Behind the scenes of Rubi Deschamps’ ‘Behind the Dream’ film with Trent Alexander-Arnold

My film ‘Behind the Dream’ follows Liverpool FC star Trent Alexander-Arnold’s football journey. I wanted to produce a sense of nostalgia and relatability between the player and the viewers. Walking and talking about his development from primary school and the Liverpool Academy, we start at the park he grew up playing in, across the road from his childhood home. We interview Ian Barrigan, who scouted Alexander-Arnold from LFC summer camp, and talk with his old academy teachers and coaches, capturing the first stage of his Liverpool timeline. On the academy wall, Alexander-Arnold is one of the most displayed players alongside Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler.

In between these locations, our car discussions show a more personal side of Alexander-Arnold, talking about music, life, fame and social pressure. The film ends at his house where we speak to his friends and family, and his cousin Bianca Gill concludes that he is a ‘normal lad’ and that his success has not changed his personality. No one else really sees the real Alexander-Arnold which is why I wanted to show how his friends and family know him.

I was able to create ‘Behind the Dream’ as the final portfolio piece of my work experience module at Liverpool John Moores University. The whole team worked for free with travel and accommodation paid for. The general consensus was that people would pay to be a part of it because it is a personal piece. I managed to form an small but amazing team, including Matty Barlow, who I went to high school with. Someone you can communicate all your thoughts, ideas and emotions to on set makes working so much easier.

We shot the film in one day, a 16 hour shoot for three of us and a nine hour day for the rest, but we knew it was worth it. Tom Brandhorst completed the full edit in three days, the work was insane, including tweaks, music and changes. We needed to keep all parties happy and we didn’t have a set release date, although it had to be out before April 6. So when UK lockdown began at the end of March, it was fitting to release it ASAP with the go-ahead from sponsorships. YouTube was always the designated launch platform because it has free global accessibility and the film has gained significant views and promotion on Alexander-Arnold’s social media.

My love for film and photograph came from always wanting to have the option to look back on a moment. So many memories can live forever in a single frame or video. I have always had an artistic background, moving between art, media and modelling, and I am a Scouser through and through, born in Liverpool like my mum and dad. We are a very active and sports driven family – my mum was a PE teacher and my brother was an international gymnast – but one thing I regret is not having enough content of playing football.

I’ve been involved in football from a young age, especially being the middle child between two brothers. I support Liverpool Mens but I have also loved Barcelona since I was young – I actually had a Barca kit before a Liverpool one. I mainly follow Chelsea and Manchester City, because of their focus on developing players of all ages, in the women’s game. I know a lot of girls who play in the league. The sport thrives from the thrill of uncertainty, each game has entertainment and aesthetics of club group affiliation. The idea someone you don’t know can be as invested as you in a team or player evolves into togetherness.

Aged four, I played for my older brother’s football team Woolton Warriors if they needed players. All the little boys would fume because they were getting beaten by a team with a girl. I finally chose football over ballet, breaking my mum’s heart (she still holds it to me to this day), aged seven. Moving from ballet, tap and modern dance to football on freezing Sunday mornings on frozen Mossley Hill pitches was the jump I was apparently prepared to make. I played for Mossley Hill girls through primary school, the school girls and boys team, and gave a few years to Liverpool School Girls and Everton Girls. 

I had knee problems growing up. I hate to say it but I played too much sport: football, basketball, cross country, swimming, athletics, anything. I developed Osgood-Schlatter disease aged 11 which I never grew out of. I was invited to Crewe Alexandra but joined Liverpool Women’s Federation (LWF), personal validation in football at 15. At 16, I started playing for LWF open age team but was badly injured in a semi-final. I was taken to hospital with a fractured ankle, chipped bone, torn ligaments, tendons and nerve in my ankle. That was me out and I didn't play for three years.

This film has shaken up some people within the media and sports journalism. I asked a family friend to film, who happens to be a top class footballer, and I was always confident with what we would capture. Hopefully I can keep the same people nervous. I respect anyone for what they have achieved and like Trent said in the film, ‘we’re all born the same’. But there are not enough women in control of productions, or creative direction, especially women of colour. I plan to stay within the realms of the media industry so maybe I will pursue presenting and modelling. I hope to be the change and who knows, maybe this is the start.

Words Rubi Deschamps

‘Behind the Dream’ Creative Team

Project Manager, Creative Direction and Presenter Rubi Deschamps 

Director and Editor Tom Brandhorst 

Producer Matty Barlow

Camera Op Ethan Woodroofe 

Sound and Camera Op 2 Kofi Owusu

Photographer Woody Rankin

Talent

Trent Alexander-Arnold at PLG-Group