Katy Sharp-Watson marvels at the mature work of a radical, young film maker.
Director and producer Tarquin Ramsay was only 15 years old when he began making his first feature length film, Free Speech, Fear Free. Taking a night off from studying for his A Levels, on 1st March Ramsay, now 19, hosted the ‘anti-premiere’ of his film at Bethnal Green’s Rich Mix arts centre.
The screening drew an enthusiastic crowd – animated and engaged with the content of Ramsay’s film.
Free Speech examines exactly what the principle of free speech means for young people in today’s society. For a young man at the very beginning of his film making career, his interview access to high-profile names such as Julian Assange, Natalie Kaliada, Julia Farrington and Jude Law, is nothing short of astonishing. But Ramsay’s real priority is the apathy of young people towards their own, online privacy – blissfully ignorant of the constant surveillance that currently occurs, and how this impacts on their freedom of speech.
The entwining of protest footage from events such as the Anonymous and Occupy movements, together with expert talking heads, provides a fascinating evaluation of the controversies inherent in freedom of expression and freedom to protest.
This screening of Free Speech was followed by an audience discussion and Q&A, which was filmed. Footage from this discussion will be edited into the final version of the film before its official UK-wide release in September 2015.
Katy Sharp-Watson is Rising East’s Film and TV Editor.