A film production company is looking to give opportunities to would-be movie makers in Staffordshire.
Green Eye Productions Academy was set up as a creative hub two years ago backed by a £3,000 Get Started and Grow grant from Staffordshire County Council.
As well as providing a more efficient and people-friendly working template for the film industry, the business also wants to hold workshops and support fresh talent.
Green Eye has signed up to Keele University’s Research and Innovation support programme and is currently taking on student internees on a programme part-funded by Santander.
“We want to train and nurture people,” said Julie Daly-Wallman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder.
“I have seen the talent in Staffordshire – we want to give the local community the opportunity they deserve.”
Green Eye’s first film production project is a true story about a celebrated art forger who lives in the village where they are based, Eccleshall.
John Myatt, a former art teacher now aged 78, used household emulsion to paint in the style of masters such as Matisse and Chagall.
Initially honest about his work, he went along with a customer who found he was able to re-sell the paintings as genuine works, fooling auction houses like Sotheby’s and Christie’s.
The film is called Genuine Fakes, also the name of John’s legitimate business imitating art styles which he was able to pursue following his one-year sentence for conspiracy to defraud in 1999.
“The script has been through a lot of re-writes and has been always sent to John for his comments,” said Julie.
“Because the story is based on a part of John’s life we made sure he was happy and it was done in a balanced way.
“We have this ethos of treating others as we ourselves would like to be treated.”
