Quiet Storm unveils first fruit of 'Create Not Hate' initiative

by Staff, Brand Republic 21-Aug-08, 15:45

LONDON - Quiet Storm has unveiled the results of the first project under its 'Create Not Hate' scheme, which encourages young people to pursue creative careers rather than become part of a gang.

The agency, founded by Trevor Robinson, started the initiative last year and has this year been running a competition in Lambeth, near where Robinson grew up, under the banner 'Tackling Gun Crime Creatively'.

This involved running creative workshops at the Lambeth Academy high school, which is near where the teenager Billy Cox was shot dead last year.

After a selection process that started with more than 100 teenagers, 15-year-olds Jaron Williams and Alimur Rhaman had their script, 'A Mother's Tear', chosen as the winning entry. It explores the impact that the death of a teenage boy has on a mother.

The script has now been made into a short film, directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Dennis Gyamfi -- also from South London. It can be viewed at the createnothate.org website, and will also be shown at Pearl & Dean cinemas and by MTV at a later date.

Quiet Storm is hoping that other creative people will get involved in the campaign. Projects already in the pipeline include the creation of a new hoodie in a colour that will not be 'owned' by any gang; and architect mentors who will work with kids to redesign estates and make them less vulnerable to crime.

The agency has worked on projects for Crimestoppers in the past and created campaigns to raise awareness about human trafficking.