Tenants have made a movie about a family hounded by loan sharks after falling into debt – but it has a happy ending.
They helped produce, write, act, and edit a DVD with a message which will help tenants all over North Wales.
The film will be premiered at the Scala Cinema, in Prestatyn, at 11am on Friday, May 27, in front of 150 invited guests.
The audience will include AMs, MPs, councillors and representatives of housing associations and other agencies.
Also among those being given the red carpet treatment will be one of the film’s stars, 80-year-old Leo Farrell, from Kinmel Bay.
The DVD is part of a joint initiative, My Home – Making Every Penny Count, funded by the six housing associations in North and Mid Wales – Cartrefi Conwy, Clwyd Alyn Housing Association, Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd, Cymdeithas Tai Eryri, North Wales Housing, the Wales and West Housing Association and the Wales Co-op Financial Inclusion Champion.
The handy money saving tips and budgeting advice in the DVD have also been included in the booklet which is given out to every new tenant.
Leo plays the grandfather in the family which follows the guidelines in the booklet and stays out of debt.
“I am a tenant of Clwyd Alyn Housing Association and do voluntary work for them,” said Leo, a father-of-two and the retired manager of the White Rose shopping centre in Rhyl.
“I did a media course some years ago and was asked if I would like to take part.
“About 15 of us worked on turning the booklet into a DVD. When I did my media course it was razor blades and tapes, not digital!
“I found the whole project really interesting and enjoyable. I describe myself as a geriatric teenager who tries to keep his mind and body active.
“Everyone seems to be pleased with the finished video, it includes moments of comedy and pathos,” said Leo who also does voluntary work for Conwy Countryside Service and St John Ambulance.
Owen Veldhuizen, Cartrefi Conwy’s Senior Tenant Engagement Officer,
explained: “The aim of the booklet is to give new tenants guidance on getting the most out of their money, whether it was how to get the best electricity deals, buying second hand furniture, paying rent and keeping out of debt and not using loan sharks.
“But we realised that some people would prefer to watch a DVD with the same message.
“We asked tenants to come up with the ideas, write it and act in it as well as film and edit the whole thing, in all it took 12 weeks. It’s the story of two families, one which uses the information wisely and another which does not.
“The family which fails to take advice goes to a fictional organisation which decks out their house with all the latest gadgets and furniture but then of course the bills come in, with really high interest. They get into debt and are pursued by the loan shark.
“The film was shot on location in Conwy and Denbighshire with one of our own houses used as sets.
“People starring in the film are from various housing associations and from the Flintshire Youth Forum which has made a drama of its own about loan sharks in the past.
“The DVD was produced by TAPE Community, Music and Film Ltd of Old Colwyn who specialise in this kind of project working with all kinds of community groups.
“The finale is on a lighter note because they go to the housing association, get advice on how to cope with the debt and plan ways to pay off rent and debt.
“Financial help to make the film came from a Financial Inclusion grant from Barclays. We are producing 500 copies of the DVD initially.”
Director of TAPE Steve Swindon, added: “It’s been a fantastic project to work on. Cartrefi Conwy have been really supportive because they recognised that tenants were benefitting enormously not just in terms of the finished video but in helping them gain BTec qualifications, gaining skills and even helping them find work.
“We worked alongside tenants who got involved in film making, sound production and editing, it’s been brilliant and included people of all ages from an 18-year-old to the oldest who was Leo. In fact Leo has probably been the greatest contributor and worked on the editing every day. He even described the experience to me as ‘finding his spiritual home’.
“For some people it might be difficult to access a booklet but the DVD has brought it to life and it was a lot of fun to make. In fact it will include outtakes at the end to show that it was real people who took part.
“We filmed in Llandudno, at an empty house and some scenes are in the Cuckoo Club in Old Colwyn and the Bay View shopping centre.”
Louise Blackwell, Community Development Officer for Clwyd Alyn Housing Association said: “The tenants have been really brilliant. They’ve taken the lead on deciding which areas to focus on and have come up with some great ideas to act out real issues that affect people’s lives.
“We’re particularly grateful for the help of TAPE Community Music and Film based in Old Colwyn who have guided us through the whole film-making process.”
The DVD will be premiered at The Scala in Prestatyn at 11am on Friday, May 27.
