Following three weeks of conceptualisation and pre-production, the shoot for Crown Jewelz’ ‘Think Twice’ took place over seven hours at Club Venus in Manchester’s city centre with a crew of eleven and a cast of twenty-five in December 2008. We were pleased to give hands-on work experience to students from both Trafford College and Salford University.

Once again post-production and dubbing was carried out over a week at our in-house editing suite. A rough cut was then screened for Crown Jewelz and his representatives and, following their creative input, a cut of the video was then re-edited in January 2009.

From January to May 2009 Serious Feather then set to work accruing testimonials from a variety of public figures in support of the video single’s clear and memorable anti-knife/anti-gun crime message.

Manchester-based Marvin ‘Crown Jewelz’ Gilbert (25) has been rapping since he was 8 years old. Over this time he has performed at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Academy and supported DefJam’s New York-based rap artist Nas at Manchester’s Apollo. A dedicated youth worker who regularly tours schools and colleges throughout the region, he is committed to producing ‘music with a message’ in an effort to draw attention to many of the serious issues which affect teenagers and young adults today.

 


Social

Testimonials

" I am committed to inspiring and producing 'music with a message' that addresses the motivations and aspirations of children and young adults throughout Greater Manchester, as well as the rest of the UK."

- Marvin 'Crown Jewelz' Gilbert

 

"'I think it's a great idea that [Serious Feather and Crown Jewelz] are taking time out to try to stop knife and gun crime. Many young lives have been lost over the last few years. Killing puts an end to the victims families lives as well as the young person. My life stopped when Andrew's did.'"

- Joan Holland, Mother of Andrew Holland (16), Greater Manchester, 2007

 

"I fully support the aims of Crown Jewelz’s new charity single ‘Think Twice’. It sends exactly the right message to young people that if you carry a knife you’re more likely to become a victim yourself. I hope that those who listen to the song remember that knives kill and they shatter families’ lives too. I am especially pleased that it is dedicated to Pat Regan, whose tireless dedication to the cause was an inspiration to all of us."

- Jacqui Smith, Former Home Secretary

 

"The charity single ‘Think Twice’ is an excellent opportunity to spread the message about gun and knife crime. Marvin Gilbert also has a unique voice as an artist and a youth worker and I would encourage everyone to support this extremely worthy scheme."

- Paul Rowen, MP for Rochdale

 

"The work Serious Feather are doing is invaluable, and this project will undoubtedly raise awareness of the serious problems of gun and knife crime both in our community and across the country. Serious Feather’s commitment to working with young people on projects like this one is fantastic.’"

- Beverly Hughes, MP for Stretford and Urmston