Satirical road safety remix and film classic take out short film competition

20 Dec 2013

An alternative take on road trauma and a classic film with a drink drive spin are the winners of the Make a Film, Make a Difference Film (MAFMAD) competition for 2013.

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, Jack Clark, 23 and Maddy Cheyne, 20, have created two very different short films to top the competition this year.

Both films address the theme 'your mate's life is in your hands', with research showing that young people are easily distracted and tempted to take risks, especially when travelling with a few passengers.

Jack Clark's satirical video, 'I Should've Said Something', takes a look at car accidents through the eyes of the fictitious DJ Casualty, who samples audio from crashes to use for songs.

"MAFMAD has allowed me to not only direct a short film, but to hopefully send a valuable message to young drivers that once you're in a car with your friends, it's everyone's responsibility to get to their destination safely," Mr Clark said.

"The film, I hope, will lead to friends or mates sharing it among each other on social networks and speaking up while in a car." 

Inspired by one of her favourite films, Maddy Cheyne brought the road safety message to The Wizard of Oz, creating 'No Place Like Home Safe' in her hometown, Warrnambool.

"By using an iconic film with characters that everyone recognises and placing them in a situation a lot of people have found themselves in – whether to drive after drinking on a night out – I thought it was an effective way to connect to the audience," Ms Cheyne said. 

Their work will be seen by many of their young peers at cinemas, online channels and on the TAC's big orange party bus, Vanessa, which attends more than 20 youth events across summer.

These include the state's major music festivals such as Falls and Big Day Out, where Vanessa offers safe driving tips, breath tests, free water and a chill out zone.

MAFMAD has encouraged young people to tell their road safety stories through film for a decade.

Educating young people likely to take risks when driving is a key action in the Victorian Government's Road Safety Strategy 2013-2022. Find out more at www.roadsafety.vic.gov.au.

For more information contact Nick Price on 0439 433 847.

Pictured below: Filming for No Place Like Home Safe in Warnambool (top) and I Should Have Said Something (below).