It may as well be a gun

A young Surrey filmmaker has come runner-up in a national competition about the effects of adolescents smoking

Ollie Davis, whose video It may as well be a gun demonstrates with shocking effect, just how deadly smoking can be, came 2^nd place in the 12-15 age category at the National Cut Films Awards 2013.

The competition asked young people to research smoking, make a short film about it for their friends, upload to the Cut Films Website and share it on their social media. It’s their take on the issues associated with the dangers of smoking.

Winners of the competition, which was organised by the Deborah Hutton Campaign,  were presented with their award at a prestigious awards ceremony held at the BAFTA Headquarters in Central London July 4.

The Deborah Hutton Campaign was set up in memory of Deborah Hutton who was health editor at Vogue for over 20 years. In 2004 Deborah Hutton was diagnosed with Stage IV advanced lung cancer. She died eight months later aged just 49. Deborah smoked when she a teenager, tried her first cigarette when she was 12, smoked regularly from 17 and gave up aged 24.

Cut Films Director Emma Wrafter said: “It’s a fact that two-thirds of smokers start smoking before the age of 18. When we still have 100,000 people dying each year in the UK from smoking related illnesses, talking to young people about the risks is vital.