This is why we do it
New voices are hard to find. They are even harder to get heard. This is why Project 1961 has decided to make the film in a collaborative way. To make sure it is representative of the young people it is about while challenging stereotypes.
Director Pinny Grylls writes this film in collaboration with 6 talented actors/writers of Intermission Youth – all of whom come from the same communities as our main character TJ and his friends. Together with Aga Serugo Lugo and 8 East London music creators she is also developing the musical landscape of the film. This music and writing will come from the heart of the diverse and much loved community in which she lives.
Hear My Voice seeks to bring two worlds together. Upper middle class London and the Hackney hood – as a young black boy – where does TJ feel he belongs?
Late in 2019 we started with a series of opera workshops with Aga supported by The Royal Opera House (including visits from the Jette Young Artists singers.) With their generous support we have also seen four operas this season at the Royal Opera House.
Early 2020 we successfully raised development funding via Kickstarter. Since that summer we have been developing the story and characters online with our writers room from Intermission Youth.
From summer 2021 we started developing the music for the film through workshops with diverse young musicians in East London supported by a small grant from Westfield East Bank Creative Future Fund.