Source: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/new...3A40%3A05%3A877
We're off to meet Orlando Bloom

SARAH HALL
18 January 2008 15:00

A host of Hollywood stars will be casting their eyes over a mini movie made by talented young people in association with the city's eating disorder association.

Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom, Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes and Superman Returns star Kevin Spacey will be on a panel of judges for a short film compiled by recovering bulimics and anorexics from Norwich-based Beat.

The documentary has been nominated in the Best Mediabox Film section of the First Light Movies Awards 2008 and it sees a group of 15 to 19-year-old young women who suffer from eating disorders talk frankly about their experiences.

The ambitious and innovative film is up against efforts from south and north London for a prestigious award which are sponsored by Mediabox, a new initiative led by First Light Movies alongside the Media Trust, Skillset and the UK Film Council.

It offers opportunities for 13 to 19 year olds to develop and produce creative media projects using film, television, print, radio or online platforms.

Beat, based in Prince of Wales Road, provides practical help, support and advice to people across the country suffering from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating.

Lynsey Bowman, 17, is one of the girls who took part in the video. She is in the late stages of recovery from anorexia.

“I wanted to take part to raise awareness of eating disorders,” she said. “It was put together by young people and it is from young people's perspectives so we all are very aware of the subject matter.

“I am very proud it has been nominated and I hope we are able to positively influence other young people.”

Charlotte Allinson from Beat said: “It is very honest and the whole thing from start to finish was put together by them for others who are going through eating disorders.

“This is what we have needed for a long time - frank accounts of living with the illness - and this is why I think we have been nominated.

“With Hollywood stars on the judging panel it will help even more to throw eating disorders into the spotlight. And the girls are obviously very excited about meeting Orlando Bloom as well.”

The winners will be announced during a glittering awards ceremony, supported by the UK Film Council and hosted by Big Brother presenter Davina McCall, held at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London, on March 4.

It is also not first time Beat has been linked with Hollywood superstars with two libel cases resulting in huge cash payouts for the charity last year.

Keira Knightley accepted a High Court libel pay out and a public apology from a national newspaper regarding a slur on her weight and she agreed to match the figure of £3,000 she received from Associated Newspapers to give a total of £6,000 to Beat.

Kate Winslet also donated £3,000 to the charity as part of a settlement from Grazia magazine who falsely claimed she visited a diet doctor.

More information on Beat is available by visiting the website at www.b-eat.co.uk and more details on First Light Movies on www.firstlightmovies.com

Anyone needing help and advice or who wants to volunteer can call the charity's helpline on 08456 341414.

Are you battling an eating disorder and want to tell your story? Call Evening News reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419.
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Thanks for posting this Ginger.

Was just going to do it but you saved a job! :D

It's lovely to see Orlando involved with this because eating disorders are subject very close to my heart because it's something that I lived through as a very naive teenager.

:thankyou:

It has touched my heart also Jesse. My 15 year old has gone through it, more like expermented with it. I caught her forcing herself to throw up once after a meal. I think I showed her enough video's and pictures of girls who are going through it and it pretty much scared her. Their's nothing fat about her yet she see's it differently. She's always talking about dieting. I think it was a group of girls at her school talking about it and expermenting with it. I think she's pretty much given up on the idea of it now. I"m still watching her closely though.
It's so wonderful of Orlando to give to this. I think maybe with his honest words he will make a difference in their lives. Give them a reason to live and fight this!

With me it was taunting at school and then watching as my friends were finding boyfriends and I wasn't. It all started off so simply, just eating less and more sensibly - cutting out cakes, crisps and eating more healthy food. Then people started to notice the difference and I was getting comments about how good I looked, I felt great because I was in control of my body.

I was making new friends and I sort of got 'hooked'. I was frantically exercising...running, swimming, cycling, gym then eating a meal and...well you can guess! At times I felt so hungry I was on the verge of fainting.

I can't remember what pulled me out of it now. I know I didn't have any counciling. It was a slow process but I got through it.

I worry about my daughter, who is 10 and hope that she won't go through what I did.

Hi everyone.
First I like to say I'm really happy to see that in this forum we can even discuss important topics like this (thanks to Orlando for getting involved, aswell of course).
Jesse, Ginger and Rosie,
I'm sure you will be the best help your daughters can hope for.. and I'm sure they know to appreciate it.
My teenager-years truly are my worst to remember. It's been a lot like Jesse described it... the kids tend to search for one "general victim" to tease in those times... too bad if that turns out to be you.
I've made that experience and temporarily even lost my best friends during the process. I don't blame them. They simply chose the easiest way... acting like the others. I was fortunate enough to have really caring parents. I didn't spend much time with fellow "classmates", as their only hobby was getting drunk, and I don't touch alcohol. So that was one point. Furthermore I didn't dress "girlie-like", I was working hard for school and I'm not the prettiest as I don't have a perfect skin... Lots to make fun about...
My parents somehow became my best friends during that time, eventhough I've never really told them what was happening.
The thought of losing weight has crossed my mind in that time... but I'm afraid I'm too chocolate-addicted and my Mum's too good in cooking to make that plan work :P I'm quite happy now that I've never had to face eating-problems...
But that time still has left its marks... As I was too proud to show everybody how much they were hurting me, I "trained" myself not to show any feelings at all, hoping to be less vulnerable this way... Well, people do believe that I'm mentaly strong, but the cuts in your soul become deeper than they normally would that way...
I've never had a boyfriend, I think on one sight because it's still difficult for me to trust others... :cry:
So I wish you and your daughters all the best and that they will be spared from this kind of experiences... :friends:

Ginger,

Thanks for posting this important article. I had seen it in my inbox this morning and looked before I reposted it.

