A GROUP of budding movie directors saw the world premiere of their film at the Odeon cinema at Leisure World, Southampton.

Once Upon A Time - A Funked Up Fairytale was written, acted and directed by pupils from Crestwood Community School, Eastleigh.

The adaptation of Jack and Jill is a contemporary satire that exposes the folly of drug abuse.

Several colourful characters make the film's social commentary amusing, but an eye-opener.

Jack's mum is a boozing drag queen while Jill's parents are middle-class snobs.

Following Jill's untimely death from narcotics, Jack is jailed.

Eventually he is released and rehabilitated when the true culprits - Jack's drug-dealing "friends" - are brought to justice.

Pupils at the school were given the chance to make the film when they won the Screenbites competition run by Southern Film education with Odeon Cinemas and Cass Productions.

Last July, a panel of industry experts judged Crestwood's idea the best out of participating secondary schools in Hampshire.

Cass Productions gave the teenagers extensive help in the form of a scriptwriter, make-up artist, camera crew, director, sound engineer, editor and composer.

The film will be circulated on CD-ROM with an education pack to be used in schools everywhere.

Tom Jones, the pupil who played Prince Jack, said: "Films are usually about real issues or complete fantasy. We tried to get a mix of both."