This week at Gatehouse…

Year 6 Step Into the Spotlight at Sky Studios Elstree

Last week, Year 6 pupils enjoyed an unforgettable experience at Sky Studios Elstree, stepping into the world of professional film and television production. After being offered a last-minute opportunity to take part in the Sky Up Studio Experience, our pupils embraced an afternoon filled with creativity, collaboration and career inspiration.

From Storyboards to Screen

The day began in pre-production, where pupils worked in small teams to produce their own storyboard and develop ideas for a movie option trailer. Each group took on genuine industry roles, including director, producer, editor, designer, camera operator and actor. Together, they created storylines, designed visuals, and developed scripts and taglines to shape their trailer concept.

Bringing Ideas to Life with Extended Reality

Next, pupils entered the Extended Reality (XR) production studio, a state-of-the-art filming space where they brought their movie trailers to life. Every team member had an essential role: the director briefed the actors and guided the vision, the producer supported the crew and kept filming on schedule, actors rehearsed and performed their scenes, the stylist dressed and prepared the cast, and camera operators and editors worked together to capture and refine the footage. The process demanded teamwork, creativity and clear communication, giving pupils a real sense of how professional productions operate behind the scenes.

Behind the Scenes at Elstree

Following filming, pupils enjoyed an exclusive tour of Sky’s studios, exploring vast sound stages and learning why these controlled environments are ideal for filmmaking. They discovered that filming on a sound stage offers privacy, safety for the cast and crew, protection for equipment and the flexibility to create entirely imagined worlds — even outer space.

The tour included original props from classic films such as E.T. and Jurassic Park, and pupils learned that recent productions like Wicked and Paddington in Peru have also been filmed at Elstree. They experienced Dolby Atmos 360° cinema sound and even previewed scenes from Wicked 2 in a professional screening room.

Careers in Film and Television

During an inspiring Careers Talk, Sky professionals shared their personal journeys and advice for aspiring creatives:

The Development Coordinator explained how they help shape new show ideas and review early scripts. Their message: “Lean into what you love — and read, read, read if you want to tell great stories.”

The Production Runner, described starting his career supporting shoots and editing, managing kit and helping across departments. His advice: “If there’s something you want to do, go for it. You can learn the skills on the job — everyone starts somewhere.”

The Marketing Manager, discussed how Sky promotes its shows to different audiences — from social media for younger viewers to billboards and print media for older audiences. She also highlighted Sky’s marketing apprenticeships for school leavers interested in creative careers.

Pupils reflected on which roles suited their own interests and learned how each stage of production — from development and pre-production to filming, post-production and distribution — relies on collaboration across departments. A behind-the-scenes feature from Jurassic Park demonstrated how every role contributes to the finished film.

A Creative Finale

The experience concluded with a screening of the pupils’ own trailers, celebrating their teamwork, creativity and problem-solving skills. Each film captured a unique idea brought to life through planning, performance and production.

Year 6 returned to Gatehouse inspired by the possibilities of the film and television industry — and perhaps with a few future directors, producers and storytellers ready to take the stage.