A talented actor is encouraging residents to help her realise her dream of creating a feature film while raising funds for a cause close to her heart.
Ambitious 17-year-old Sarah Stott, who used to live in Dumbarton, came up with the idea for romantic comedy In Living Memory and employed a screen writer to bring the characters to life.
She has a team of actors who are ready to shoot but has now launched a fundraiser to raise the money needed to get it off the ground.
Sarah has enlisted the help of her family, who live in the area, to take part in a walkathon – with some of the proceeds to be donated to diabetes charities after being diagnosed with the condition at the age of nine.
Sarah, who has appeared in a number of student and independent films, said: “I found that it is hard to get acting jobs for my age group. Film makers tend to use older actors who look younger.
“I decided to do my own feature film to include young people and my main cast ages range from 15 to 19.
“I wanted to give them the opportunity to be featured in a film.
“I had a number of ideas but I decided on going with my idea that became In Living Memory.
“I knew script writer AJ Winters from working with her. I contacted her last April and asked her if she would be interested in writing the script. AJ has done a great job of bringing my idea to life.
“I then decided to audition for my main cast so that I could do some promotional videos. I held a number of auditions and found a great cast.”
Sarah told how her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in 2014 has given her the determination to reach for the stars, saying: “I had just turned nine. I can’t remember what it was like to not be diabetic, I think it has made me more determined to follow my dreams. I don’t let anything stop me.”
The film follows the story of Ava who is recovering from the death of her sister.
Sarah says it’s about recovery and the importance of friendship and love.
She continued: “This has been something I have wanted to do since I started acting. I am very passionate about acting and I am so excited to start filming.
“The cast I have are amazing and we all get on so well, they are as excited as I am. I’ve enjoyed the experience so far, the hardest part is funding.
“I will be looking at producers when I have sufficient funds to employ one.
“I am hoping that the film will be screened at cinemas or that Netflix or some similar network will pick it up.”
Sarah now lives in Perth in Western Australia after moving there at the age of four with mum Allison, dad Alistair and brother Ben, 19.
She keeps in close contact with her family, who still stay in Dumbarton and told how they have been helping to spread the word about her fundraiser.
Sarah added: “I decided that one of my fundraisers would be a walkathon – it’s a good time of year to get fit, and my character Ava is into keeping herself fit.
“I have family in Dumbarton who are helping recruit people to take part. I am hoping to have as many people as possible participate.”
Five percent of the money raised will go to the Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre in Australia and diabetes research fundraiser JDRF.
She said: “I went on camp with the family centre a few years ago and made a number of friends who have diabetes.
“I spend a lot of time with one of them, my friend Janna. It helps to have someone who knows what it is like to live with diabetes.”
Anybody wishing to find out more about the walkathon or donate can visit here.
