A stunned silence for crash 'movie'

1:07pm Wednesday 28th November 2007

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STUNNED silence. That was the reaction of youngsters at a York school when The Press' Live Now, Drive Later film was shown publicly for the first time.

Year 10 pupils at Archbishop Holgate's School were the first in York to see the 13-minute film, which was produced in the wake of an horrific accident in which two boys from the school were killed after taking a car.

It was shown yesterday as part of an Impact roadshow, which was taken to the school by police and firefighters in a bid to deter joy-riding and other car crimes and will be going to every other secondary school in York over the coming year.

Fire service community safety officer Debbie Gore said the roadshow normally ended with youngsters chattering among themselves.

"This time there's just been a stunned silence," she said. "I think it's still sinking in.

"The DVD will make them think twice. I think it's absolutely fantastic, and it will definitely be part of the roadshow from now on."

Head of year Julian Hird said the film was "very hard-hitting," adding: "The stunned silence at the end said it all. If this doesn't have an effect, it's very hard to think what will."

PC Anna Tyldesley said the film was "very impactful."

The Press's campaign was launched earlier this year after an inquest heard how two 15-year-old boys, Joel Corner and Daniel Wright, and Press van driver Peter Alexander, were all killed in a head-on crash in Stockton Lane, York, last year.

The smash happened after Joel had taken his father's Audi car without permission and set off on a high-speed ride.

A young relative of Mr Alexander was in one of the audiences watching the film yesterday, having been warned beforehand of the grim subject matter.

The film includes interviews with people directly affected by the consequences of joyriding, including Joel's parents, Lee and Joanne, and Peter's son, Stuart.

But it also features a fictional dramatisation, exploring what can happen when a young man - below the legal driving age - illegally gets behind the wheel of a car.

It shows how a teenager, played by 16-year-old actor Matt McGale of Copmanthorpe, takes his parents' car and then crashes it, suffering horrific injuries.

The teenager who had everything - looks, talent and a future - has lost everything, including his girlfriend, after falling victim to temptation and going on a joy ride.

The film was made by award-winning director Christopher David, of Flash Frame Productions, a York-based film and video production company, helped by almost 40 people from across the York area. For further details of Flash Frame, go to www.flashrender.com

Pupils filled in questionnaires after seeing the film. These are some of their comments

* "The video showed how easy it is to make a big mistake."* "It scared you. The video was horrible. It was effective."* "It had a massive impression on me and it showed what can really happen in situations like this."* "It was really good because it makes you realise how serious car accidents are."

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