Road safety hip-hop video and heart-wrenching scenes take out short film competition

11 Dec 2012

A hip-hop video video and a short film with an emotional twist are the winners of the Make a Film, Make a Difference Film (MAFMAD) competition for 2012.

The MAFMAD competition is run by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) to encourage young people to keep their mates safe on the roads.

The two young filmmakers, Jonathan Burton, 24 and Jordan Weizman, 25, have created two very different short films to top the competition this year.

With their films to screen at cinemas, on MTV, Channel 11 and across online channels, the young men’s work will be seen by many of their peers.

Both films address the theme ‘a party in the car’, with research showing that young people are easily distracted and tempted to take risks, especially when travelling with a few passengers.

Jordan Weizman’s hip-hop video The Deso takes a humorous look at designated drivers.

Mr Weizman said he hoped the music video would make it easier to make responsible decisions when amongst friends on a night out.

Taking a more emotive approach, Jonathon Burton’s film Yes Mum is a heart-wrenching phone call from a young man to his mother.

Mr Burton said the young man is the driver and that a sad twist is revealed at the end of the film.

“It highlights the devastating consequences of dangerous driving and will remind people that when driving you actually have people’s lives in your hands,” Burton said.

MAFMAD is in its tenth year of encouraging young people to share road safety messages through film.

The films will be shown at cinemas, on television, at www.mafmad.com.au and the MAFMAD facebook page.

The TAC encourages Victorians to share these films with the young people in your life and remind them to keep safe as they enjoy the festive season.

Young people heading to music festivals will see the films on Vanessa, the TAC’s big orange party bus, offering festival goers safe driving tips, breath tests, free water and a chill out zone. Vanessa is visiting more than 30 youth events over summer.

Behind the scenes