It was a taste of the life of a Hollywood star for the cast of a new television drama.
Children arrived in limousines, walked the red carpet and posed for pictures for cheering of crowds of parents outside the Harbour Lights cinema in Southampton ahead of the premiere of their latest work – a school drama filmed in a city school.
Organised by Youngstar Television and Film School, the event is in its tenth year and normally features the school’s pupils in short films, but this year was extra special as the teenage drama Darton High is soon to be screened on TV.
Two years in the making, Darton High, written by Sandra Philip, is designed to be a modern version of popular children’s drama Grange Hill.
It was filmed at Redbridge Community School and involved 80 children aged five to 18 who attend Youngstar Television and Film School from Hedge End, Redbridge, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh and Fareham. The school has filmed the first three episodes, but will be making more as the drama is to be shown weekly after Christmas on Freeview channel That’s Solent.
Maddie Storey, 13, from Totton, said of her red carpet moment: “It was absolutely amazing and it was such a big crowd. It has given me a taste of what it’s like to be a star – it’s like I’m famous for a day.”
School principal Louisa Hart, who appeared in Hamble-based TV drama Howard’s Way as a child, said there were few chances for children to get on screen outside of London so Darton High was a great opportunity for Southampton children. Youngstar is looking for more young children to get involved in Darton High.
Log on to youngstar.tv or call 023 8047 7717.
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