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As Britain prepares to step into the spotlight of the world's media in the year of the London Olympics, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is inviting people from all corners of the country to contribute to the definitive self-portrait of Britain today by turning the camera on themselves. The result will create a time capsule of Britain as well as a feature-length documentary to be screened next year on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

Britain In A Day – a partnership with Ridley Scott's Scott Free London, the production company behind the acclaimed feature film Life In A Day – will provide a unique glimpse of contemporary British life.

On 12 November this year people will have the opportunity to film something that captures the intimacy and singularity of their lives and upload it to a dedicated channel on YouTube. YouTube worked with Scott Free to create Life In A Day and will be supporting the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in the development of the Britain In A Day film.

Award-winning director Morgan Matthews will use the rich trove of material submitted to craft a feature-length documentary film that captures the variety and vibrancy of life in Britain today. He will work alongside executive producer Kevin Macdonald, who directed Life In A Day, and Scott Free producer Liza Marshall. Charlotte Moore, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Commissioning Editor for Documentaries, is spearheading the project.

Charlotte Moore says: "The Cultural Olympiad feels like an ideal opportunity to take a mirror to ourselves and capture something of the kaleidoscope of life that thrives in Britain today. I hope that the fresh approach we are bringing to the production process will allow us to preserve a moment in time in a compelling and truly inclusive way. This is a bold project, hugely ambitious in scope and scale, and the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is in a unique position to deliver it with real impact."

Ridley Scott says: "Filmmaking has always been about just picking up a camera, getting out there and doing it. Our aim for this new project is to get everyone behind the lens and give us a window onto one day in Britain."

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning is providing funding for the project, ensuring Britain In A Day reflects the diversity of the UK and inspires anyone and everyone to take part.

A dedicated team will run filmmaking workshops with people in different communities and produce a series of "how-to" films and guides aimed at teaching anyone to use phones or cameras to record their day. Learning is putting together an inspirational film featuring more than 20 high-profile figures from ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ television and radio, encouraging people to take part on 12 November. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning will also work with film schools, societies and charities to generate a broad range of revealing films.

Saul Nassé, Controller, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Learning, says: "Inspiration is at the heart of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s vision for learning and this project will inspire thousands of people to learn new skills to record their lives. It will also create an extraordinary archive and record of what it means to be alive in Britain, an inspiration and resource for learning in the future."

The project will be launched officially on The One Show in late October. Ahead of the filming date of 12 November, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two will broadcast Life In A Day, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

Britain In A Day will be shown on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two next year ahead of the Olympic Games. It was commissioned by ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two controller Janice Hadlow and Commissioning Editor for Documentaries, Charlotte Moore.

Britain In A Day is part of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival programming, further details of which will be announced later in the year.

CD