A BARNARD Castle actor’s debut film has been praised for highlighting the “hidden sentence” suffered by families with a parent behind bars.
Phoebe Lorenz co-wrote and stars in I’m Still Ethan, which she originally conceived as a lockdown project when other opportunities dried up due to the Covid-19 crisis.
The 30-minute film follows the story of a young boy and his mum as they attempt to get on with their lives on the outside after his father is sent to prison.
Ms Lorenz, a familiar face from her performances with The Castle Players, raised £10,000 through a Crowdfunding appeal to get the project off the ground.
Filming in and around Barnard Castle took place last year, with Ms Lorenz taking the role of Ethan’s mum Steph, and after editing was completed in the spring, the final cut has now been put forward for festivals.
The film also features actor Dave Johns, best known for roles in I, Daniel Blake, and whose other credits include the film Fisherman’s Friends
Ms Lorenz said she was delighted with I Am Ethan, which was produced by London-based Freida Films.
“I genuinely could not be happier with how it turned out and what we have achieved,” she said.
“The effect that having an incarcerated parent can have on a child is a difficult and tumultuous subject to cover.
“It’s a hidden crisis that has been widely ignored by the media and society.”
She added: “Although I had the initial idea, I could not have predicted how it looks. I am incredibly proud. It is beyond my wildest expectations.”
Amelia O’Loughlin, co-writer and director Freida Films, said that as the project developed, it became apparent they were dealing with an important issue.
“I thought this was something I had not seen on TV and had never even thought about,” she said.
“That’s why this film is so important.”
Among the film’s partners is the charity NEPACS (formerly The North East Prison After Care Society), based in Durham.
A spokeswoman said: “We have seen from the work we do on the ground the impact that imprisonment has on children and families, with over 9,000 children in the North East impacted by parental imprisonment each year, and many more affected by the imprisonment of other loved ones.
“We continually see how much this affects the child as they face their own ‘hidden sentence’ which brings feelings of isolation, shame, confusion and abandonment.
“This can have a significant impact on their mental wellbeing and behaviour. Unfortunately, the trauma of imprisonment of a parent can go unnoticed and the impact on the child is not always realised or understood, therefore, the child may not receive the support they need from people around them.”
Ms Lorenz and Ms O’Loughlin said the aim is for the film to be premiered at a festival, after which they hope to develop it into a TV series.
