained on our producing course Laura gained a role in marketing for Universal Pictures!