The B Corp effect: behind the scenes with Widgit and Be Inspired Films

March 2026

Following a wonderful month of celebrating all things B Corp, we were delighted to invite Bertie, star of Widgit’s first brand video ‘Unlocking joy with symbols’, to interview Widgit and fellow B Corp Be Inspired Films on the process of making a movie! From Nottingham Train Station to Dudley Zoo and Castle, Bertie speaks to Be Inspired Films founder and director Ravinol Chambers, and Widgit content lead Louise Hopewell, about the places and people involved in telling a truly special story.

Bertie: Why did you want to make this film?

Louise: Brilliant first question! Widgit Symbols are loved by everyone who use them, but there’s still lots of people who don’t know about symbolised communication, especially outside of the classroom. When it comes to enjoying a day out, we really wanted to show how they can support individuals of all ages across all environments, including families like in our video. It’s hard to explain how symbols have superpowers without showing someone, and our new video is a lovely way to introduce the world of Widgit!

Ravinol: We took this project on because it was an opportunity to help another B Corp doing great work tell their story. That kind of purpose-driven work is exactly what we do. It was also personal. My younger son, Kavi, is neurodivergent, so I know how hard transitions can be. Going somewhere new, noisy or unknown can be overwhelming for someone with neurodiversity and for their family. As we developed the story with Widgit, I saw my own family in your story Bertie. That made this film feel important, knowing it could help other families feel less alone and show how Widgit Symbols can genuinely transform access and confidence, making a simple day out possible.

Bertie: What made you choose those locations?

Ravinol: We wanted a typical ‘day out’ that showed different parts of that experience and locations that could be, or become, symbol-friendly. Widgit had already been speaking with East Midlands Railway (EMR) about becoming symbol-friendly, so Nottingham Train Station was a natural fit for the travel part. As a setting already committed to accessibility, Dudley Zoo and Castle gave us the visual variety and great day out location we needed. For the home scenes, which show the planning and the return after the day out, one of the Widgit team kindly offered their house and it worked perfectly.

Louise: We chose Nottingham Train Station and Dudley Zoo and Castle as they are such vibrant and exciting locations from which to tell our Widgit story. They can also get very busy (with people and animals!) and we really wanted to show how Widgit Symbols can support people of all abilities feel more prepared ahead of their journey, and feel able to enjoy it when they get there! Following the making of this film, both EMR and Dudley Zoo and Castle have become Symbol-Friendly Organisations in real life, so lots more families can continue to benefit from Widgit.

Bertie: What was your favourite filming day and why?

Louise: That’s a super tough question! I loved Nottingham Train Station as passengers were so intrigued by what we were filming (we even hired actors called ‘extras’ to help on the day)! But the highlight for me has to be Dudley Zoo and Castle. It was so exciting to share the day with all those awesome animals, and learn about them in the process. We couldn’t believe the zookeeper knew the names of each and every penguin, and it was a lovely surprise to feed their tall and graceful giraffes!

Ravinol: They were all brilliant, but Dudley Zoo probably stood out the most. It was incredibly visual with the hills, nature and the castle as a backdrop. We also knew that you, Bertie, would love the penguins, giraffes, lemurs and meerkats and those moments of delight translated beautifully on camera in the film. It was also great because we all got to go see the tapirs at the end of the day.

Bertie: How did you make the house look like a movie set?

Louise: The house definitely felt like a movie set! So much goes on behind the lens to create the very best lighting for every scene. There were so many cameras and lots of equipment involved, with a busy crew following Ravinol’s directions and preparing for the next shot. We even had a lovely makeup artist called Laura who worked hard (in my case!) to make everyone in the film look their very best.

Ravinol: A lot happens behind the scenes. We used large lights, both inside and outside, and diffusion to make the light soft but powerful. We used smoke haze so the beams of light would stand out more. For the evening interiors shot during the day, we blacked out the windows and recreated the light we needed to make it look like the evening. It’s all about controlling the environment so the space reads exactly as the story demands. Bertie, you got to see some of that transformation on set!

Bertie: Did the final story look like what you had in your head?

Louise: We are over the moon with the final version of the film! It exceeded our expectations in every way. It really shows how small changes like the use of Widgit Symbols can help people feel joy and make the most of everyday life. Making the film has also been the most wonderful experience, and we feel very lucky to have connected with Ravinol as another B Corp like Widgit a few years ago.

Ravinol: Yes. In this case it came out exactly as I had pictured it, which was a great feeling. When you work with a drama-style approach you can plan every shot, framing and timing, so it is possible to bring the storyboard vision to life closely. It doesn’t always happen, but this time it did. It was very satisfying to see the vision come to life as planned.

Bertie: What was your best memory from the filming days?

Ravinol: My best memory was seeing you, Bertie, do so well. Knowing how tiring long shoot days can be, and how demanding it can feel when you are neurodiverse, I was genuinely impressed by how well you managed and how much you enjoyed it. That brought me a huge amount of joy. It will be a lasting memory for me and for the Be Inspired Films team. Well done, good job!

Louise: I’ll treasure memories from the whole experience! I think sitting down with that hot chocolate at the very end of filming was my favourite moment, though. Seeing how relaxed and happy you were, which we were fortunate to capture on film, was exactly the way we wanted it to end. You will always be an honorary member of the Widgit team, and as your mum I’m hugely proud of the courage it took for you to take part. Your efforts will go a long way in helping more children realise that we all matter, and we all deserve to have fun!