1 Way Up

From our first pre-production meeting, it was clear that the film needed to balance an intimate human story with the raw energy of BMX. As we followed the protagonist through a day-in-the-life narrative, the cinematography was designed to evolve with the passing of time, using the full day as part of the visual storytelling.

We began with a gritty early-morning atmosphere, capturing the transition from dawn into sunrise and the warmth of the orange sky, before moving through the energy of the day and into night, where the floodlights of the BMX track created dramatic flares and a distinctly different visual world.

With multiple locations across Peckham — including the protagonist’s home, the BMX track and key surrounding areas — it was essential to remain lightweight and agile. Much of the shoot relied on a fast-paced, reactive approach, making the ARRI Alexa Mini an ideal choice for its compact form while retaining the image quality needed for a cinematic finish.

One of my key creative decisions was to shoot anamorphic. I rarely recommend anamorphic lenses without a clear visual justification, but this project demanded the format. The widescreen, larger-than-life aesthetic elevated the landscapes and environments, while the characteristic horizontal flares added another layer of style to the night sequences. I chose the Atlas Orion 2x Anamorphic lenses for their blend of vintage character and modern reliability — perfectly suited to achieving an ambitious cinematic look within the practical demands of a small, mobile crew.

Peckham BMX Club provides a space for aspiring riders to train and develop in the heart of London. Over the years, the club has produced world champions and Olympic athletes, including Tre Whyte and Kye Whyte, making it a fitting backdrop for a story centred on ambition, progression and the next generation of talent.

From the earliest production meetings, we knew this would be a small crew with big ambitions. Covering multiple locations across a single day required a carefully considered approach to both crew size and equipment, allowing us to remain agile and move quickly while still retaining the resources needed to achieve a cinematic level of production value.

The opportunity to follow our protagonist throughout an entire day gave us a natural structure for the film. While the project would be driven entirely by visuals, it was still essential to build a clear narrative arc that audiences could connect with. By carefully planning the journey from the early morning through to the final moments at the BMX track, we were able to create a visual story with progression, energy and a strong sense of character.