British-born actor Christopher Power is preparing to go into production this October as he adapts his acclaimed autobiographical book, Breaking Free, into what he hopes will be a must-see film.
As a small child Christopher and his siblings sat upstairs in their home in Rock Ferry, an area of Birkenhead, across the River Mersey from Liverpool, as a family friend was murdered in the hallway below and their lives were turned upside down.
After being diagnosed with hyperactivity, put into a straitjacket at a young age and having speech problems, Christopher was launched into turmoil, torn between his intelligent conscience and the gritty reality of life on a municipal council estate in the 1980’s.
The new book cover; Photo Courtesy of Christopher Power.
“I became caught up in a life of petty crime and gambling, fueled by relentless drinking and solvent abuse from a painfully young age,” he says. “My childhood revolved around running riot with a local gang, falling foul of the law, and eventually serving time at a young offender’s institute, and later in a UK remand prison.”
It was Christopher’s cry to God while in prison and chance introduction to acting that would again, change his life forever.
The film, Breaking Free, which is based on his book, tells the heart-warming, true story of an anarchistic teenager struggling to find release and liberation from his turbulent beginning, to embark on his life-altering career on stage and screen.
Former BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Wayne Clarke, said of the book: “This is a cracking story of a changed life. Highly recommended!”
Christopher with a copy of his new book; Photo Courtesy of Christopher Power.
Power’s stage and screen credits range from the award winning Christian film “For Loves Sake,” appearing in William Shakespeare plays, and also in British TV’s long-running, soap, “Coronation Street.”
He trained in his late twenties at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA,) Richmond Drama School and the Lee Strasberg School, all in London.
He told ANS, “I spent such a long time seeing people in my neighborhood dying, committing suicide or in prison that I felt I needed to be a voice for those without the strength or courage to speak out themselves. My story happened during the 70’s and 80’s but it is still very much relevant to the youth culture of today.
Christopher during his acting career; Photo Courtesy of Christopher Power.
“In April of last year, I was at a film studio and people there said that they needed a new movie that that gives youth hope rather than sensationalizing or focusing only on youth crime. I wanted to make that film which was gritty and true but has an uplifting ending.”
Christopher is co-producing with Lumino Films and will film this October in various places such as Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, and many other locations.
“If people want to support us financially or invest in Breaking Free, we have a lot of information on our website and Indiegogo. This film will inspire many and we would be grateful of any donations no matter how small,” says Christopher.
For more information, go to Breaking Free Film
Check out Dan Wooding’s article “Hope for Hurting Hearts” Gains 4 International Film Festival Honors
Dan Wooding, 73, is an award-winning journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 50 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and he hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on the KWVE Radio Network in Southern California and which is also carried throughout the United States and around the world.
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