There has been great excitement across the school this week as Arnie shared his unforgettable experience of appearing as an extra in the film Preschool, which has been released in the United States.

Taking part alongside his sister, he performed as part of an on-screen orchestra. After auditioning, both met the required criteria, including Grade 5+ musical ability and specific height requirements. Just a week later, they received the exciting news that they had both secured roles in the film.

The day of filming began bright and early. “We were picked up at 4am – I was exhausted, but the adrenaline kicked in,” he recalled. He travelled to Reigate before heading on to the film set at Mill Hill School, where he joined a group of around 15 other young performers

From the moment he arrived, the buzz of the set was clear. The other performers gathered in a camp area for breakfast and warm drinks before it was time to step into costume. “I wore a white T-shirt, black waistcoat and a red bow tie – I said to my sister I felt like a waiter!” he laughed.

The scale of the production made a big impression. “It was crazy because there were so many cameras,” he said. Despite this, filming ran smoothly, with the orchestra scene rehearsed just once or twice before being completed in only two takes, an incredible achievement for such a large setup.

A definite highlight of the day was working with actor and director Josh Duhamel. “My favourite moment was when Joshua Duhamel started playing the xylophone and attempted to play the drums,” he smiled.

Reflecting on the experience, he said what amazed him most was the amount of people involved in making the movie.

The film Preschool has been released in the United States, with a UK release date yet to be confirmed.

Most importantly, the experience has sparked even greater motivation. Inspired by his time on set, he is now more determined than ever to continue developing his musical talents. “It’s made me want to keep working hard and practising his cello,” he said.

All at Chinthurst are incredibly proud of him and look forward to watching the movie.