David MylesIt has now been over two months since the premiere of Where Are the Children? was screened to a sold-out, 70-seat capacity room at the renowned Rich Mix cinema in the epicentre of Shoreditch.
Where Are the children? which is R&B/Soul singer and actor, Leyton’s first solo feature film has captivated audiences from Norway to as far afield as Australia since being made available for purchase and streamed on the artist’s website.
While the duration of the film Where Are the Children? may only be 18 minutes and 30 seconds, its creation required sedulous research; the actor painstakingly devoted “night shift” hours to completing the film. Making Where Are the Children? is analogous to spending hours studying for a one-hour exam.
Reflecting on the length of the film, Leyton said: ‘’People felt it was quite enough of what was shared in the space of 18 minutes of the film because they said it was very revealing. It was a seed that had been sown enough to the extent where it will get people to start researching and looking into things about more.’’ argues Leyton.
A Norwegian English teacher has utilised Leyton’s film as a pedagogical tool to educate students on the gravity of child trafficking and abuse. Consequently, Leyton has engaged in virtual Q&A sessions with a handful of the teacher’s students.
‘’People can only meet you as far as they have met themselves’’
Leyton describes the premiere of Where Are the Children? as an evening of triumph. The objective was to get people to elevate their thinking and see beyond what is self-evident. Individuals in abundance have confided in Leyton that his film is consistent with what has been transpiring regarding the Epstein files, which reached their zenith in the earlier months of the year. For Leyton, he remains undeterred as he is steadfast to affirm that ‘’it goes beyond Epstein stuff arguing that ‘’Epstein was a talk moment but is goes so far beyond the front man.’’
While Leyton has had tremendous support for his new film, Where Are the Children?, he acknowledges that, just like with his music, where he can be unrepentant in his convictions, the more he evolves, the more ‘’it makes them feel they have to do more work within themselves.’’ Leyton puts this succinctly: ‘’People can only meet you as far as they have met themselves’’ asserting that people who said they were part of his journey disembark when he dives deeper into areas that many are afraid to speak about unless it becomes a sensationalised moment, only to be forgotten in the blink of an eye.
Members of the public who have bestowed their eyes on the film Where Are the Children? ” are said to have been emotionally propelled to raise awareness of the film.
Describing himself as “an open book” after the screening, Leyton was astonished to see his own level of transparency matched—or, arguably, surpassed—by the inquisitive questions from the audience. Leyton vividly recalls a young person, whom he guesstimates to be no more than ten years old, asking at what age he discovered the truths revealed in the film. While Leyton cannot quote them verbatim, the youth poignantly observed: “In the world, considering what can be revealed, there is always more.”
‘’People felt it was enough of what was shared in the space of 18 minutes of the film because they said it was very revealing. It was a seed that had been sown enough to the extent where it will get people to start researching and looking into things about more,’’ argues Leyton.
Globally, over the past several months, Leyton has received copious amounts of inquiries asking whether there will be a sequel to Where Are the Children?. While Leyton never unequivocally ruled out the idea of a sequel, he is more fixated on ‘’sowing the seed for people to start doing their part.’’ Where Are the Children? in this sense serves as a microcosm of the possibilities of what could transform into a full-length film, though with an unyielding aura, Leyton is quick to lean forward and emphasise the importance of adequate investment. ‘’Until then, my purpose is to make sure this project specifically covers the issue [child trafficking] to get people to start looking differently into things,’’ says Leyton.
To complement the film Where Are the Children? Leyton’s forthcoming song will be “Save the Children,” from his latest album, Speak On Out. According to the performer, ‘’visually at the moment, I am already mapping out [the music video] for Save the Children.’’
Optimistically, Leyton aims to have completed the Save The Children video in time for what is typically the hottest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, July.
