The Community projects that are continuing to grow so successfully at Rodney Parade are all underpinned by the same values, namely those of effort, endeavour, sportsmanship, honesty and respect. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the film that pupils enjoy when undergoing the ‘changing room experience’.
When it was originally made in 2002 it had a huge impact, no one had seen anything like it before, and the performance of the then captain Simon Raiwallui was of an Oscar winning proportion. You really did have to see it for yourself.
A new film was made in 2004 and it was felt that the captain’s role, as portrayed by Simon could not be bettered, and with the new Regional and Newport rugby teams playing out of Rodney Parade both had to have an impact. Thus it was that it was decided that three players should share the roles for the film. Ian Gough and Percy Montgomery fronted up for The Dragons and Gareth Gravell represented the Newport team. Whilst we knew it would be very hard to match the pzzazz of the original it was so exciting as to ensure that the audience was captured and it was voted a huge success. This was in no small part to the introduction of Lauren Edwards. She had, when still a pupil at Brynglas Primary School, won our competition to land the key role in the film, and she was superb.
Come 2006 and once again we needed a new film and last week it was unveiled and it was found to be almost as good as the very first film. The captain’s role was superbly played by Jason Forster, whilst Nathan Brew and Michael Owen gave it their all in their roles as best supporting actors. However, once again the film was stolen from the adults by the stunning performance given by 8-year-old Brogan Jones.
As writer and producer of the film Phil knew exactly what he was looking for and feels that this third effort is the most professional of the lot.
Miss Jones, a pupil of Durham Road Junior School was unavailable for comment (she was in school) but her mother Sonia told us just how proud she was of the performance of her daughter,
The film is now showing daily in a Dragons changing room near you!
