I Am Me Scotland teamed up with Media Monty to tell Ryan’s Story, highlighting the challenges of growing up in difficult circumstances and the issues that vulnerable youths may face in their daily lives.
Renfrewshire-based charity I Am Me Scotland approached us to create Ryan’s Story, a short, impactful film to be included in their educational resources. The charity works to support schools, young offenders and institutions across Scotland, by providing tools to educate young people on the dangers of crime.
The film follows Ryan, a young man reflecting on his childhood dreams of being a footballer, growing up in poverty, and the struggles that led him into crime at an early age.

The initial storyline was created in partnership with I Am Me Scotland and young offenders in Polmont Y.O.I. It was based on true live events, and therefore, it was essential to show characters, environments, and locations that were true to the real-life experiences of those involved.
Lacking support and surrounded by negative influences, Ryan made choices that shaped his life in ways he now regrets. The film emphasizes how one bad decision can change everything, and how quickly getting involved with the wrong people can lead to a path you don’t want to go down.
To bring this story to life, we cast two talented young actors: Josh Kilpatrick to portray Ryan as a 19-year-old in prison, reflecting on his choices, and Luke Wilson to play his younger self, capturing the key moments that led him down a dangerous path. We also cast a range of secondary characters, including Ryan’s mum, Jaz, and other kids involved in street crime, to highlight the influences and relationships that shaped Ryan’s journey.
The locations included the Young Offenders Institution in Polmont, which set an authentic tone for Ryan’s time in prison. We also filmed in a flat to depict Ryan’s home and captured scenes in local parks and streets in Paisley.


The film was featured in a segment on STV News, highlighting I Am Me’s work to address crime, exploitation, and grooming. Ryan’s story is set to be shown in schools, aiming to educate students about the dangers of street crime.
Also, here are some behind-the-scenes photos from the project.
Thank you to everyone involved with the project.
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