A Staffordshire film production company is set to launch its first big screen movie.
The Green Eye Production Academy in Eccleshall will release Genuine Fakes next year.
The film is based on the life of the infamous John Myatt, who masterminded possibly the largest art fraud of the twentieth century before being sent to jail. He later used his artistic skills to set up a legitimate business which he still runs today.
Starring Colin Morgan, Peter Frith and Tara Fitzgerald, Genuine Fakes was officially launched in London’s Mayfair recently.
Movie time
The Green Eye Production Academy is the brainchild of producer and founder Julie Daly-Wallman, who has worked in the film industry for more than 30 years.
Julie hopes to set up more academy hubs at locations across the UK and possibly further afield as the business grows.
To get the company off the ground, she turned to the county council for advice on what support was available to start-ups.
As part of the Staffordshire Means Business support programme, a package of support set up by the county council in response to the pandemic, Julie was initially able to access a £3,000 start-up loan.
She then found out about the Get Started and Grow scheme, a fully-funded programme providing professional marketing and accountancy support. Through Get Started, Julie has been able to develop Green Eye Productions’ online shop through e-commerce advice and practical support from experts, Hub Creative Services.
Passion
Julie said: “I love the fact that we set up this company here in Eccleshall, which I am very passionate about.
“The first academy hub will be here in Eccleshall but we hope to have hubs all over the UK and then who knows?
“The Get Started and Grow team was fantastic, supporting me step by step with the application for support which has made a real difference.
“I’d certainly recommend the Get Started scheme for new business, giving them the professional support and advice while they get on their feet.”
Support
Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said it was fantastic to see a creative company in Staffordshire making its mark so quickly with the movie Genuine Fakes that would be seen worldwide.
“Get Started and Grow has provided expert accountancy and marking support to Julie and her team, meaning they can focus on delivering a top-quality production,” he said.
The Get Started and Grow programme has been funded by the county council and the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund. It offers small businesses the opportunity to save thousands and not compromise on the essentials they need to start up and grow.
As part of the Staffordshire Means Business support scheme, over £100,000 has been invested in start-up companies, in the form of start-up schemes with loans, grants and professional support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with an additional £3.4m being allocated to businesses in total over the original amount available from the central government.
Genuine Fakes is due to appear in cinemas towards the end of 2023.
