OKRE connects the film, TV, and gaming industries with researchers and lived experience to create entertainment that sparks real social change

About Us

OKRE is a catalyst for entertainment content challenging misleading perceptions.
Find out more

OKRE Fund Case Study: My Blonde GF

In short film My Blonde GF, Helen’s world is turned upside down when she discovers that her face has been digitally edited on to images of women in sexually explicit and often violent situations. The film was nominated in the 'Best Short Documentary' category at The Grierson Awards 2024.

“Although we never see the images in question, we see the impact they have as we witness Helen viewing the manipulated videos herself. For me, this is more powerful than actually witnessing them firsthand, as we’re forced to truly reckon with the very human face affected by this heinous act.”

Short of the Week

ABOUT

Why did OKRE choose to support My Blonde GF?

My Blonde GF is a powerful short film which tackles the troubling issue of non-consensual deepfake pornography, released in May 2023 on Guardian Documentaries. The film tells the story of Helen Mort, a poet and writer who discovered that her social media images had been manipulated. They used an image of her head attached to a stranger’s body and were posted to a pornographic site by an anonymous user. The film seeks to reclaim Helen’s image and explores crucial themes of privacy, consent and the emotional impact of this new era of abuse.

My Blonde GF’s exploration of the issues surrounding deepfake technology aligns with OKRE’s mission to support projects that drive awareness around important new and lesser-known societal issues.

COLLABORATION

How did OKRE support collaboration?

Lived Experience & Experts

  • OKRE played a crucial role in the development of My Blonde GF by fostering key collaborations between survivor Helen Mort and leading experts in psychology and law.
  • The support and facilitation enabled the film’s production team to work closely with Dr Afrodifi Pina, a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, and Professor Clare McGlynn, a Professor of Law specialising in image-based sexual abuse.

Iterative Process

  • OKRE facilitated an iterative process from the very start and funded an extended development phase, allowing the filmmakers to continually refine their approach based on expert feedback.
  • We were able to bridge the gaps between academia and film production, bringing everyone onto the same page and ensuring that Helen’s story was handled with the utmost care to avoid any risk of re-traumatisation during the process.

Feedback on Collaboration

  • Dr Pina highlighted the significance of OKRE’s involvement; noting at the OKRE Summit 2024 that “as an academic, I had no experience with film whatsoever”.
  • Others also felt that the collaboration was a huge success, with Rosie Morris noting that it was “incredible” and Dr Pina deeming it “amazing”.

AWARDS

Shortlisted for Grierson Awards Best Documentary Short 2024

  • My Blonde GF was shortlisted for Grierson Awards Best Documentary Short 2024.
  • This highlights the powerful storytelling and impact of the short documentary, and we are incredibly proud of the team’s hard work and dedication.
  • Being recognised by the Grierson Awards, which celebrates excellence in documentary filmmaking, is an honour and will serve in helping My Blonde GF to reach further audiences.

OKRE Summit 2024

OKRE Focus: My Blonde GF

Abisoye Adelusi hosted our first OKRE Focus panel on Rebecca Mark-Lawson and Rosie Morris’ short film My Blonde GF. The panel also featured Dr Afroditi Pin. We looked into how My Blonde GF shows the deeply traumatic mental impact of non-consensual deepfake revenge pornography, through the eyes and emotions of someone who has lived through it. We also covered how best to support the person with lived experience when producing films on such sensitive issues.

SHORT DOCUMENTARY

Watch My Blonde GF

Watch My Blonde GF below or follow the link to watch on Guardian Documentaries.
Watch on Guardian Documentaries

Interested in applying for OKRE Funding?

At OKRE, we believe in the power of storytelling to drive social impact. Our mission is to connect the entertainment industry with researchers and lived experience to create content that inspires change and offers genuine insights into real-world issues, without losing that all-important enjoyment factor.

All projects must involve creative collaboration. Strong projects involve creatives working with someone from another sector or community i.e. researchers, people with lived experience or charities working with producers or entertainment professionals.

Rosie Morris

Filmmaker

Helen Mort

Writer and poet

Related Articles

40 mins
Events, Summit, Video, Audiences

8) Discussion: How Do We Shift Storytelling with Audiences?

+ 3
Dhruti ShahTara Davanzati + 3 more