Ronan's Escape

Ronan's Escape
Ronan's Escape Movie Poster
Directed by	A.J. Carter
Written by	A.J. Carter
Starring	David Lazarus Ashleigh Zinko Ryan Cammiade Matthew Hennighan Louie Van Praag Kirstie Francis
Release date	2010
Running time	16 min
Country	Australia
Language	English

Ronan's Escape is a short film written and directed by Australia-born filmmaker A.J. Carter and produced by Academy Award Nominee, Martin Mhando. The film, set in the rural wheat belt of Western Australia, provides a candid insight into the life of Ronan, a 14-year-old boy who has been bullied at school his whole life and decides to make an escape. This accurate and controversial portrayal^[1][2] of life for someone who has fallen victim to bullying and the repercussions which exist, is told in a unique, exposition intensive format with very little use of dialogue. Ronan's Escape presents arbitrary scenes rather than traditional storytelling which provokes audiences into discussion and interpretation of the scenes on a more personal level while reflecting on their own experiences.

Plot

At school during break, a bully named Ryan (played by Ryan Cammiande), kicks a ball at a young boy, Ronan (played by David Lazarus), sitting alone by himself causing him to fall down, and everyone laughs at him. While restraining himself afterwards he finds a wounded bird and puts it in his bag. Later, during gym class, the teacher (played by Louie Van Praag) organizes a baton race. While preparing, another bully, named Colin (played by Matthew Henningham), sneakily unties the laces on Ronan's shoes so he trips just as he nears the finish line causing him to get jeered by his classmates including Sally (played by Ashleigh Zinko), a girl who actually trusted that Ronan could win for her team, but lost faith in him after Ryan confessed that he told her he was a loser.

On the bus ride home afterwards Ronan's bag is stolen by Justin (played by James Tayler), who tosses it about with everyone else. Ronan retrieves his bag and walks back to his seat amidst teasing from everyone. After this, he gets off the bus and walks up to a tree near his home with a tire swing on it, instead of going home. Eventually he finds the bird in his bag that has now been killed due to Justin tossing it around on the bus. Ronan buries it and then finds a piece of paper that says "Loser" on it, which is what everyone has been calling Ronan. Later on his mother (played by Kristie Francis) has been talking to another woman but then starts searching for her son after being made aware that Ronan was not on the bus that passed by her house. She gets worried as she looks out into the trees where Ronan is. While the sun is setting it is shown that Ronan has hung himself off the tree with the rope from the tire swing.

Cast

• David Lazarus as Ronan, a boy who is bullied by everyone at school. He eventually hangs himself, unable to take anymore.
• Ashleigh Zinko as Sally, a girl who is actually friendly to Ronan at the start but later joins with everyone else.
• Ryan Cammiande as Ryan, a teenager at Ronan's school. He is the first person who is seen bullying Ronan.
• Louie Van Praag as Gymn Teacher, Ronan's school teacher. He seems to be unaware of Ronan's constant bully problem.
• Matthew Hennighan as Colin, a bully about Ronan's age who unties Ronan's shoe lace making him trip halfway through a relay race that Ronan was winning.
• Kristie Chorley as Ronan's mother.
• James Tayler as Justin, a bully on Ronan's bus who steals his bag, killing the bird that Ronan put in it earlier on.
• Mark Kont as Bus Driver, Ronan's school bus driver. He does not stop Justin from bullying Ronan, but when Ronan gets off he wishes that he should have.

Release

Ronan's Escape premiered on 15 February 2010 at Hoyts Cinemas (Southlands, Western Australia).^[1] The film has since been screened around the world in public film festivals and has also been used in schools as an educational tool, primarily in the United States, against school bullying.^[3]

Online Reception & Pop Culture

The film has received immense support and positive reactions from fans across the globe and has been shared more than 27 Million times over Facebook & YouTube.^[4][5] Hollywood stars such a Ashton Kutcher also shared the film via Facebook & Twitter to millions of fans,^[6] as well as footage from the film being used in the music video for U.S pop star Demi Lovato's smash hit 'Believe in Me',^[7] contributed to the film forming its own presence in pop culture among teens associated with its primary theme of School Bullying.

Critical acclaim

The continued international success of Ronan's Escape has seen the film officially selected into 19 international festivals around the world and has earned a total of 13 award nominations and 10 wins.^[8] Awards include Best Short Film at the prestigious 16th Annual Sedona International Film Festival, 2010 Director's Choice Awards, presented to Carter by filmmaker Michael Moore,^[9] Best International Film at the 6th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival in Hollywood,^[10] and the World Cinema / Van Gogh award for Best Director at the 2011 Amsterdam International Film Festival.^[11]

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Ronan's Escape on IMDb
• Official film website
• A.J. Carter Films