Always on
This project successfully funded on 1st January 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
HIRED - Short Film About Systemic Workplace Abuse
Sale, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
Aim
Post Production funding for finalising the project and distribute the film to fight against workplace exploitation of young people in UK.
Welcome to our Crowdfunding Page. This project is the beginning of a bigger plan. We are a company dedicated to help and support young people, businesses and charities who are working for Social and Environmental positive change. We are collaborating with local charities and government bodies to create information and conversation around difficult and unfair subjects.
you can read more about our community work further down this page.
Thank you for being here, we appreciate your support.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
When Sam lands his first job as a professional performer, he quickly realises that the world he was promised is merely a façade for a much harsher reality.
Sam receives a phone call; he has been hired as a performer in children’s entertainment. Excited to start his career, his dreams begin to fade as he comes to understand the darkness that lurks within the industry and how untrustworthy people can be.
Short film: 10-15 min
Stage: Postproduction
HIRED is a social commentary which explores how the current work force exploits young people looking for opportunities at the beginning of their careers. This film delves into the faults of the creative industry in particular, however, this is an issue which spans across all professions. It is a raw and transparent depiction of the excitement and expectation which comes alongside the invitation to be a part of the system, and the disappointment and betrayal that follows. Managers and businesses fail to deliver on promises, they neglect their staff, forcing young people into situations where they are not only time bound but barely paid enough to survive.
Hired was shot in collaboration with Altrincham Town hall, who supported the project by providing their venue.
THE PRODUCTION
HIRED is our way of starting a conversation and highlighting this issue to those who need to hear it most. The aim is to bring together those who can affect change within their respective industries with those who need this change the most. We also want to educate young people about workers rights and make them aware of problems they may face, such as fraudulent job applications.
The cycle of exploitation ends here.
We need your help to finalise this production and get HIRED out into the world.
With your support we can get the sound and music composed and mixed as well as getting a professional editor and VFX artist. Your contributions will also allow us to distribute the film on several platforms and screen it at film festivals. It will also support a distribution to youth organisations.
To accommodate our small budget, and ensure everyone in our production was treated fairly, we decided to make our set a mentoring experience. The crew consisted of senior crew, students and post-graduates. Every department had a senior member with one or more students who had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and training.
The film is a collage of lived experiences from the writer and director Tonks, who started working in the creative industry in Sweden at the age of 7. It is a creative expression of the ups and downs one faces when working in the industry.
THE TEAM
TONKS BLOM - WRITER/DIRECTOR
Tonks is proudly presenting her 6th short film and the next in her series of critical society reflections and social issues.
She has established an impressive career across multiple disciplines of creative production as a performer, technician, director and producer. This holistic understanding of the creative process is evident in every A Lá Tonks Production.
DIRECTORS TAKE
Tonks recalls being young and succumbing to heavy exploitation within the creative industry. Then there was a shift, with the #MeToo movement, came a change of attitude and policy. Rules were put in place to protect young people, from being taken advantage of. That is the world she came to know and love.
However, the scale seems to be shifting once again. The rules are still in place although they seem to have been forgotten and consequently those being exploited now are not making enough money to survive. This problem persists across all industries, not just creative. Empathy, along with workers’ pay cheques, is disappearing and open abuse is becoming more prominent.
XANDER MOURNIEM DUNBAR - COMPOSER
From Carmarthenshire, Wales, Xander Mourniem Dunbar is a rising talent in the space of score composition and has established an excellent reputation as a sound technician. He plays a critical role in ensuring high-quality audio in all our work. He collaborates closely with producers, directors and performers to understand the specific requirements of the project. His intention is to create complex and nuanced elements that blend seamlessly with our footage to tell the story and help the audience resonate with our art.
PIERS HUNTE DUNNE - EDITOR/DOP
Piers has built a life long career in editing. He has worked with big names from the sporting world among many others. He has a deep understanding of creative workflows and how to turn raw footage into a commercial success. Piers is devoted to the project not only in the editorial role, but also as the DOP with a wider understanding of the script and the purpose.
MATEUSZ SZYMAŃSKI - “Sam”
Originally from Poland, raised in London, Mateusz has built a reputation as an actor who is deeply passionate about each role he plays. With a degree in World Performance he brings a unique blend of creative and international insight, understanding the art from both a script point of view and as a physical element.
FINANCES BREAKDOWN
DISTRIBUTION
We want to distribute the film as widely as possible so we can reach the necessary audiences. From those who can relate to it, letting them know they’re not alone to businesses and schools who can make an impact by sharing the message. You are a part of that.
The film will be distributed to several international online streaming platforms for free and paid distribution. along with the film, we also will supply educational contacts for anyone looking for support in the matter.
It will also be submitted to a range of carefully selected film festivals nationally and internationally, and it will be distributed to creative communities and acting co-operations for further reach.
In the next step we are hoping to screen this film in schools to make young people aware of workers rights
There will be both an inhouse screening in Manchester and online screening available for backers.
You will receive a pamphlet with vital information about this cause that can help you continue the conversation.
CONTINOUS WORK
We will not stop here, A la Tonks production continue to work for positive social change. Any further funding will go towards funding new equipment for our company, so we can continue making art that matters. The equipment will also allow us to initiate production for our first Feature Film for 2026.
A La Tonks Productions Films has developed over the years, and we really found our cause in 2024 shooting and delivering a Documentary from Portugal on Sustainable living and Permaculture. Now we collaborate with small businesses, charities and environmental groups and we are looking for long term sponsors to help us continuing this work with us. To tell their stories and create educational but entertaining media for the people who need it the most.
Anything over the stretch goal will go directly to help fund marketing material for local charities to create more outreach.
We are already working closely with several projects to help curate their message and spread awareness. If you want to know more about our charity work, please contact us.
We are also open to collaborate with workers rights group and organisations to help us curate this message. It is of importance to us that we provide a fair representation to the subject and the target-group and we will be in contact with the right officials in our post stage to curate a factually correct message.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made