Ronan's Escape

Ronan's Escape is a 2010 short film written and directed by A.J. Carter and produced by Martin Mhando. T

Ronan's Escape
Ronan's Escape Movie Poster
Directed byA.J. Carter
Written byA.J. Carter
StarringDavid Lazarus
Ashleigh Zinko
Ryan Cammiade
Matthew Hennighan
Louie Van Praag
Kirstie Francis
Release date
February 15, 2010
Running time
16 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

The film, set in the rural wheat belt of Western Australia, is about Ronan, a 14-year-old boy who has been bullied at school his whole life and decides to escape.

Critics have called this an accurate and controversial portrayal[1][2] of life for bullying victims. The film is told in an exposition intensive format with very little use of dialogue. Ronan's Escape presents arbitrary scenes rather than traditional storytelling.

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 him. 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.
  • Ashleigh Zinko as Sally, a girl who is actually friendly to Ronan
  • Ryan Cammiande as Ryan, a teenager at Ronan's school.
  • Louie Van Praag as Gymn Teacher, Ronan's school teacher.
  • Matthew Hennighan as Colin, a bully
  • Kirstie Chorley as Ronan's mother.
  • James Tayler as Justin, a bully on Ronan's bus
  • Mark Kont as Bus Driver, Ronan's school bus driver.

Release

Ronan's Escape premiered on 15 February 2010 at Hoyts Cinemas (Southlands, Western Australia).[1] The film has since been screened 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 been shared more than 27 Million times over Facebook and YouTube.[4][5] Footage from the film was used in the music video for Demi Lovato's song 'Believe in Me',[6]

Awards and nominations

Year Festival Award Nomination Result
2010 6th Annual HollyShorts International Film Festival Best International Film WON
2010 17th Annual Sedona International Film Festival Best Short Film WON
2011 Amsterdam International Film Festival Best Director (Van Gogh World Directing Award) WON
2011 Shorts Film Festival Best upcoming Screenwriter WON
2011 Peace on Earth Film Festival Best Short Narrative Film WON
2011 Australian Cinematographers Society Awards Best Cinematography- Short Fictional Drama WON
2011 Los Angeles International Film Festival Best Production Design WON
2011 Los Angeles International Film Festival Best Film Honorable Mention WON
2011 Peace on Earth Film Festival Best Short Film - Student Choice award WON
2012 Focus Film Festival Best Film - Best of Festival award WON

References

  1. "Ronan's Escape Red Carpet Premiere". Film & Television Institute (WA) Inc. February 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  2. "Ronan's Escape". IMDb. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  3. Carter, A.J. (13 December 2011). "Ronan's Escape official film release". A.J. Carter. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  4. https://www.facebook.com/SoFloVideo/videos/1218968148144437/
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XLcfdkkHQE
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz12ctve2sc
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