Alex Tweddle sent a message to Greg Brown that said:
Dear Sir,
It takes years to build a life on this planet, but the world loses one every forty seconds to suicide, according to the World Health Organisation.
Of course, behind every loss is a story that should be told.
My name is Alex Tweddle, I am a producer and director, I am currently in the process of developing one such story as a new short film that focuses on male mental health. It's a project called 'Reunion' and is a drama that confronts the interface of masculinity, male roles and mental health issues, sibling relationships and the pressures of living at the fringes of contemporary society.
For over 20 years I have been making what industry colleagues describe as exciting, innovative, high quality films. My work is often daring: edgy, distinctive filmmaking that pushes boundaries both in subject matter and content. I am always drawn to films that not only entertain but also inform and give us a different perspective on life, society and even ourselves.
I am collaborating with Dr Arthur Cassidy, a chartered psychologist with specialism in mental health and suicide. He is a consultant psychologist in residence at his charity the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention programme. His charity is made up of unpaid volunteers who work with depressed individuals, mainly young to middle age men with suicidal depression and anxiety.
I will be supporting Arthurâs vital work by holding specially coordinated screenings and support events. We hope by collaborating we can develop similar programmes that can rolled-out across the United Kingdom, saving thousands of young menâs lives on a daily basis.
To date weâve had some very positive feedback on the script, so I am confident it will also be accepted at major film festivals and have some good publicity around it. It will have an original score composed by Philip Selway from Radiohead and we have Karol Griffiths who has worked with the Coen Brothers etc. providing script consultancy and Sharon Howard-Field will be our casting director.
I would like to reach out to you to see if you could assist with this project?
I would be more than happy to send you the script and business and financial plan if it would be f interest.
More info can also be found at http://www.reunionfilm.co.uk
Many thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.
With best wishes
Alex
