By Adam Lazzari. TWO former King s School pupils Ed Blum and Aschlin Ditta have just received huge critical acclaim after making the British comedy, Scenes of a Sexual Nature. One of the film s stars Ewan McGregor was so impressed with Ditta s script that

By Adam Lazzari.

TWO former King's School pupils Ed Blum and Aschlin Ditta have just received huge critical acclaim after making the British comedy, Scenes of a Sexual Nature.

One of the film's stars Ewan McGregor was so impressed with Ditta's script that he agreed to work for minimum rates.

Director and producer Blum met writer Ditta at the Ely school when they were 11-years-old.

Blum said: "Aschlin's father, Doug Ditta, was the head of drama when we were both at the King's School in the early 1980's and he was inspirational. We had most wonderful opportunities and my passion for drama started there."

After becoming involved in the Newmarket amateur drama group NOMADS as a teenager, Blum then went into the National Youth Theatre Company, before studying theatre at Glasgow University. He has gone on to direct television programmes including The Bill and Crimewatch, and received a BAFTA nomination in 1996 for his short, The Last Post.

Blum returned to his old school recently to record an interview for Anglia Television to promote his first film, which he describes as the finest moment in his career to date.

He said: "To work with Ewan McGregor on my first film is like a dream come true. We had a budget of just £260,000, which is tiny in film-making terms, but everyone been so impressed by Asch's script and soon we had all of these top actors wanting to work with us."

The film also stars Andrew Lincoln, Sophie Okonedo and Catherine Tate, who Ditta has also previously worked with on the comedienne's hit television programme The Catherine Tate Show.

Although the title might suggest something different, the film is in the best tradition of the British romantic genre. Set on one afternoon on Hampstead Heath, it cuts between the interactions of seven separate couples who have all reached a turning point in their lives. Whether it be a divorcing couple wondering how they ever got together, a gay couple grappling with the very notion that they are not able to adopt, or an odd couple who reflect on their earlier love lives.

Scenes of a Sexual Nature reached No 7 at the box office for all British language films last month and was the No 2 British film on its weekend release in November. The film is expected to be re-released in cinemas around the country in January and February and will be out on DVD later in the year.