Members of Brandsome, a media company from Germany, interview PPI-NI participant Ben McCone during the recent Spring Jam Tournament.
PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland (PPI-NI) recently hosted a cameraman, sound engineer, editor, and producer from Brandsome, a German media company based just outside of Munich. Sponsored by Laureus, the crew creates several short television films a year about youth from all over the world (recent locations include Israel, South Africa, Germany, Haiti, and Brazil) and the difference sports make in their lives. Their next film focuses on Northern Ireland and in particular two PPI-NI participants: one Catholic and one Protestant.
Film lengths are about 22 minutes and are broadcast by SPORT1, a German television channel. This particular film will briefly outline Northern Ireland’s historical conflict, as well as the every-day lives of children and their families, schools, neighborhoods, and friends. The film will also introduce the work of PeacePlayers and include our recent Spring Jam Tournament.
For the duration of their visit, the film crew spent significant time with Amy Murphy and Ben McCone. Amy attends Little Flower Girls’ School and has participated in PPI-NI programming at multiple levels for several years. She has even completed two work placements with us. Ben goes to school at Edenbrook Primary School and has recently participated in a PPI-NI primary school twinning. The two participants met and interacted this past spring during one of PPI-NI’s Junior Belfast Interface Leagues.
While they were filming in Northern Ireland, the members of Brandsome observed the legacy of The Troubles. They couldn’t help but notice the “Free Marian Price” graffiti as they drove toward Amy’s house for a film session. With typical Northern-Irish hospitality, Amy and her mother had coffee, tea, and sandwiches ready for the crew upon their arrival at the home.
In some ways a typical teenager, conversation with Amy ranged from her experimental hair styles to her upcoming 18th birthday. She also talked about volunteering for PeacePlayers and the importance of tests at school since she’s a year-and-a-half away from university. According to her mother, “she’ll always be a part of PeacePlayers.”
Brandsome also interviewed Amy’s mother, who grew up three minutes from her current home but has also lived in London and Manchester. When asked about The Troubles, she said, “It’s so complicated, and there are so many versions. Our neighborhood tells our version, and Protestant neighborhoods tell theirs. There are good and bad people on both sides. I was never heavily involved, but it was just something you got used to. You got on with your daily life.”
Coach-in-Training Amy Murphy congratulates a team at PPI-NI’s Spring Jam Tournament.
Brandsome also filmed and interviewed Ben at Spring Jam, outside his school, and in his home in Northwest Belfast. Tall and blond, he is the second-oldest child in his family of six. He shares a bedroom with his two brothers. The only family member absent from the film session was Ben’s dad, who hadn’t yet returned from work. “Meals and Memories are made here” read a sign in the kitchen. With the film crew, Ben and his family discussed homework, household chores, PeacePlayers, and the Taekwando trophies that adorn his bedroom.
The film has not yet aired, but we look forward to showing off our Champions 4 Peace when it does!
