A SCREENWRITER has given students and graduates the chance to get first-hand experience on set during a hectic three-day film shoot.

The students from Brighton's Screen and Film School were recruited as crew on the upcoming BFI NETWORK-funded short film It's Dog To Make A Houseplant If You're A Sandwich.

The film, written and directed by Olivia Waring and overseen by award-winning producer Jesse Romain, was filmed in Saltdean and is now in the final editing stages.

Olivia, who lives in Hove, said: " I thought from the very outset that we should work with local film students.

"Projects like ours provide really good hands-on experience for budding filmmakers. In the end we had seven students and they were all really enthusiastic and great to have on set. They were all quick to learn and we achieved a lot in the three days of shooting.

"In fact without their help we would not have been able to create what we did."

The students and graduates worked in a range of roles including floor runner, art department assistant, third assistant director and spark, who is in charge of lighting.

Olivia and Jesse filmed at Saltdean's Seaview Meadows development, which they said provided the perfect back drop for the satirical black comedy.

Olivia, a former head girl at Brighton Girls school, said:"When we found the estate, really by accident, it was just perfect,"

"The houses look utopian and created just the right atmosphere. The locals were also really lovely and helpful when filming actually started."

The film stars Justin Edwards and Olivia Poulet, who starred in the BBC comedy The Thick Of It, along with young actress Rosy Levine, who plays their daughter.

Olivia began writing the script during the pandemic and received funding from the BFI NETWORK, the UK-talent development programme made possible with National Lottery funding, via Film Hub South East.

Olivia said: "The BFI funding quite simply allowed us to achieve our ambitions, meaning working with a full crew on location and with incredibly talented people.

"Filmmaking at this level is an expensive endeavour so to have backing from the BFI means a great deal."

Once the film is completed Olivia and Jesse aim to submit it to festivals around the world.