As of Saturday 1st August 2009 " A Thousand Voices for a Broken System" moved into pre-production.A year long project that's set to change the way documentary film can be used to effect change,This is a Patchwork film project, meaning its made up of lots of small contributions from film-makers all over the UK to make one large visual record.I am currently in St. Thomas' Hospital, London suffering with a recurring bout of my illness CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). I have been here for 9 weeks and during this time I have witnessed people struggle to get social workers, apply for benefits, homeless people not being helped by the Homeless Discharge Co-ordinator employed to do so, Doctors asking patients to remind Nurses of what drugs to give them etc.Whether it's a Nurse, Benefits Advisor, Social Worker or patient everyone had stories to tell about how the most vulnerable people in society are not being helped by a system they most likely paid considerable tax into - but when they hit on hard times are refused what is rightfully there's.This is a platform to bring these people's voices and experiences to a large UK audience. Initially to be built as a knowledge and information database at http://www.athousandvoices.org for journalists, politicians and the public at large it will be made up of filmed interviews of people describing the problems, impacts and possible solutions they found as they encountered the UK Welfare System.Later, I'd like to edit down these interviews with others from Politicians and other commentators to make a full length documentary film for cinema release.It can be an interview with anybody about anything related to their experiences with the Welfare System E.g. NHS, Income Support, Incapacity Benefits, JSA, DLA, Social Services etc.So, if you're interested in contributing or if you or someone you know would make a good subject, drop me an email with your contact details and how you'd like to be involved.

http://www.athousandvoices.og