TEN schoolchildren are off to an Oscar-style party in London next month after their movie was shortlisted in a competition judged by Hobbit star Martin Freeman and Matt Smith of Doctor Who fame.
The youngsters, aged from 10 to 12, will head to Leicester Square for an awards bash, complete with red carpet, celebrities and an after-awards party at Planet Hollywood.
There they will find out if their movie Time Report has won the under-12 category of the First Light Film Awards 2013.
The pupils, who were all at Perryfields Junior School in Springfield when the film was made, worked with professional company Signals over two terms to write, film and edit the movie which is about environmental issues and time travel.
"We are all really excited," said head teacher of Perryfields, Doretta Cowie. "It is a very professional looking film, and the children were involved right from the beginning.
"The film has been shortlisted for the top four of the under-12s category. We will all attend the ceremony at the Odeon, Leicester Square and, like the BAFTAS, watch short clips from all the nominations for every category, before the winners are announced, and awards presented by a celebrity guest."
The 10 pupils spent every Tuesday working on the project, with the rest of the school assisting by making props and scenery. Some of the shooting was done on location at Layer Marney Towers, near Tiptree, and at Signals' studios in Colchester.
Lewis Vaughan, 11, plays the presenter of a news channel in the film. He said: "I've never done anything like this before. It was excellent. When we were filming I was not sure if I was saying my words clearly enough but when I saw the finished film it was fine."
Jacob Dennis, 11, said: "I play the director of the news programme. I was so pleased to be picked to take part because I really like acting. I loved going to Colchester to film my part in the studio. We knew the film was going to be good but when we saw it, it was amazing."
Sofia Gaeta, 11, said: "I can't wait to attend the ceremony. I so hope Matt Smith will be there as I really want his autograph.
"I really enjoyed taking part in this and hope I get the chance to do it again at secondary school."
The other pupils involved in the project are Phaedy Finch, Kurt Bradley, James Ellingford, Jack Ellingford, Anisah Begum and Sam Matthews.
