Teenage Hucknall actor sees debut film screened at The Arc Cinema

A teenage actor from Hucknall was able to watch his feature film debut on the big screen surrounded by family and friends at his local cinema earlier this month.

Brooklyn Toulson plays Michael in 'Aftersun', a father-daughter drama which is directed by Charlotte Wells and stars Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio and Celia Rowlson-Hall.

The 14-year-old's family reached out to The Arc Cinema, based on Hucknall High Street, and they put on an event which included a red carpeted entrance to give the feeling of a film premiere, prosecco on arrival, and a Q&A with Brooklyn before the film was shown.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News about the event, Arc's Marketing Manager Mark Gallagher said: "As a huge film fan, this is amazing, as a cinema manager, double amazing. We've got a film out that's scooping up awards, it's tipped to be nominated for an Oscar, and one of the stars is in the town where we are, it's just crazy that we wouldn't do anything. It's only a small event but it'll mean the world to Brooklyn and his family, and it means the world to us that we've got stars of a major film in the cinema, it's just great, it's amazing.

"I didn't set out to plan this it just sort of naturally, organically happened. The fact that we're so approachable and so human and people want to talk to us and put on events, it's great.

"Now there is an expectation for events which we love. People say we have made a rod for our own back, we haven't at all, we love it."

Photo Credit: Callum Chatterton.

Brooklyn was also pleased with the event, he said: "I've got all my family here, it's a lovely occasion."

Growing up in Hucknall, his first experience of acting came in school plays when he attended Broomhill Junior School. He described it as an "amazing school," where he had teachers that "were so supportive."

"I was always doing really well, it was my teachers that said you should really get into acting and I thought you know what I want to go for it. I've started at Television Workshop and that's really really helped me grow, and it's amazing. It's helped me with so many things, it got me auditions, it's incredible."

The move to secondary school, he now attends The Holgate Academy, has allowed him to study drama as a subject which along with his time at Television Workshop has helped him to build his confidence and develop his skills even further.

The opportunity to audition for the role of Michael came through Television Workshop. He knew as soon as he learnt about the part that he wanted the role.

"I went to Television Workshop, did the audition, I just loved it, I loved the script, loved everything about it and luckily I got the role, and I was very happy."

Photo Credit: Callum Chatterton.

Brooklyn managed to come out on top of a very competitive field to win the part and said there are a few similarities between himself and the character which helped.

"I would say I'm a bit cheeky myself (like the character), but I definitely wouldn't go in for a kiss like he would."

The filming took place in Turkey over a three-week period and Brooklyn vividly described his feelings when he stepped onto the set for the very first time.

"It was very weird, I got goosebumps, I was very nervous at first. I felt very sick. Especially because they filmed it abroad, I was very homesick at the time. As soon as I spoke to the director, I was fine. When the director's so warm, so nice to you, you just click and it's easy. Frankie Corio, she was incredible to work with, it was just an incredible experience."

The film has been nominated for a number of awards and has been received high recognition at a number of film festivals across the world.

For more information about the film, please click here.

For more information about The Arc Cinema, please click here.