Film Details
Intention
The hardships of middle class livin' forms the basis of an innovative online video approach from Stir's Teenage Affluenza campaign.
From the filmmaker:
"Poverty and comedy were never going to be an easy fit, but Teenage Affluenza has a simple naivety that manages to get under our guard and hit us in the chest.
From the outset, we wanted to create the impression that the film could have been made by teenagers for teenagers. In this way the film would feel accessible to the audience and open their mind to the messages within.
Teenage Affluenza has an interesting flow; no sooner does the viewer begin to feel comfortable with it's satirical pitch when they're confronted with juxtaposing images from the third world. From here the film doesn't let up.
We chose non-actors for our lethargic, apathetic teenagers, and shot over two days with a view to editing/juxtaposing images that we had collected from the third world. We wanted to draw visual comparisons without the guilt usually associated with poverty messaging.
In the end we achieved surprising results, and managed to cause a great stir amongst viewers! I feel the film opens a dialogue between teens, and allows them to explore these issues of poverty and injustice amongst themselves. If their passion for change comes from within, they are more likely to act with a sustained response."
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User Review
I viewed this film at
school for the 4 hour
famine. It really opened
our eyes to life in
poverty. It made people
realize that they can be
like erin, and in turn
they changed.
Brilliantly refreshing
because it highlights
this social injustice,
this human tragedy with a
little self deprecating
comedy.
absolutely brilliant
:)