The 24 year old works with community groups across the city making films about their lives and experiences, in a bid to democratise the media and give everyone the chance to tell their story. After doing a studying history and politics at Lancaster University, Rachel decided that in order for people to be heard they need to be given a voice.
 | | Hard at work |
"It's really important that people produce their own media, it creates a democracy. If you only hear the same old voices nothing changes." A proper job? She became interested in film making after her friends at uni started up an independent film night called Kinematograph, screening socially conscious films from all over the world. "I felt really inspired by the films, community media is something that's really needed. It’s all about pointing out what’s under your nose but never gets noticed." Getting a grant enabled Rachel to buy her camera and edit suite and finally dive head first into community film making as a full time career. She's been doing it for about a year now and says it still feels strange.
 | | Lots of paperwork |
"I still feel like I should get a 'proper' job." Disenfranchised youth One of her films, titled 'Being Young in AG' documented the lives of young people in Acocks Green who felt alienated from their neighbourhood and victimised. "They really felt like everyone was against them, including the police," explained Rachel. "There was no inter-generational bridge, it was the youth against everyone. At least that’s how they felt anyway." Through making the film, the youths were able to tell their story, talk about how they feel about the situation and interview the local councillor and the police. Where beforehand there was no communication between the authorities and the young people, no respect or a stable relationship, there is now an improved community situation.
 | | Screen shot from Acocks Green film |
"It gave them the ideas, skills and guidance to change the problems, learning how to tell the story but also learning about other organisations and how they work, and about themselves and each other. It also gave them pride in their area and in who they are," added Rachel. Confident community Another of Rachel's films was on a new Women's gym that had opened in Balsall Heath. The gym offers local girls the opportunity to go cycling, horse riding, climbing and a range of other activities in a bid to create a healthier, more confident community. The film documented the group from their perspective as they went cycling around the city. "It's about creating a film that people have ownership of and feel proud of," said Rachel. "It's more about creating films with people than for people. The groups can show the film to funders or organisations, or use them however they want to."
 | | NHS film - work in progress |
At the moment Rachel is working on a film commissioned by the NHS, which aims to find out what people really think of our health service. Helping her out is her friend Haqi Ali, who often helps with different aspects of the film making process. He's a multi-talented person himself, a stand-up comedian who holds drama workshops for young people and has been involved with many charity organisations. High hopes Rachel has high hopes for the future, and is keen to carry on making the skills and opportunities to tell a story available to different communities.
 | | Rachel and Haqi discuss project |
"I'd like to set up a Community Media Centre, where people come and hire out equipment, use resources and talk to people. I'd like to do more educational stuff, we're hoping to do a new project in schools in Balsall Heath, filming after-school clubs for five months." Rachel then revealed plans for a Balsall Heath film festival, where participants receive "Balsall Heath Oscars" and certificates for having made the films. "If I can get more and more people making films for themselves, I want to eventually do myself out of a job," explained Rachel. "I still think there's a lot of work to be done in making sure the media isn't so elitist. It's all about creating more opportunities." | 
