Hi , we are the students from Longford Community School, involved in the Step Up walk to school film project. We are all really excited to have been chosen to be a part of this oppurtunity, and are looking forward to the new experience, working alongside talented filmakers. We have never been involved in a film promotion before and are very eager to experience how a short film is made. As part of this we are all looking very forward to the end result ! :)

Here are the filmmakers, students from the Universty of Westminster. They are (from left to right) Lewis, Marianne, Ross, Chinami, Max, Kathryn, Birtukan, Vicky (and Robbie, Ged and Carol who aren't in the photo)

Monday 19th July

8.30am

It's early in the morning. Everyone is tired and no one is talking. Miss is encouraging us to get more chatty, but it just isnt happening, we are having a meeting about the roles of the group.We soon get warm to the idea and start engaging in the conversation.

After the meeting the crew bring out some food as we were all very hungry. Just after a few minutes the food is nearly gone!

9am

First rehearsal, it was very hot. Everyone was restless waiting for break .Everyone is listening and we had two succesful shootings and one unsuccesful take.

10.30am

The actors learning their lines!

11.30am

The famous 'pimped pumps'.

12 noon

Ralique and Mohammed working on the rap for the rap scene !

12.15pm

James and Alfie, the Longford bloggers!

1pm

Christian learning his lines with the amazing Miss Mensah.

2pm

The new David Attenborough!

What did we think of today?

Nicole's best bit was 'taking part in the filming'. Billie liked 'spending the day with friends'. Lydia enjoyed 'the food!'. Christian liked the filming, and he found it interesting how they do it. Christian was less happy about 'messing up the script', but producer Marianne and director Ross both said he was brilliant. Christian commented 'I'm a movie star!'.

Tuesday 20th July

9am

Miss Mensah's big day! She plays the role of 'boring head teacher'!

...and all the students get to play bored school kids!

10.30am

After a very long shoot in the hall, we get to go outside and run around for the next bit

11am

These visitors reading the script are the road safety team from the London Borough Of Hounslow. They are (from left to right) Maninder Soor, Road Safety Officer, Aisha Butt, School Travel Adviser , and Allison McGann, School Crossing Patrol and In Car Safety Advisor. They came to see how filming was getting on.

12noon

Mohammed doing his rap to an invisible audience. They get added later!

1pm

'Clarkson ' from 'Shoe Gear' sitting in an invisible car

2pm

'Clarkson', 'Hammond' and 'May'

What did we think of today?

Miss Mensah (English and drama teacher at Longford) said her best bit was 'wearing the funny glasses', in her role as a boring teacher, and she found remembering her lines the hardest thing. Adrian (whose part was unfortunately not filmed, due to lack of time) said he liked the food, and enjoyed missing lessons, but it did get boring at certain times.

more comments to follow... when we have recovered!

... and watch this space for news about our film!

Update: March 2011:

You can see the Longford film here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnSyd24uE-k . In 2011 more than 300,000 students acros England wil see the film in their school assemblies, as part of Free Your Feet, the walking challenge for secondary schools. Well done Longford!