Many movies are based on exceptional stories. We revel in them because in that 129 minute (with a quick Google apparently this is the average film length for this decade) slot you're promised a moment of courage, dignity, humanity and we leave feeling empowered. "Yeah, I could so quit my day job, fight for a loan, work late hours and create something that gives empowerment to the group I'm a world apart from."
But when the Observer published 'Britain's 50 new radicals' I realised these are stuff of movies. An ex Bangladesh NGO worker who created a bank scheme for Hackney bound Tweens and taught them about finance in the midst of a colossal economic downturn (maybe Vera Farmiga could play the part); A fighter for the homeless using football and a Homeless World Cup to energise them and change their lives (Liam Neeson could work); a 15-year-old who catapulted London's urban music scene through a viral YouTube account – it's called SBTV, his name is Jamal Edwards, and yes he's already featured in a Google Chrome advert.
When an acclaimed actor has covered the challenging role or worked on a series of chick-flicks – sealing the deal in the public eye – a time will come when a Hollywood producer approaches them for this kind of all inspiring, american dream role. Notably they are set in America's deprived urban districts or racist southern states, but these are happening on home turf. Movie-like stories are taking place every day and perhaps in these tough times we could be a generation of most inspirational stories yet.
Check out more stories at the NESTA website, in partnership with the Observer.
Four films with stars as 'life changing' heroes:
Photograph credit: Film covers from IMDB.com
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