---
title: Local schoolgirl, Isabella, stars in our short film
description: Can Lily, played by 6 year old Isabella from Hailsham, persuade grumpy old Mr Brooks to move home so they can still be neighbours?
image: https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/1MB%20files/Mr%20Brooks_Still_4-4.jpeg
---

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# Local schoolgirl, Isabella, stars in our short film 'My Friend Mr Brooks'

![Mr Brooks_Still_4-1](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/1MB%20files/Mr%20Brooks_Still_4-1.jpg "Mr Brooks_Still_4-1")

---

---

Moving home might not be as stressful as you think.

Can Lily persuade grumpy old Mr Brooks to move home so they can still be neighbours?

---

## "What I love most when writing for Crane & Co is the chance to tell multiple stories within one film. Primarily, this film is centred around anxiety and that inner voice telling us not to do something. However, within the same film, we explore friendship, love, personal growth and courage."

 

Kai Zammit, Creative Director

![Mr Brooks_Still_8-1](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/1MB%20files/Mr%20Brooks_Still_8-1.jpg "Mr Brooks_Still_8-1")

![Mr Brooks_Still_16-1](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/1MB%20files/Mr%20Brooks_Still_16-1.jpg "Mr Brooks_Still_16-1")

![Mr Brooks_Still_10-1](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/1MB%20files/Mr%20Brooks_Still_10-1.jpg "Mr Brooks_Still_10-1")

## Behind the scenes

## Isabella Dunford, who plays the main character Lily, is six years old and lives in Hailsham. She originally auditioned for the part of Goldilocks in ‘A New Home’, and stood out as being perfect for this particular role. *“**Me and mum went to meet Kai at Starbucks to read the new script, I even got a smoothie. I was really excited to know that I would be playing the main part in the film.”* said Isabella. *“It was quite hard remembering all the lines and I practiced a lot. My favourite part was seeing different people's houses and the pond full of tadpoles at one house we filmed in.* *“I really enjoyed spending time with Nick and Lorraine, who played Mr and Mrs Brooks. I definitely want to do it again and become a famous actress. I would love to play Alice in Alice in Wonderland.”* Reflecting on the making of the film, Siobhan, Isabella's mum, who also appears in the film said, *“This has been such a wonderful experience for Isabella. They were such a nice team of people who are very passionate about their jobs, just lovely to be around. It all felt very calm, there was no stress at all and I think that is reflected in the film.* *“Isabella really enjoyed it and came away very happy. I can’t wait for everybody to see it and for us to look back on when she is older – memories for life.”* Kai Zammit, Creative Director, said, *“Whenever I’m reminded that this is Isabella’s first acting job, I’m literally left speechless for a moment. She is an amazing little actress and I personally hope she continues down the path of acting.* *“My favourite Isabella moment from the shoot was the hug scene with Mr Brooks. She ad-libbed that part and it was so good, we just had to keep it.”* Mike Crane, owner and managing director of Crane & Co, said, *“Isabella has been an absolute star, she plays the character of Lily exceptionally well and really helps to bring the whole film to life. Thank you to her and a special thanks to Siobhan, her mum, for supporting her throughout.”* *“Thank you to Kai and the team who have portrayed the anxiety that many of us feel when making the decision to move home, and the leap of courage it sometimes takes to pursue what we really want.”*

![isabella in her garden](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/isabella%20in%20her%20garden.jpg?width=500&height=375&name=isabella%20in%20her%20garden.jpg "isabella in her garden")

Isabella in her garden at home

![my friend mr brooks cast and crew](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/my%20friend%20mr%20brooks%20cast%20and%20crew.jpg?width=500&height=375&name=my%20friend%20mr%20brooks%20cast%20and%20crew.jpg "my friend mr brooks cast and crew")

My Friend Mr Brooks cast and crew

## "I wanted this film to have a children’s book feel to it, I was heavily inspired by Mr Gumpy’s Outing written and illustrated by John Burningham."

 

Kai Zammit, Creative Director

![isabella being filmed over the fence](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/IMG_6840-1.jpg "isabella being filmed over the fence")

![the film crew filming isabella and nick by the pond with tadpoles](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/IMG_6856-1.jpg "the film crew filming isabella and nick by the pond with tadpoles")

![behind the scenes filming of my friend mr brooks](https://pages.craneandco.co.uk/hubfs/Images/Images%20-%20My%20Friend%20Mr%20Brooks/IMG_6859-1.jpg "behind the scenes filming of my friend mr brooks")

## "My favourite part of this film is watching Mr Brooks grow as a character, just like the flowers he tends in the garden."

 

Kai Zammit, Creative Director

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