HIRED: New local ‘short film’ against work exploitation

HIRED, a new Altrincham-based short film, has recently completed production. The film tackles the important yet silent issue of young creatives being exploited in the modern workforce.

The film is a way of starting the conversation by highlighting this issue to those who need to hear it. Millions of young people in the UK are being treated unfairly at work, with around half of all workers between 16-24 having been exploited in some way.

The aim is to bring together those who can affect change within the workplace with those who need change the most. They want to educate young people about workers’ rights and make them aware of problems they may face, such as fraudulent job applications and unlawful wage theft.

This project represents a unique collaboration between film students, established filmmakers, and OYEZ Arts, who are based in Altrincham Town Hall. For this production, they generously provided the Town Hall as a venue for filming.

Together, the team created a story that reflects the challenges faced by young people trying to enter the workforce.

“This project was always about bringing a community together and supporting emerging people in the creative industry. We want to bridge the gap between emerging talent and professionals in a non-hierarchical way. To be able to do that in such an important and historical building in the heart of Altrincham was a bonus!” said Tonks Blom, Director of HIRED.

Tonks Blom is the founder of A la Tonks Productions – a local independent film company in Trafford specializing in social and environmental commentary short films. They are working to highlight exploitation and disruption while offering support and knowledge both nationally and internationally.

The production also highlights the value of community support. Altrincham Town Hall’s involvement with the local organization, OYEZ Arts, and its commitment to nurturing arts and culture meant it was the perfect place to facilitate this production.

A la Tonks Productions is currently running a crowdfunding campaign to help finalize this project. Any extra money raised will go towards funding future projects, with the aim of pushing for positive social change through art and conversation.

HIRED is set to premiere locally early next year, with details to be announced soon.