Last month’s premiere of Rugby for Peace was a real highlight of my career. After a year writing, editing, and producing the documentary for SCIAF, seeing it on the big screen left me with a lump in my throat - and an even greater desire to continue making films that provide a platform to people whose voices need to be listened to the most.
The idea for Rugby for Peace came about in late 2021 when I heard that SCIAF were using rugby as a tool to educate young kids in Chocó, the poorest region of Colombia. Rugby was completely unheard of in the communities there, but the sport, with its funny-shaped ball, was starting to make waves on the Pacific coast.
International travel was pretty limited at this point, so our first move was to recruit a local Colombian film crew to visit the Rugby for Peace project and begin capturing stories for SCIAF. And as soon as the footage hit my inbox, I knew straight away that we were onto a winner.
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The challenges the communities were facing were clear to see – shootings, drug trafficking, poor medical provision, low levels of education, few opportunities. But at the same time, the interviews showed how warm, vibrant, and hard-working the communities were, and how the project was beginning to change lives, one pass at a time.
With this content, we could have created a powerful fundraising video for social media to show the problem, demonstrate our work, and ask for support. But I felt this was an opportunity to be more creative and dive deeper into Colombian life. With SCIAF’s support, I commissioned a local Producer to create a punchy soundtrack and I edited and graded the picture, so it looked like something you’d find on Netflix - not social media. I hope this comes across, and the impact lingers longer as a result.
My journey to making films has been, in many ways, quite unconventional. I grew up just north of Manchester, but then went to study Geography at St Andrews rather than pursuing something more creative. From there, I began working in the Scottish charity sector where I gradually taught myself to write, edit and shoot films, thanks to the support of managers who let me run wild with new ideas. I really immersed myself in creating content – film, graphics, articles, and, now and again, writing music.
My first film was a social media short which I made for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society with my brother, Alistair, following one of my ‘out of work adventures’ – short trips into the Scottish wilderness launched between 5pm and 9am. Despite being shot on an old iPad, this 3-minute short was selected for the Dundee Mountain Film Festival. And things sort of ballooned from there.
BBC Social began working with me for their online platform – everything from spoof news reports to interviews, to films about the outdoors and sustainable farming. This led to the opportunity to produce a 15-minute film for BBC2’s ‘The Adventure Show’ where I attempted to reach the most remote point in Scotland on the shortest day of the year. ‘On the Edge of Nowhere’ was a great filming experience and really tightened up my skills, but remains my coldest and most uncomfortable expedition to date.
Now that lockdowns have lifted, my most rewarding filming takes place each summer with SCIAF, as a team of us visit the communities we serve around the world. We conduct interviews and capture footage with families and community leaders, which we in turn use for documentaries, social media, fundraising and educational resources.
Last summer we travelled to Zambia and Malawi and met people living on the front line of the climate crisis, individuals persecuted because of their disabilities, and young people whose lives have been ripped apart by broken education systems. I know our projects are making a difference – and I’ve witnessed this first hand – but the stories I’ve captured with SCIAF remain the most heart-wrenching I’ve ever filmed and will stay with me forever.
After any trip away, I love returning to the West End. I’ve lived in Scotland for 10 years now, but Glasgow has stolen my heart. The warmth of the people, the vibey coffee shops, the diverse creative scene, and the mountains just outside the city. It allows me to pursue the things I love, inspires my work, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Filmmaking for me is a real passion but making documentaries that support a cause is what I value most, and what I really want to continue doing. I am incredibly lucky to have this job and to work with such dedicated and passionate people at SCIAF. I hope films like Rugby for Peace will stir up change in the places that need change the most.
Please keep an eye on SCIAF’s website for select screenings of ‘Rugby for Peace’ around Scotland in early 2023, ahead of general release. Please get in touch if you would like to arrange your own screening.
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