We’re so happy our film is hitting people’s hearts ...teen stars of anti-drugs video overwhelmed as they become a worldwide hit
A POWERFUL video about the dangers of drugs produced by a Rathcoole-based youth group has become an internet sensation.
The hard-hitting production, viewed around 250,000 times since it was posted four days ago, highlights how easy it is for young people to obtain illegal substances and shows the devastation left behind when they kill.
The video tells the story of two teenage girls — portrayed by Brooke Thompson and Demi McCarey, both aged 16 and from the estate — who, after being handed money from an unsuspecting parent, arrange to meet a dealer in a park.
A Newtownabbey Arts and Cultural Network Drama (NACN) initiative by Coole Studio Productions, it opens with flashbacks to media headlines on the drug deaths of young people.
The girls are seen hallucinating before one becomes seriously ill. It then shows her in a hospital mortuary.
Police, played by real PSNI officers, are later seen visiting the family home and breaking the news to her mother.
Among those urging young people and their families to watch the video was the Shankill-based Purple Star Flute Band, which urged parents to take 15 minutes of their time to help educate their children.
Hundreds of supportive comments for the video on the band’s Facebook page included messages from Lesley and William Burns, whose son Jamie died after a night out.
His family believe he had taken ecstasy, and have set up their own ‘#1pillwillkill’ campaign.
Lesley wrote: “Cried while watching this as it’s so true — that’s all it takes, one pill to take away a bright future to leave your family devastated.”
She added: “Jamie was 23, never took drugs, but made the wrong decision on November 19, 2016 and died in the early hours of Sunday 20th. One ecstasy to ruin not only his life but destroyed our lives as well, when will people stop dicing with death?”
Demi said she was overwhelmed by the response.
“It’s amazing; I knew we would have got some support but I never expected it to go this far. It’s brilliant,” she said.
“I actually saw last night the parents (of Jamie Burns) commenting and praising us. It hit a place in my heart. Whenever my daddy came up the stairs he saw me crying and asked what was wrong. I just said seeing things like that was so overwhelming, and I’m so happy it’s hitting people’s hearts.”
Brooke added that playing the part of a character who dies of a drugs overdose had been an emotional experience.
“I can’t believe it. I knew it was going to be hard, but there’s loads of things going on in our communities we wanted to sort out,” she said.
“We thought by doing this hard-hitting video it would show the dangers of drugs.
“It was really emotional. I thought I had to play the part well to show the actual reality.”
Project leader Dee Crooks, who set up the NACN drama group three years ago, said it was the first in a series of videos young people were making, which would address issues such as suicide. He said they were inspired by people such as the family of Jamie.
“There was also Graham Larsen (who died from a suspected drugs overdose in December) who had a lot of friends in Rathcoole,” he added.
Mr Crooks (42), originally from the estate, said drug use was “high” in working-class areas, and that they were used by people to get by “day-to-day”.
“It’s amazing that a drama group from a housing estate in north Belfast produced something that went global,” he said.
“Demi and Brooke play their parts very well. They’re excited about it all, but also glad people are listening to the message.”
Mr Crooks said the reaction to the drugs video had been heartening.
“I have had NBC News on from San Diego. The video is in Australia, it is in Canada. It is a very important message,” he said.
“The drama group itself has also helped give a whole new lease of life to the area.”