Film graduate brings Grenfell stories to life

We spoke to Lydia about the project, her time at Falmouth, and what the future holds for her.

When did you realise your love for making films?

I discovered my love for filmmaking during sixth form, thanks to some amazing teachers who helped nurture my creative passions and develop both my practical and theoretical skills. They encouraged me to explore storytelling, combining my interest in English, which I studied at A-level, with media. For my A-level photography project, I created a series of short films, and that experience ignited my passion for filmmaking.

How did the Grenfell Athletic project come about, and how were you involved?

The project came to me around May 2024 during my time as a producer at an advertising agency. I had just completed my first solo-led campaign for our commercial client, Verisure. Brothers and Sisters had established a working relationship with Grenfell Athletic, having produced two previous pro bono campaigns for the club's kit launches. I had worked on one of these campaigns in 2023 as an assistant, helping to organise work experience for young players in the field of their ‘Dream Careers.’

This particular project began as a small campaign aimed at creating a Grenfell Athletic kit using fabric donated by community members. However, as we developed the project, it quickly expanded in scale. Before I knew it, I was organising collection days for donated shirts, collaborating with production company Missing Link Films to shoot a documentary, casting community members for it, and personally interviewing 30 donors to ensure everyone’s story was represented on the kit website—not just the stories of our three documentary characters.

The layers involved in this project provided an incredible opportunity for me as a producer. I’ve had to adapt to producing design work for fashion garments, collaborate with manufacturers, help organise a documentary shoot rather than the standard scripted production, and oversee the creation of a bespoke website linked to innovative near-field communication (NFC) technology. Each of these elements was ambitious, especially given our limited budget, but we managed to create something extraordinary. As a producer, I don’t think I’ll encounter another project quite like this one.

Talk us through the shoot—were there any characters who stood out particularly to you?

For me, the most impactful aspect was hearing the stories of the community members who donated their fabric. During the initial stages of production, we had to acknowledge that not everyone would have meaningful fabric to donate. However, I was both shocked and excited by the generosity of the members who shared their stories and items, driven by their sense of solidarity and support for the community.

One standout was Nick Burton, a survivor of the Grenfell fire, who donated the shirt he wore that night, which he had kept ever since. His wife became the seventy-second victim of the tragedy, and he viewed his donation as a chance to find closure.

Each donor generously shared their fabric and a story that illuminated their dedication to remembering and commemorating the tragedy, demonstrating a remarkable sense of community. My favourite moment of the shoot was filming the handover of the new shirts; It was a one-day shoot where the donors gathered on the Westway football pitches in front of Grenfell Tower to receive the shirts and celebrate their involvement. That was truly a unique moment to produce and a special experience for me to be part of.

How have you found your first 18 months since graduating?

I was fortunate to secure a work experience role at Brothers and Sisters in the summer after graduating from Falmouth. After assisting for a week on the pre-production of a Centre Parcs shoot, I realised that a production role was the right fit for me. My education provided me with essential knowledge of pre-production, crew roles, and shooting etiquette, which greatly aided my ability to learn on the job.

Additionally, I was extremely lucky to be mentored by talented Senior Producer, Gill Loftus, during my initial months. She showed me the ropes, and I was hired permanently in January 2024, transitioning from a Production Assistant role to Junior Producer.

What are some of your favourite memories from the Film BA course?

My favourite memories from the film course come from my third year at university. I worked on various student films as an Assistant Cinematographer, setting up cameras a kilometre deep in a Cornish mine and on a real-life pirate ship. I even went a bit rogue with my final project by creating an experimental film exhibition. These opportunities and experiences have significantly influenced and benefited my professional career by broadening my perspective on the film and production industry.

Do you have any projects coming up you can talk about?

I am sadly leaving Brothers and Sisters to pursue a career in the production company side of things, however, the agency experience I’ve gained as a producer has been invaluable. My final campaign at Brothers and Sisters will air in December. This was a full-circle experience for me, helping to produce a second campaign for our client, Centre Parcs. The first campaign was the first project I ever worked on with the company, and I am proud to have been part of the production team behind the ‘cherish every moment’ campaign.

External links

Grenfell Athletic website

Purchase shirts on Kitlocker 

Lydia's LinkedIn