DIRECTOR | SELF SHOOTER | EDITOR
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
Tottenham, London - April 8th 2019 - Tottenham-based filmmaker Eren Kaplan has made a short documentary that aims to combat what he sees as sensationalist reporting on his local high street, West Green Road. The 30-minute-long film will make its online debut on April 19th 2019.
The film counters the conclusions of the Royal Society of Public Health’s November 2018 report Health on the High Street, which ranked West Green Road as “London’s unhealthiest high street”: https://www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/health-on-the-high-street/2018.html. The report awarded wellbeing points for the presence of leisure centres, health services, libraries, museums and art galleries, whilst taking away points for payday lenders, bookmakers, tanning salons and fast food outlets. The report, however, excluded businesses that many consider to positively contribute to the local area’s health and wellbeing, such as stores selling a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, private gyms and health clubs, bakeries, or restaurants specialising in nutritionally balanced dishes.
Honest, amusing and deeply human, Kaplan’s film London’s “Unhealthiest” High Street is a story about a united, strong community that has great optimism for its future. The film develops through a series of intimate interviews with residents and local traders, exploring how existing businesses on West Green Road contribute to the overall health and wellbeing in the area. Featuring a combination of digital, super 8 and aerial drone footage the film provides an engaging viewing experience.
The production was only made possible by both personal and financial contributions from local businesses. When premiered on the March 22nd at a local auditorium the film generated a unanimously positive response from local residents, traders, political representatives and activists.
Kaplan commented: “As well as reminding local residents and traders what makes West Green Road special, I hope the film reaches out to those who have not yet taken advantage of what the street has to offer. By highlighting businesses and individuals that are already making positive contributions, the film aims to encourage others to follow their example. Ultimately, I hope the documentary will bring the RSPH and the mainstream media to rethink their approach.”
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Eren Kaplan is a Tottenham born filmmaker of mixed European heritage. Having previously studied at the renowned Brit School and recently graduated in Film Production from the Bournemouth Film School, Kaplan has so far developed a body of work demonstrating a keen interest in the challenges inherent to the human condition. Among Eren’s short fiction films is ‘Portsdown Park’, recently screened at the BFI and exploring themes of human vulnerability within the precariousness of contemporary UK social housing sector. On the other hand, the short documentary ‘Kackar’ is an example of Eren’s preoccupation with exploring increasingly conflicted, human-environment interactions. Filmed in the mountainous regions of North Eastern Turkey, this short documentary portrays the fragility of traditional ways of life being threatened by impending, structural modernisation plans. Currently, Kaplan plans to continue pursuing documentary filmmaking, with the aim of giving greater visibility to underrepresented communities and individuals.
For the film's Facebook page please visit www.facebook.com/londonsunhealthiesthighstreet.
Sponsors supporting the film include Roneford Catering, Banc Restaurant, Bom Pecado, Cafe Lemon, 9round fitness, Bind Yoga, Uptown Cuisine, Uncle John’s Bakery and Dayi Supermarket.
For more information contact:
Eren Kaplan - Independent Filmmaker
M: +44 7960 613836