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Title: TRACKS

Reference number: 7617

Date: 2006

Director: d. Martin Smith

Producer: Karen Smyth

Sound: sound

Original format: HDV

Colour: col

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 10.00 mins

Description: Enmeshed in a life where violence is second nature, 13 year old Nico is badly beaten by his brother while playing with fireworks. Angry and frustrated, he steals his brothers’ cat, taking it far from the city. Unable to return home, he meets up with some other kids, and they head to the railway tracks to play. When two of the boys commit an act of mindless brutality, Nico is compelled by the frenzied horror of earlier events to join in. As the day draws to a close, the boys break up and head home and Nico is left to contemplate the consequences of his actions. Beautifully shot, this shocking but naturalistic portrayal of the cruelty of childrens’ lives features an amazing debut performance from newcomer David McNeil in as powerful, raw and affecting film.

Winner of BAFTA Scotland Best Short Film. [synopsis from Scottish Screen brochure "New Films, New Talent, Best of Scottish Shorts 2006]

DigiCult: A low-budget digital film project that creates a talent pool of twenty directors, writers, producers and crafts-people. The aim is to encourage experimentation and innovation within the digital medium. Five short films are made per year with budgets of up to £5,000.

Credits: UK Film Council and Glasgow Media Access Centre presents A Digicult Project in association with Sciottish Screen.

w. and d. Martin Smith
p. Karen M. Smyth

Nico David McNeil
Ryan Tony Martin
Stevie Ryan Wallace
Cal John Cowan
Marko Paul Stewart

d. ph. Tom Townend
casting d. Kahleen Crawford
sd. rec. Chris Cameron
ed. Martin Smith
offline facilities La Belle Allee Productions
p. co-ordinator Julia Watson
p. designer Annmarie McKenna
wardrobe supervisor Anna Robbins
hair and make-up Julie Cain
chaperone Caroline Stewart
focus puller Raymond Knutsen
camera runner Grant Wragg
camera driver Neil McCormack
runner Rhea MacDonald
stills ph. Reuben Paris
p. man. Pamela Nelson
locations man. Derek Henderson
ass. ed. Nikki McChristie
online ed. James Alcock
online facilities La Belle Allee Productions
dubbing mixer John Cobban
animal handler Dave Stewart

For GMAC
p. Karen O'Hare
ass. p. Ciara Barry
technical support William Summers
d. of GMAC Dale Corlett

For Scottish Screen
short film exec. Julia Caithness

For UK Film Council
project co-ordinator Paul Hewlett

exec. p. Caroline Cooper Charles, Paul Welsh
With special thanks to La Belle Allee Productions

Made with the support of the UK Film Council's New Cinema Fund and supported by The National Lottery through Scottish Screen.

© UK Film Council and GMAC MMVI