Today, young girls, and let's not forget young boys, have so much more peer pressure on not only their looks, but what materialistic things they have. A teenager isn't "cool" if they have an ounce of fat on them, or if the girl doesn't wear make-up, have the latest clothes and hair style, and the same can be said for boys, sans the make-up. Young people can be really mean to each other, and when you are older and look back at things, it seems so silly.

I wish there could be some strong message to get across to them that being thin as a rail is not attractive, but a young girl who has nice curves to her body is appealing. I'd refrain from using the word sexy because God only knows what problem that would bring in.

Parents today certainly have far more to worry about than our parents. I was at a Christmas party and the woman hosting the party allowed her son to open two of his gifts. Mind you, he is all of 8 and one of the gifts was an IPOD. Not top of the line, but not bad either. His complaint was it wasn't what his friends had, and he didn't want it. I told him that one year for Christmas, my mother got an orange as a present. It was all her parents could afford. He told me he'd have thrown it back at them. Right, try it lad, and you won't live to see your next Christmas.

But aside from all of that, just too much peer pressure from schools, the media and kids should just be able to enjoy life and go through whatever they must naturally.

First of all :thankyou: Ginger for posting this. I don't have any children yet but I personally know what it feels like to not fit in due to the way that you look. I was not treated kindly until high school when kids/ young adults get to start showing more of their own personality. Personality I have looks not so much. I have always leaned more to the eating disorder of overeating. Food was more of a comfort in grade school then anything. But it is a much less known problem then other ones mentioned in the artical. I thank Orlando for joining this group maybe with more time the eating disorders will be given more of a spot light here in America as well. :sidi:

A huge part of the problem is magazines and images that are thrust into teenagers minds...'You must look like this...you must have perfect skin,hair,nails...you must wear this and that...you be this dress size' It's all totally wrong. I don't conform to any of those pressures now, yes I used to when younger, but not now. Infact if someone tells me I should wear something specific I will go in the complete opposite direction. I've frustrated a lot of people in the past but I do what I want and walk my own path. I make my own rules and don't let anyone tell me how I should look. If I'm happy with myself then why change because a magazine article says I have to be different?

Everyone is beautiful Jocy and beauty runs deep into the soul. It's whats inside that really counts. The mosts physically beautiful woman in the world could more than likely be an absolute b!tch and that counts for nothing.

You've just not met the right person yet Jocy. He's out there somewhere and you will find him one day.

That's sweet of you, Jesse :wub:
Thanks a lot.

What you've mentioned is quite right.
People tend to take general ideas, prefer swimming with the current rather then developing their own personality...

I know, that it is always quite challenging to be the person you truly are, but I think it's worth it... :bigwink:
So I totally agree to you, LondonLioness23
I think it's more important to feel comfortable with yourself...
Young people suffering from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating do need a leading and even more supporting hand to find that balance again and I'm very happy to see that people are getting more and more aware of the problem.

A little more on this topic from BusinessWeekly...

Jesse
Thanks for posting this - was just about to do it from my alerts message. I am sure this will be inspirational to say the least.

:lol:

Popcorn Orlando?

A beautiful life for film youngsters
Jan 30 2008 By Helen Rae, Evening Chronicle

ORLANDO Bloom and Stephen Fry are just some of the Hollywood stars who will cast their eyes over a film made by Tyneside youngsters. The students from Beacon Hill Sixth Form, in Wallsend, worked with Whitley Bay-based Arpeggio Films Ltd to make the five-minute film called Beautiful Life.

And it has been nominated for the prestigious Best Drama category at the UK Film Council First Light Awards.

The awards ceremony will be hosted by TV presenter Davina McCall on March 4 at the Odeon Leicester Square, London.

The production is a mini soap opera that features a range of characters, each facing a dilemma. One of the students who worked on the film was Mark Hawdon, 18, of Killingworth. He said: “I felt really proud when I found out that our film was shortlisted.”

Pupil James McCafferty, 18, of Benton, said: “I enjoyed learning a new skill.” And Matthew Ainsley, 18, of Whitley Bay, said: “I felt fantastic about the film being shortlisted.”

The students, who have learning difficulties, were involved in every aspect of the production, from the ideas to scripting, camera work, acting and editing.

Will Sadler, of Arpeggio Films Ltd, said: “This film and award nomination is a fantastic achievement.”

Thanks Libra.

That sounds like another fascinating film nomination.

Another report on an entry for the First Light Movie Awards from The Swindon Advertiser...

From BBC News...

Tomorrow we should have an exclusive report and pictures from our intrepid reporter who was at todays Awards Ceremony in Leicester Square. :bigwink:

Unfortunetely, Orlando was not there.....

Yes, unfortunately he was unable to attend due to a prior commitment, but we've still got something special on the way for tomorrow! :flirt:

Well, we'll waiting anxiously!!! :ex:

Jesse

You did an outstanding job keeping us abreast of everything that transpired today. As always, a job well done! Keep it going! :teambloom:

From This Is North Scotland...

There is a wonderful streaming video clip at Leicester Square Television of Interviews with the various celebrities who attend the First Light Movie Awards...

NOTE: This clip last for just under 30 minutes! Make yourself a cuppa! :lol: