Dont Trigger film Hip Hop Opera
available now
pls send your order to urbanconceptsuk@fsmail.net
This film explores the myths that have created the urban assassins who are destroying our communities. Shot from a Guerrilla film maker’s perspective the film incorporates a dramatization of events leading up to an urban gun outrage with actual footage from real mothers and fathers who have lost loved ones to gun crime.
Taking inspiration from Hip Hop videos, Romeo and Juliet and Fahrenheit 9/11 this film is both informative and dramatic. It presents a morality tale of conflict resolution including instances of where beef (confrontation) can be resolved safely by compromise, respect and human determination. Interwoven into the plot are 7 pop promos, creating a contemporary hip hop opera which is expressed in the language of its intended audience. While the 5 promo’s are an integral part of the film, they are shot in such a way that they also work as stand alone music videos. Each promo ends with a cliffhanger – making the plot equally clear if you watch all the promos one after another. The film is punctuated by a recurring image of a Judge's gravel. This serves not only as a dramatic edit point but also to emphasize to the audience the relentless nature of the legal process and the unavoidability of justice that will always prevail.
Raymond Stevenson said ' The Don’t Trigger 2007 campaign and the flagship film the Hip Hop Opera was inspired by the need to work with young people and parents who have lost children to gun crime. Our intention was to produce a film that exposes the myth behind the glamorous lifestyle of a would be gangster. Utilizing mediums that young people understand such as music, film, video and spoken word we have made a statement that we the community will no longer permit urban assassins to operate on our streets. Since the first Don’t Trigger campaign a growing band of corporate music industry organizations are realizing their corporate responsibility. We would like to thank both Channel U and PPL for being part of this year’s campaign and we look forward to containing what is a great working relationship'.
Hip Hop Opera Premiere
Please show your support for the campaign buy purchasing the album on
the download site Article 19 www.art19music.com
The Hip Hop Opera was premiered on the 9th October 2007 at the Odeon Leicester Square, attended by over 1000 people from a cross section of industries. Pictures of the evening can be found in the Gallery section.
Together with mothers involved in promoting the campaign we are establishing screenings throughout the country, having had a successful screening in Leeds in October. We shall send bulletins of the next city that we shall be showing the film. To receive such bulletins please add www.myspace.com/donttrigger to your friends on Myspace.
We currently cannot send out copies of the film, as we are in talks with regards to distribution. However please consult this website for regular updates. For distributors please e mail us with your specific enquiry: urbanconceptsuk@fsmail.net
Don’t Trigger 2008
Urban Concepts are looking into the next year and constructing the next concepts for the Don’t Trigger Campaign to reach new community groups, schools and youth groups. We will keep you informed of the new initiatives shortly.
A year after the first Don’t Trigger Campaign, we are sad to report that the killings continue, more bereaved mothers, fathers, siblings, girlfriends, school friends and the list goes on. If we are to solve the issue of gun crime, we first must accept that one death is one death too many. Imagine if it was your child that was delivered to you in a body bag, how would you feel?
Wouldn’t you want the whole country to condemn the perpetrators and support you in your loss? Don’t Trigger gives you an opportunity to be part of the solution.
To make an enquiry about the campaign please email us on: urbanconceptsuk@fsmail.net
