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TV stars in climate film premiere*

20/05/2010

Some well-known TV faces are appearing alongside north Manchester residents in a new film about the challenges of tackling climate change.

John Henshaw (Early Doors, Looking for Eric) Danielle Henry (Torchwood, Survivors) and comic Chris Sievey, better known as Frank Sidebottom, appear in the film - The Green Wave. They will be gracing the red carpet for the premiere at Manchester Town Hall on Friday 21 May, where they'll join the dozens of residents who worked on the project.

A total of 85 residents from Charlestown and Higher Blackley were involved in writing, acting in, and directing the film, despite many of them having no acting experience whatsoever.

Ages ranged from 87-year-old Ralph Wagstaff to baby Jenson Gibbs, while members of the White Moss Youth Centre in Charlestown and the Manchester Media Academy also took part.

The Green Wave lasts 40 minutes and was made by the REELmcr project, who worked with the residents to develop a storyline about ordinary people making a real contribution to tackling climate change.

Set in the year 2080, the film describes the global spread of The Green Wave Project, from its beginnings in north Manchester as a simple way of encouraging residents to get involved in recycling, conserving electricity, sourcing local food and growing their own fruit and vegetables.

Jacqui Carroll, Creative Director of REELmcr, said: "Working on this film has made a big difference to a lot of people's lives. We've had people that have never thought about acting before telling us it's given them confidence, and they want to get involved in more projects, and we've also had four generations working together.

"People who thought environmental issues had nothing to do with them have now started thinking about it in a new light."

The film will be shown to residents across the city and in other parts of the North West to help raise awareness of green issues.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Assistant Executive Member for the Environment, says: "This project looked at how ordinary people can make a real difference, not only in Manchester, but across the world, and residents were genuinely enthusiastic about getting involved."

* Story sourced from www.manchester.gov.uk/news