When a group of high-school friends post a rumour about a rival, it sparks a chain reaction that leaves no one untouched, Cyberbullying, sexting, filmed fights and police action follow – will these friends be Tagged forever?
That’s the premise behind the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s first dramatic educational film, Tagged, a 17-minute short produced by Melbourne’s Great Southern Communications (GSC), directed by Chris Benz and shot over seven days earlier this year in Melbourne at Brighton Secondary College and Northcote High School. ACMA is also executive producer, with GSC’s Simon Whitney producing.
The film is scripted by Damien Power, in consultation with ACMA staff. Tagged was shot on the new Sony F3 HD camera.
Designed for classroom use, Tagged is a complete educational package that is complemented by flexible lesson plans. Supplementary character interviews provide additional material to help students engage with the cybersafety issues explored in Tagged. Through guided lessons, students are encouraged to reflect on how their online actions could have real life consequences.
Key cast are all Victorian and many are newcomers to acting on screen: Lisa Marie Shaw, Stephanie Mauro, Georgia Engels, Rowan Hills and Lucia Emmerichs.
Tagged will be released online and officially launched by the Hon. Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on September 23 at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The trailer (below) can also be seen at www.cybersmart.gov.au/tagged.aspx.