Young Warrnambool woman a winner in TAC short film competition

06 Aug 2013

A young Western Victorian has become the first from a regional area of the state to win the TAC's Make a Film, Make a Difference (MAFMAD) competition.

Warrnambool's Maddy Cheyne, along with Jack Clark from Scoresby, were announced as the two winners.

"I congratulate Maddy and Jack for their excellent short film ideas about looking after their mates on the road, which were the best from more than 450 entries," TAC Chief Executive Janet Dore said.

Initially selected among the top 8 finalists, the pair has spent the last two weeks refining their ideas into a film script.

Now they've won a $25,000 film production budget and the support of mentors to spend the next few months creating their film.

Ms Dore said the finished product would be launched before Christmas and be shown on television, in cinemas, online and at music festivals over summer.

"Young drivers make up more than a quarter of all drivers killed in Victoria, yet this age group represents only about 12 per cent of all Victorian licence holders," Ms Dore said.

"We know that for young people, messages from mates resonate more than messages coming from authorities, and that is what MAFMAD is all about.

"Continuing to improve the safety of young drivers is a key action in the Victorian Government's 10 year road safety strategy, which can be found at www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au," Ms Dore said.

Maddy's idea, No Place Like Home Safe, draws on the Wizard of Oz film for inspiration. The main character must make a choice about how to find her way home.

Jack's idea, Wilhelm Scream, focuses on a Melbourne artist creating electronic songs, sampling sounds pulled from motor accidents.

Twenty-eight Victorians aged 18-25 have been killed on the roads this year so far, compared to 37 at the same time last year.

Find out more about MAFMAD at www.mafmad.com.au or www.facebook.com/mafmad

For more information contact Nick Price on 0439 433 847