In the Autumn of 2024, we had the absolute joy of spending six weeks at Level Best in Colchester, and what unfolded was nothing short of super.
At Jellyfielders, we’re used to scripts, schedules, shooting days, and post-production, but this project was different. It wasn’t about actors stepping into roles, it was about the trainees at Level Best creating heroes of their own. And then becoming them.
Every Hero Has an Origin Story
We began simply: pens, paper, and ideas, lots and lots of brilliant ideas. After getting to know one another (and discovering a shared appreciation for capes), we asked the trainees about their favourite superheroes.
Names like Spider-Man, Batman, Captain America, and Wonder Woman came up, heroes with strength, gadgets, compassion, cool outfits, and occasionally very dramatic entrances. However, the real magic happened when we asked a slightly different question: “If you were a superhero, what would your power be?”
Suddenly, we weren’t talking about webs or bat signals. We were talking about kindness. Helping people. Making others laugh. Standing up for friends. Being brave in everyday moments. The first workshop became a hive of creativity. Sketches emerged, bold logos, colourful masks, intricate gadgets, capes of all shapes and sizes. There were lightning bolts, animal-inspired emblems, glitter (so much glitter), and some very ambitious helmet designs. Every drawing told a story.
Building the Hero
Over the following weeks, those sketches slowly transformed into real-life costumes. There was cutting, sticking, sewing, problem-solving and the occasional re-think when gravity didn’t quite agree with the original design. For the first time since I was at school, I was picking up a paintbrush to help with some of the more ambitious designs.
What stood out most wasn’t just the creativity, it was the collaboration. Ideas were shared, materials were passed around, and encouragement was constant. Each trainee brought something different to the process, and together the room felt like a costume department on a blockbuster set.
Lights. Green Screen. Action.
By the time filming day arrived, the transformation was complete, well, apart from a few last minute fixes. One by one, our superheroes stepped in front of the green screen, striking poses, delivering dramatic looks, inventing action moves, and absolutely owning the moment. For many, being on camera can feel daunting, but something shifts when you’re wearing a cape you designed yourself.
Back in the edit, we had enormous fun turning those moments into a fast-paced, action-packed trailer, complete with dramatic music, a robot alien army, plenty of stock footage, superhero entrances, and everybody got their moment.
The Premiere
Screening the final trailer back at Level Best was the perfect ending to our superhero workshop. Seats were arranged, popcorn was handed out, and, as with all premieres of blockbuster movies, there was a minor technical hiccup with the projector. Thanks to some heroic tech wizardry, everything came together and the trailer started.
Watching the trainees see themselves as heroes was something we won’t forget in a hurry. All their hard work was up there on the screen, there were cheers, there was laughter, and a couple of tears, mostly from us and some of the staff. Beyond the fun, this project was a reminder of something simple and important: everyone deserves to see themselves as capable, creative, and powerful. Sometimes all it takes is a sketchpad, a bit of green screen magic, and all the glitter.
Why and who?
As a part of the Essex County Council supply contract, each company is required to give back to their community in a meaningful way. This can be as simple as litter picking days, offering services to charities, or attending career days inschools. But we wanted to do something a bit different.
We took the phrase ‘Social Value’ and ran with it – how much value could we bring to everyone involved, while building a larger community. Not just to the Level Best Trainees, but to the staff and our team who were participating. Our entire extended network was invited to participate, and they jumped at the chance.
The workshop and premiere wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our community of creative minds; Carla Watkins and Annastasia Ward put their crafting skills to amazing use with the costumes and props. The team at TWIhelped the trainees get ready for their performance, and the Hellfire team helped on set during filming. A true team effort to produce a superhero trailer that celebrates teamwork, being yourself, and saving the world, one act of kindness at a time.
To everyone at Level Best: thank you for trusting us with your stories, your ideas, and your capes. You made our 2024 unforgettable. And if the world ever needs saving, we know exactly who to call.