We are launching I Don't care today a week ahead of Down Syndrome awareness day on the 21 March 2016. I Don't Care is a short film written and directed by a close friend of mine, Carolina Giammetta, produced by Spool Films and commissioned by Film London. Starring Billie-Jo Bailey, Andrea Lowe, Jo Hartley and Cavan Clerkin.
The film takes it's name and inspiration from a project I did on Billie-Jo in 2011, which you can see here. Being involved was an amazing experience and who knew Billie could act!!
I'll let Carolina's words tell you more....
Ollie, a young ‘mum to be’ faces her worst nightmare, the possibility of having a child with Down’s Syndrome. She takes on a gardening job and develops a friendship with a family, which includes 12 year old Jacques. An incident where Ollie is left alone with Jacques, challenges her ability to deal with difference.
I was inspired by an amazing photographic exhibition, Shifting Perspectives (http://shiftingperspectives.org ) I went to see it when my friend had a baby with Down Syndrome as I wanted to understand it more. As a mother who had feared having a child with Down Syndrome, it totally transformed the way I felt and I wanted to make a film that may help change new parents perspective of it. I worked with the curators of the exhibition and cast their daughter Billie-Jo Bailey, who had never acted before, to play the lead. The film also stars Andrea Lowe ( DCI Banks) Jo Hartley ( This is England, The Mimic) Cavan Clerkin (Eastenders, Pulling, Babylon)
It's been selected for many renowned International Film Festivals, won awards, toured America and Europe and has changed peoples perspectives and lives around the world. It will soon be used for various training programmes to educate new mothers to be.
GOING ONLINE FROM TODAY! A week ahead of World Down Syndrome Day 21ST MARCH 2016
I DON'T CARE ( Commissioned by Film London)
If you're interested in the behind the scenes chat here's a link:
I DON’T CARE Behind the Scenes
We really want this film to travel far and wide and spread the message, that even though having a child with a disability is a path most new parents will not have expected, it is still an amazing and rewarding experience.
Please share this with as many people as you can. Thanks xxx