The home of the Wimbledon tennis championships hosted a film exhibition about Merton and Wandsworth’s most inspirational people on Monday.
Wimbledon Foundation, the All-England Club’s charity and Wimbledon BookFest arranged the exhibition of 10 films produced by students from eight Merton and Wandsworth schools on October 17.
The exhibition is part of Chocolate Films’ 1000 Londoners project – a digital project about the lives of 1000 different people across London.
Fiona Razvi, co-founder of Wimbledon BookFest, said the project would help to create opportunities that might not otherwise exist.
She said: “It is to inspire young people, to give them a taste of work in the creative industries.
“It’s also to show that there are different careers in the creative industry, whether that’s directing, writing, or costume making.”
Students from Rutlish School, Ricards Lodge High School, Ursuline High School, Wimbledon College, Graveney, Southfields Academy, St Mark’s Academy and Raynes Park High School participated in the project.
Chocolate Films started workshops with the students on their three-minute films in June.
The students had three and a half days for planning, filming, and editing.
Reese Lipman, one of Chocolate Films’ filmmakers, said: “They enter the classroom with little experience, but learning from us they can leave having made films that they are proud of.”
The subjects featured included actor Arnold Oceng, to a doctor working with refugees in Greece.
Perhaps the most appropriate subject was Jenna Fontanilla, an eight-year-old junior tennis champion with more than 20 tournament wins.
When asked about her favourite moment of filming, she said: “The most exciting moment was with one of the cameraman when I hit a ball and it hit him on the head.”
Inspired by her favourite tennis players, Andy Murray and Serena Williams, Jenna has already set her sights further.
She said: “The thing I’m most excited for next is winning more tournaments – hopefully on Centre Court.”
SW19 may not have to wait too long for another British champion.
The 10 films are being shown in the AELTC’s Wingfield Café, from October 18-November 13. Entry is free. The films are also on 1000londoners.com
