Ambush assembled a team of award winning filmmakers from Europe to take up the challenge. Director Kasper Bisgaard spent three months playing football with the kids, getting to know them and gaining their trust. None of the children were pressured or paid to be in the film, a small group who were based around Garden Compound volunteered. Tanvir and Kasper were joined by cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema and sound designer Jeppe Jungerson and production began in earnest. This approach lead to astounding results, the kids behaved as if the camera wasn t there.
Preview audiences find it hard to believe that they aren t acting, but it s all real.
Filming took five months and resulted in thirty-five hours worth of footage. Much of the filming took place early in the morning and around dusk in order to take advantage of the quality of the light. It was recorded using the latest DVC Pro cameras, giving an image that is sharp and clear even when blown up onto 35 mm film. Filming around Garden, Northmead and Chaisa was not without difficulties, however. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth, as Ambush intended the project to be both made and used in an ethical way.