filmography:

Features

Mickey B (2006)
ESC's award-winning adaptation of Macbeth, set in the fictional Burnam Prison. It tells the story of one prisoner's quest for power through violence, betrayal and murder - and the death and insanity that results. The film was shot in NI's maximum-security prison, HMP Maghaberry and features 42 characters played by prisoners and prison staff. The DVD includes a 'making of' documentary that tells the real story behind the film.

Shorts

Extern (2008) The Second Course
In this series of 6 short films and a documentary, ex-offenders share their personal experiences of: drug addiction, imprisonment, gay bashing, becoming homeless and the struggle with alcoholism. Watch the films

Extern (2007) The First Course
In this first series of 6 short films and a documentary, ex-offenders share their personal experiences of: murder, attempted suicide, alcoholism, domestic violence, and dying. Watch the films

Inside Job (2003/4)
A 15 minute drama about a bank robbery organised from within a prison with the unlikeliest of suspects. This film won a Arthur Koestler Award for prison drama in 2004. This drama was made by Tom Magill and Simon Wood in association with Prison Arts Foundation.

Animation

A Tough Time For Everyone (2007 with Barnados)
An animation showing the realities of imprisonment for the children of prisoners, drawn by a life-sentenced prisoner. View film

Documentaries

Category A Mickey B (2006)
The real story behind the making of Mickey B told by prisoners and staff.

The Big Question (2005/6)
A documentary commissioned by the prison about the effect of incarceration on prisoners' families won the Arthur Koestler Award and the Royal London Society Merit Award 2006 for prison documentary. (This documentary was made by Tom Magill and Simon wood in association with Prison Arts Foundation).

Two Sides of the Coin (2004/5 with The Prison Service Trust)
Twelve medically-retired prison officers and widows work through their traumas of: being kidnapped and tortured, being shot, having a partner murdered, having a partner commit suicide and witnessing a hanging. View film

Training Films

PBNI (2008)
ESC worked with the Probation Board's Learning and Development team using drama and film to improve how probation officers are trained (in production).

Queen's University Social Work Department (2008)
This documentary tells the story of what happened when social work students were brought face to face with a group of service users from within the criminal justice system. ESC used their Safe Remote Dialogue tool to unpack the preconceptions of both groups before bringing them together to discuss how they can improve social work practice (in production).

Youth Project Shorts

Bridging The Divide
This project is a partnership between Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast and ESC. This project brings together young people from divided communities in NI to make a short digital film. It uses filmmaking as a metaphor for teamwork, creativity and personal development. The project empowers young people to transform their own lives by turning their unique stories into films and documentaries to share with an international audience. These films have received Impetus Human Rights Awards.

Tunnel Vision (Girls in the re:mix!) (2008 – Bridging the Divide III)
This short film sees girl power figure out how to use the creative strength of dance to challenge the boys fighting. Mornington Community Project and Donegall Pass Young Men and Women's Group feature. View film

Blow Out (2007 - Bridging the Divide II)
Cameron smokes his first spliff at a houseparty, the problem is, the paramilitaries are looking for the drug dealer who is supplying their local community. Cameron gets drawn deeper into this murky world despite his sister's efforts to save him. Blow Out is a 10-minute short with a 21 minute documentary going behind the scenes, featuring Mornington and Donegall Pass community centres.
View film

Bridging the Divide I (2006) – 3 shorts and a behind the scenes documentary featuring Ballymac youth project, East Belfast Mission and Mornington Community Group.

• Turn the Music Down - The story of what happens to a group of young people in East Belfast, who think they are above the law. They soon find out they are not above the law of the local paramilitaries.
• Hoodn' It - How a group of bored teenagers from Lower Ormeau create excitement for themselves when there's nothing else to do.
• Don't Judge Us - A powerful message from Protestant and Catholic teenagers in Belfast, challenging the negative labels placed on them by many adults.

R & J (2006)
Romeo is a Montague whose dad is a UDA leader from the Shankill. Juliet's dad is a Sinn Fein councillor from the New Lodge. Shakespeare's tragedy is played out in North Belfast in a very 21st century vein. Should Juliet stay or should she go?

LNR TOR (2005)
This short film gives insight into the girls’ lives, dealing with the hostilities both groups can face going to school in their uniforms. This project brought together two groups of girls, one from the Loyalist Ballysillan and one from the Republic Ligoniel at the interface between the two communities.

Gatecrashed (2003 with The Simon Community)
Homeless youth expose the realities of hostel life - excessive noise, bullying and theft.

An' Wha? (2003)
The story of Romeo and Juliet plays itself out in North Belfast. Part of Exploring Conflict Resolution through the Performing Arts. Winner of an Impetus Human Rights Award.