Text film profits help industry

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Cassie crashes the car when she sends a text message from behind the wheel

Profits from a road safety video that became an internet hit will be used to encourage young filmmakers.

The short film Cow, starring young actors from south Wales, shows the death of four people after a teenager uses her mobile phone to send a text.

The graphic four-minute scene has been seen by more than 7m people after it was posted on YouTube.

Any income generated will be used to commission crime prevention films and award bursaries to young filmmakers.

The film illustrates the devastating consequences of texting while driving for a fictional 17-year-old girl called Cassie Cowan in Tredegar, Blaenau Gwent.

Brynmawr filmmaker Peter Watkins-Hughes produced it for Gwent Police as an educational tool for young motorists.

Having seen the film, many people have said that they will never use a mobile phone again whilst driving Mick Giannasi, chief constable, Gwent Police

The film, which was made for £10,000 and was originally to be screened in schools in the Gwent Police area only, has received coverage in the US media, and the full version will be screened on BBC Two Wales on Monday.

There have been hundreds of requests from around the world for copies of the film.

In response to the demand, Gwent Police Authority, in partnership with the international film school at the University of Wales, Newport, has established a not-for-profit organisation called the Gwent Independent Film Trust.

Any income generated from the success of Cow will be used to commission crime prevention educational films.

'Powerful message'

Gwent Police chief constable Mick Giannasi said: "I'm delighted that the people of Wales will have the opportunity to view Cow in its entirety on Monday evening.

"The clips which many people have seen on the internet are only part of a hugely impactive film which is designed to entertain whilst sending out a powerful message to people, young and old about the tragic and life-changing consequences of using a mobile phone whilst driving."

He added that the hard work of everyone involved had created "a unique film which has caught the imagination of millions of people around the world".

"Having seen the film, many people have said that they will never use a mobile phone again whilst driving," he said.

Professor Stephen Hagen, of the University of Wales, Newport, said the university was proud of the "major artistic and creative involvement in the production of Cow by its former and current students and, of course, the film's director, Peter Watkins-Hughes, a senior lecturer at the university".

Cow will be shown on BBC Two Wales on Monday, 2 November, at 2200 GMT.