Another Day, Another Little Lunch Story To Be Re-told.

The set of Little Lunch is now in action as two new special episodes are being filmed. Communications Coordinator Lily Pavlovic reflects on an ACTF set visit. 

Arriving for the first time on the set of Little Lunch, you immediately experience a rush of nostalgia thrusting you back into memories of younger and energetic primary school days. All around is a sea of red, as hundreds of students in bright uniforms enjoy their midday snack time at Melbourne’s inner-city St Kilda Primary School.

The cast and crew have returned to film two special episodes of the popular schoolyard mockumentary series. To the delight of kids across Australia and overseas, the Little Lunch producers have announced two extra themed specials will arrive in time for Halloween and Christmas.

On the school oval, the Little Lunch cast and a group of 20 extras are doing star jumps to stay warm between takes.  At a blustery 12 degrees on a typical winter's day in Melbourne, the cast is finding themselves braving the elements for an outdoor scene. In order to film a Christmas special set at the peak of December’s summer, the girls are wearing checked school dresses, and for the boys, shorts and a polo tee.

­Meeting the cast: Oisín O'Leary (Battie) and Faith Seci (Debra-Jo)

Reminiscent of one of Little Lunch’s episodes, outside it is a very windy day. It’s blowing a gale, and no loose items are safe. As the wind tries its best to complicate filming, the crew seem undeterred. With a contagious positive energy, “at least it isn’t raining” became the mantra of the morning. 

ACTF’s Head of Education Peter Maggs with Heidi Arena (Mrs Gonsha)

Being my first time on a set, what struck me was the crew’s natural instinct for timing. On location in such a busy part of St Kilda, there is noise all around. This is not a problem for the crew, however. They just incorporate it into their work. It’s impressive to watch as St Kilda’s school bell is expertly entwined into shots and the idle chatter of students is captured to add genuine background noise for each scene.  

On today’s set, it is the first chance that producers Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope and the young cast have had to see the award won from the prestigious Prix Jeunesse International Festival, held in Munich this May.

The ACTF’s Head Of Development and Production Bernadette O’Mahony (top, left) accepted the Prix Jeunesse award on behalf of the Little Lunch team.

As soon as the spherical trophy is presented, there is much exclamation from the young cast. “Can I hold the award?” “Is it real silver?” "Who accepted it?” “Did this really come from Germany?”

The cast is shocked to hear that their series battled it out against 16 different finalists from their category – and won! To receive the prize, Little Lunch was pitted against a series of big international names from Europe, Asia, the US, South America and Africa. When the votes were counted, Little Lunch received the top honour in their category for 7-10 Fiction. In a separate vote, a jury of 500 children also named the series Runner Up for the Children’s Jury Award.

Excited by their win, the cast and producers wrapped up a busy day of filming with a get together to thank Prix Jeunesse for their new prize.

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