Tranquil Short Film Gives a Shoutout to Young People’s Views on ‘Life After Lockdown’

NCS and Karmarama, part of Accenture Interactive, have partnered with poet and director Caleb Femi to launch 'Life After Lockdown', a visual manifesto and statement of intent that reveals how ‘Generation Lockdown’ see their future post Covid-19.

Crowdsourcing opinions from NCS’s network of British teenagers through online and social, the spoken word piece highlights what really matters to this generation now, following research that revealed that more than two thirds (75%) of young people feel their voice is not heard in society, despite their futures being impacted the most.

Karmarama enlisted the first Young People’s Laureate, Caleb Femi, to create the visual manifesto. Featured in the Dazed100 list of the next generation shaping youth culture, his previous collaborations include Kano, the Tate Modern and the BFI.

Caleb directs a short film that follows the journey of three teenagers, coming of age during lockdown. The film is told through moving image, photography and content submitted by NCS grads, scored with poetry, original music and soundscapes. The statement of intent outlines young people’s hopes and dreams whilst reflecting on the lockdown period. It projects the journey of self-development many have taken during lockdown, from the personal impact ('becoming our own teachers'), to the changes in community ('every person in my neighbourhood is my cousin') to wider societal developments with the Black Lives Matters movement ('shout-out to those who stood for equality'). Building to a climactic finish, the piece ends on a positive note stating that together, 'we’re ready to rebuild the world'.

'Life After Lockdown' forms part of the wider NCS ‘No We Can’ campaign, which aims to give a voice to a generation ready to speak their mind, inciting independence and helping them turn a lifetime of being told they are too young into a collective voice that tells the world what they can achieve.

Jamie Mancini, creative director at Karmarama, said: “It’s no secret that young people got dealt a tough hand during the crisis months. ‘Life After Lockdown’ was an opportunity to offer them a platform to have their voices heard – not only on their own futures but to comment on a world that needed rebuilding. The result is a candid and hope filled piece of work, a testament to a resilient and optimistic generation.”

Marketing director at NCS, Adam Boita, said: "NCS is here to give a platform and a voice to a generation ready to speak it's mind. Capturing the hopes and dreams of teens from up and down the country on what life can be post Covid, this beautiful film and poem from Caleb is a constant reminder of the enduring power and passion of youth using their words and their voices. No We Can."

To read more on NCS or have your own voice heard, visit the website.