North London Collegiate School celebrates 175th anniversary with special film
North London Collegiate School (NLCS), working with Milk Machine as its creative agency, has released its new school film that doesn’t just show what makes the school special — it captures the feeling behind it.
The film takes a step beyond the scripted and the staged, focusing instead on the confidence, curiosity, and purpose that defines every student at NLCS.
Made by a female-led crew, the film was written and directed by Alena Shevchenko, whose vision brought the story of NLCS to life in the most natural way possible. But this wasn’t just about capturing the school on screen—it was about giving the students a chance to shape the narrative.
The film has been released to coincide with the school’s 175th anniversary.
Their voices, energy, and ideas drove the script, with the result aiming to feel like an authentic snapshot of the NLCS experience. Alena had this to say about the project: “For me, this was a process built on trust—from both the NLSC team and Milk Machine. I had a strong sense of creative freedom, shaping the script alongside my research and keeping the flexibility to make last-minute changes when something felt right. I even worked with students on sections of the script. I like to call it intuitive storytelling—feeling your way through and translating that to the screen."
The outcome? A film that doesn’t just tell the story of NLCS—it feels like it, too. From the behind-the-scenes process to the final cut, it’s a celebration of what happens when students are given the space to express themselves and shape their own narrative.
Francesco Loy Bell, Milk Machine’s creative director said: “It was an honour to be welcomed into the world of NLCS, and an amazing opportunity to work with the students and staff to create a film that we hope embodies the DNA of a real trailblazer of school. Shooting with real students gave the film a really unique, honest feel, and Alena and the whole team were incredible. A dream project to work on as Milk Machine moves further into the realm of direct-to-client work.”
Credits
Client: North London Collegiate School
Head of Brand and Marketing: Hanisha Kotecha
Head of Digital Marketing: Sean West
Marketing and Communications Officer: Zoe Camille
Creative Studio: Milk Machine
Writer & Director: Alena Shevchenko
Producer: Harry Moore
Creative Director: Francesco Loy Bell
DoP: Sara Dehlin
Gaffer: Johnny Boomer
1st AD: Rose Lucas
Edit: Leah Burton (Final Cut)
Colour: Andi Chu (Electric Theatre Company)
GFX: Innes Evans
Music & Sound: Max Sarvanidi & Tim Aminov (433 Studio)
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