Split Second TAC: Hawthorn‘s Felix Barnett to make drink-driving awareness film

A rookie Hawthorn filmmaker is set to shake up views on drink driving and get his big break as the winner of a youth film competition.

A rookie Hawthorn filmmaker wants to change his peers’ views on drink driving after being gifted the opportunity to make a $70,000 short film.

Felix Barnett, 22, was chosen out of 300 entries as the winner of the Transport Accident Commission’s annual Split Second competition.

The competition gives people aged 18-25 to create a 45-second film that addresses low-level speeding or drink driving.

Mr Barnett will work with a leading production agency to film and produce his entry ‘To Die For’ once Covid-19 restrictions lift.

The film focuses on a bartender making a cocktail and will be shown in Village Cinemas complexes across Victoria throughout summer.

Mr Barnett said while he had never been personally impacted by a road tragedy, he wanted drivers in his age group to realise they were not invincible on the roads.

“There’s those thoughts like ‘I’m little bit over, but I’ll be all right’ and always a little excuse, and it would be good to get people to question that a little bit more,” he said.

“With my friendship group there is that feeling of invincibility we think we have and we might not lose it until something happens, and I don’t want to be in position where this has a personal meaning or effect on me.”

TAC spokeswoman Jo Whyte said Mr Barnett’s film would “make audiences think about their driving behaviours”.

“Supporting Victoria’s youngest creatives is more important than ever, and we’re proud to be able to give Felix some real-world experience and hopefully help kickstart his career,” she said.