Everyone remembers their first love. The one that first gives you butterflies. The one you’ll always pick for your team in the playground. The one that will first break your heart.

Shy 12-year-old Andrew is fast developing his very first crush on Jessica, the new girl in class and fellow nerd. But when war breaks out in the south Atlantic, Jessica’s serviceman father may have to pack her off to her grandad’s – could that mean the end of their young romance?

It’s A Love Thing is an independent 45-minute romantic-drama feature film, set in 1982 when Fame and Star Wars were all the rage, that follows the school-pupil pair’s blossoming relationship. Starring as Jessica is 11-year-old South Oxhey actress Hollie Thoupos.

“We loved her!” says production manager Claire Hickman, “She has a huge talent and is a darling on set, she even taught me a few dance moves!“

“It was awesome to work on this film,“ says Jessica, a pupil at Gypsy Booth School of Theatre Arts in Watford. “I loved every minute of it.“

The film has already won a clutch of awards including Best Family Film at the Canada International Film Festival, and is now seeking screening opportunities with hopes for a national tour.

“It’s an incredible achievement  by a little film crew such as ourselves,“ says Claire. “The cast was so brilliant – we just want to get our film out there and seen by as many people as possible.“

You can watch Jessica in action in the film’s trailer at: www.itsalovething.info