I'm not in the habit if watching 12A 'Brit Flick' type movies – but I made an exception for this film, as much of it was filmed here.

When I went my questions were less about is it a good film, and more about 'does Eastbourne come off well', and 'what image is Eastbourne given'? On all counts Eastbourne can be well satisfied.

I can't understand why the council didn't organise a local premier, and invite the stars, producer and crew. We did this for 'Notes on a Scandal' 18 months ago with Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. That was partly filmed in Eastbourne – but you'd never know it. About 30 seconds of the film were recognisable Eastbourne, and even that wasn't acknowledged in the script. Yet for that we had the top brass from Screen South, SEEDA, and many others from the film industry. The Curzon was packed and it was a great night. Why did the council miss the opportunity this time round?

While I was on the council we always invested in the Film Liason Unit as I believed the 'big one' would come along at any time. We've had any number of clips from major productions filmed here (Harry Potter, Robin Hood, James Bond etc), and of course loads of TV (Foyles War, Little Britain to name a couple).

But this time the entire film was made here, and elsewhere but credited as Eastbourne. It's a major achievement, but is it 'the big one'? Well maybe. It certainly is the most high profile and positive film I can remember seeing about our town. Ultimately it would be great to see all of our town used as backdrops like Beachy Head and Sovereign Harbour, rather than just the traditional parts of the seafront. But quite frankly no-one can complain about the amount of coverage this film has got about the town we love.

I've always been proud to live in this town, but this coverage is fantastic. In my office block in London on Friday I overheard a couple in the lift talking about coming to Eastbourne this weekend having heard so much about the film. Obviously I intervened and told them to do it, and gave them a restaurant recommendation.

Never mind moaning about what Boris Johnson said (which was tongue in cheek), the council would be better employed making the most of the extraordinary opportunity this film gives us. We really are punching above our weight at the moment.

Everytime Adam Boulton on Sky News calls Eastbourne 'boring' (how would he know?), there's The Mail on Sunday calling our town 'Newly Fashionable'! The council should be maximising coverage at this time. We are in unchartered territory at the moment for our national (and international) coverage.

Predictably there was a line in the film about 'God's waiting room' (yawn) - but it was also called 'The New Brighton'! Frankly it's brilliant coverage, and the council and the town in general should be making the most of this rebranding opportunity. I know I would be if I was still on the council.

The film liaison unit on the council is to be congratulated. This is a superb advert for Eastbourne, and probably the best film that has ever been filmed here. Not necessarily in quality of the film, although it's very good, but in terms of the publicity our town is getting. It really is second to none.

There are loads of shots of the seafront, bandstand, pier etc, and throughout the film it's acknowledged as Eastbourne where the main characters live. There were beautiful parks and streets that were credited as being Eastbourne, but obviously weren't! It was quite comical to see made up places with an Eastbourne badge over it, like the 'Eastbourne Lido' and 'Eastbourne Snooker World'. Also, local businesses will have benefited, like the Afton Hotel seen a couple of times and the Fish and Chip shop at the Pier Head. Even www.visitbandstand.com got a visual plug!

Absolutely brilliant advertising for the town.

Oh yeah… what's the film about? Well… young teenage angst. Girls, boys. Boys, girls. Girls mainly. It's very good in a 'Brit Flick' kind of way.

But there's no doubt in my opinion, Eastbourne was the winner!

Have a great week… and go and see the film!