The BBC is working with director Ridley Scott to capture a snapshot of a day in Britain using footage submitted by people from across the country.

Britain in a Day is being made in partnership with Scott Free London, the production company run by Scott (Blade Runner/Gladiator/Alien), and forms part of the BBC’s Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival programming.

It follows this year’s release of Life in a Day, a film that invited people from around the world to upload footage to YouTube for consideration by director Kevin Macdonald.

Taking that model, people will be asked to film something intimate and unique from their lives on Nov 13 and upload it to a dedicated YouTube channel.

Director Morgan Matthews will use the trove of material to compile a feature-length documentary that will attempt to capture the variety of life in Britain today.

Matthews will work alongside executive producer Kevin Macdonald and Scott Free producer Liza Marshall. Charlotte Moore, BBC commissioning editor for documentaries, is spearheading the project.

BBC Learning will fund the project, which will be officially launched on BBC1’s The One Show in late October.

Ahead of Nov 12 filming date, BBC2 will air Life in a Day, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year.

BBC2 will also broadcast Britain in a Day ahead of next year’s Olympic Games.

It was commissioned by Moore and BBC2 controller Janice Hadlow.

Moore said: “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.”

Scott said: “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.”

Filmmaking workshops will be held in communities across the UK and a series of ‘how-to’ films and guides will aim to teach anyone to use phones or cameras to record moments from their day.

A film featuring more than 20 high-profile figures from BBC TV and radio will be made to encourage people to take part.

BBC Learning will also work with film schools, societies and charities to generate a broad range of films.

This story was originally published on Broadcast.

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