Sir Ian McKellen stars in film by 14-year-old Windsor boy

Sir Ian McKellen <i>(Image: NQ)</i>
Sir Ian McKellen (Image: NQ)
This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald.

A 14-year-old boy is set to make his directorial debut with a film starring Sir Ian McKellen.

Jacob, from Windsor, has created a film called "Dragged Through Time" that explores 1,000 years of gay history and what it means to be part of the LGBTQ+ community today.

The film, which draws on Jacob's personal experiences as an openly gay young person, will be screened for the first time at Windsor and Eton Pride on July 26.

Jacob told BBC Radio Berkshire that Sir Ian was "very easy to work with."

Jacob has been involved with Windsor-based youth-led film project Notice Productions for about a year.

He said he suggested to one of the coordinators, Brad Day, that they should make a film about gay issues.

Jacob said: "He [Mr Day], as a joke, tells me that I have to have a synopsis ready by the next day - and I take him seriously.

"So I write this whole two-page thing, hand it in, it gets approved and I'm in utter shock."

Jacob said exploring LGBTQ+ history was "really important" to him.

He said: "While we have great films and TV shows now that focus on the present, I really think it's an important thing to focus on the past."

Jacob said the film goes as far back as ancient Greece, which he described as "quite an accepting place back then."

He added: "Most of the Greek gods, while they may be fictional, had male lovers."

He described the genre of the film as "drama, in a way", explaining that “we have these dream sequences... that are different forms of theatre with drag queens played by me, which we had to make costumes for."

Sir Ian plays the role of Great Uncle Peter, a semi-closeted older relative of the film's main protagonist.

Jacob said they managed to secure the Hollywood star's involvement via Eton College's main film director Scott Handy.

The actor described the project as "a really inspiring thing to look at”.

Looking ahead to Windsor and Eton Pride, Jacob said it would feel like "my community is moving closer to home."

Get involved
with the news

Send your news & photos