AN actor from Melksham has featured in a national safe drive campaign video, warning young people about the dangers of unsafe driving.
Ryan Mann, who went to George Ward School, is currently training as an actor at The Arts University Bournemouth.
Ryan said, “I was drawn to the script and campaign partly because of the subject matter. There have been a number of incidents close to home involving young drivers, some of whom I knew, so it really struck a cord with me.
“I do not perform for myself, I perform for the people watching me. Whether it is Shakespeare taking the audience away to new worlds for three hours so people can escape from reality, or a safety campaign to highlight the dangerous of unsafe driving, both give something special and are important to the people watching.
“I also think that knowing people who have been hurt by the subject matter was a driving force for me to take on this project. It is important to me that when I act there is always a percentage of my own emotion and experience in any character to really bring the truth of the situation to life. People connect best with real truths they can understand.
“I would like the video to have an effect on young drivers around the UK. If it changes one mind or one hundred minds it has achieved something. The subject matter is so current and the statistics are worryingly large and growing. If a video I did can help change that, then that is my brush stroke on bigger picture.
“The video was extremely fun and emotionally demanding to make. To go to the mental space of losing your best friend and then back to having fun with them is a challenge for anyone. It was all filmed in a single 14-hour day, and as you can imagine, that in itself is emotionally draining, but immensely rewarding.”
To watch the video search ‘#FriendsDriveSafe – Message #2’ on YouTube.
