Casting three riders from a cycling club

Pell Cycles makes children’s bikes built to be handed down. The brief asked for the street ride everyone remembers, and I knew straight away that actors couldn’t give us that.

Children who ride every day sit on a bike differently. They lean into corners without thinking and look at their friends, not the road.

Why there are no actors

Trained young actors are brilliant at lines and marks. A summer evening on bikes has neither, and the camera sees the difference in the first second.

So we went to a local cycling club on a Tuesday training night and watched for an hour before talking to anyone.

What we looked for

We weren’t casting faces, because the film shows the boys from behind and from far away. We were casting the way they ride.

On the training loop

Who rides with no hands when the coach isn’t looking. Who waits for the slowest rider. Who laughs on the downhill.

In the car park

Who looks after his bike. A child who wipes the frame before he goes home already knows what the film is about.

Try this at home

Watch children ride for ten minutes without a camera. You’ll see your opening shot before you plan it.

We chose three boys who rode together every week. Their parents came to every take.

The evening itself

We had one golden hour, so the day ran on a tight order.

The third take is the one in the spot, almost uncut.

What I’d tell anyone casting children

Most of it comes down to getting out of the way.

• Cast the habit, not the look.

• Give them a reason, like going home or catching up.

• Keep the parents close, so nobody waits to be fetched.

Then step back and let them ride.

Watch Estiva Rolle