Hilltop Hoods interactive film raises $34K for charity

Hilltop Hoods’ award-winning Through The Dark interactive film project, developed in association with Google Play, has raised $34,000 for CanTeen, the children’s cancer charity.

Each fan who listened to the band’s current album Drinking From The Sun, Walking Under Stars Restrung on Google Play Music and used the link at the end of the 3D animated interactive film, automatically triggered a $1 donation to CanTeen.

In partnership with Google, the money will be used to jump-start the band’s new initiative called Side of Stage. It is open to people aged 12—25 “whose lives are are currently being turned upside down by cancer, whether it’s their own or a close family member’s diagnosis or the death of a loved one.” Each year, 23,000 Australians in this age category are affected, according to CanTeen.

The idea behind the initiative is to provide cancer sufferers unprecedented access to gigs, festivals and performances. The band is asking the music industry to support the initiative. To visit the website and support Side of Stage, click here.

Major players promoter TEG, Universal Music Australia, Cattleyard Productions (Groovin’ The Moo), Lunatic Entertainment (Laneway) and Blue Max Music have already come on board.

The launch date of Side of Stage is yet to be determined.

Through The Dark came into being after band member Pressure’s eight-year-old son Liam was diagnosed with leukaemia. His chemo treatment took place over six months. Pressure explains, “Through the Dark came from my words to him to keep him positive, and keep him strong, and give him a bit of courage."

Initially, Pressure had no plans to include the song on the 2014 album Walking Under Stars, saying it was just a personal song for his son. However, the rest of the Hoods insisted. The feedback on the song was “overwhelming, people wrote in sharing their stories, and we realised we’d created something special.”

The film represents Liam’s inspirational journey of fear and hope depicted by way of two contrasting 3D animated worlds.