Dougal Wilson and 4creative let kids rule the school

What with Adolescence's unfolding drama and The Studio's anxiety-inducing farce, the 'oner' is having something of a resurgence in filmmaking at the moment, but few examples could be as endearingly crafted as Dougal Wilson's latest for Channel 4.

Created by 4creative to promote the new series of BAFTA-winning Educating Yorkshire, School’s Back showcases Thornhill Community Academy through the lens, quite literally, of the students who attend; the group running the entire show from scripting, starring in, and even buying media space for the campaign.

Despite the collaborative feel, the spot is still sprinkled with some of Wilson’s magical abundance of heart – the Blink director employing distinct talents from budding stunt riders to science whizzes, and class band Unjust Detention.

Channel 4 – School’s Back - Behind the Scenes

Credits

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Agency 4Creative/London
Production Company Blink Productions
Director Dougal Wilson

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Credits

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Agency 4Creative/London
Production Company Blink Productions
Director Dougal Wilson
Executive Producer Patrick Craig
Creative Dougal Wilson
Executive Producer Paul Weston
Executive Producer Corin Taylor
Edit Producer Michelle Corney

Editor Joe Guest
Post Production Platform Post
Post Productions Curious Productions
Post Producer Tom Gibson
VFX Untold Studios
VFX Supervisor Bruno Fukumothi
Chief Creative Officer Neil Davies
Creative Director Ben Cronin

VFX Supervisor Bruno Fukumothi
Executive Producer Sophie Harrison
VFX Producer Ella Glazer
Color Company 3/London
Colorist Steffan Perry
Executive Producer Ellora Soret
Color Producer Kerri Aungle
Color Producer Edwin Elkington

Sound Design Factory Studios/London
Sound Design and Mix Anthony Moore
Senior Producer Olivia Endersby
Music Leland
Music Supervisor Abi Leland
Music Supervisor Ed Bailie
Composers Dougal Wilson
Creative Director Dan Warner

Executive Creative Director David Wigglesworth
Creative Director Andy Vasey
Senior Creative Stuart Gittings
Executive Producer Louise Oliver
Head of Production (HP) Miketta Lane
Head of Production (HP) Charlie Bettice
Head of Design Robert Boon
Senior Designer Dan Davies

Senior Producer Paul Gleeson
Senior Creative Reuben Dangoor
Production Designer Andy Kelly
Assistant Art Director Ashley Dando
DP Stuart Bentley

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“It is great fun working with 4creative and the students of Thornhill Community Academy on this film,” comments Wilson. “I love working with the kids in all the different parts of the project – rehearsing and recording with the school band, creating a dance routine, workshopping their brilliant performances, designing our ‘special effects’, stunts and ‘big finale’ and just getting to know the personalities and talents of the children and involving them in the filming process.”

“The media narrative surrounding today’s kids is overwhelmingly bleak, so we feel an urgency to show the country they’re actually brilliant, funny and wildly creative,” observes David Wigglesworth, Executive Creative Director, 4creative, “What better way to prove it than by handing them the keys to the campaign, and a metric tonne of media to play with? The end result is everything we hope for, full of joy, honesty and a bit of beautiful chaos.”

“Educating Yorkshire is a commission that’s incredibly close to our hearts at Channel 4, and we’re proud to bring it back with a campaign as meaningful as the series itself,” explains Miketta Lane, Director, 4creative, “By placing real students at the heart of the process, we’re not only championing unheard voices, we’re empowering them. This is representation, collaboration, and a celebration of the next generation of talent.

"This is public service broadcasting at its best.”