Short movie to highlight loan shark misery
FREE AVAILABLE TICKETS FOR FILM BASED IN NORTH EAST SHOWING EFFECT OF DEBT,
A NORTH EAST-made film highlighting the misery created by loan sharks is to make its debut in June, with free tickets to the screening up for grabs.
The short drama, Shark, was specially commissioned to flag up the devastating impact which illegal money lenders can have on their victims’ lives.
Uts makers hope the screening in Newcastle will encourage those in debt to come forward.
The film, which was shot in and around Newcastle over a three-day period, will have its premiere at Tyneside Cinema on June 5.
It follows the lives of three people who are the victims of illegally-operating loan sharks and the characters are based on real cases.
The film was commissioned by the national Illegal Money Lending Team, which investigates and prosecutes such cases, in a bid to show how anyone can find themselves in a financial situation that cannot be controlled.
More than 310,000 households across the UK are said to be currently using illegal money lenders, some people being pushed to the brink of suicide as a result.
The team also supports those who have borrowed money and are at the mercy of ruthless lenders and it is inviting people from Berwick to Teesside, who might be victims of the crime, to attend the screening.
Community organisations which may be in need of help or advice from the team are also welcome to attend.
Shark was made by TV scriptwriter Debbie Owen, director Daymon Britton and director of photography Morgan Stephenson in collaboration with Gateshead-based production company HT Media. Local viewers will recognise locations around Newcastle, including the Ouseburn area and St Peter’s Marina, as well as North Tyneside where Wallsend’s old town hall, for instance, was transformed into a police station and a hospital for the story.
Tony Quigley, head of the Illegal Money Lending Team, added: “We would like to invite to the screening anyone affected by loan sharks – community groups who have day-to-day contact with potential victims and anyone who wants to know more about our work.”
The audience will be able to learn about the available help and options for safe and affordable loans, such as local credit unions.
To book free tickets to the screening and question and answer session, which will run on June 5 from 2.00 until 6.00, go to Eventbrite www.eventbrite. com and search “Shark”.
Anyone wanting to contact the team direct can call on 0300 555 2222 or for more information, and to report a loan shark online, visit www.stoploansharks.uk.