大象传媒

Chris Stone, who graduated from Staffordshire University's BA (Hons) Media Production course, is director of 'Turpin' which is produced by local actor Les Hemstock.听 Les also takes on the lead role as the legendary Dick Turpin.

Said Chris: "Les's family had a farmhouse, Mulberry Farm, which was used as a hideout by Dick Turpin in the old days in the eighteenth century. We scripted the film together and did a casting call and were delighted to get Jeremy Bullock (who played Boba Fett in 'Star Wars') and Caroline Munro - who played a Bond girl in 'The Spy Who Loved Me'!"

Location

Sandon Hall near Stone provided the main location for the filming and the seventeenth-century pub The White Lion, which is near Barthomley, Crewe, was the tavern for the production - which took over twelve months to complete and which involved over 1000 people.

Other former graduates of Staffordshire University made up much of the crew with graduate Richard Jack co-starring as Turpin's accomplice Tom King, and Staffordshire University Professor Ray Johnson taking on the role of Judge Rookwood.

Staffs goes to Hollywood

Chris said: "It was like doing a mini Hollywood production as it involves all the elements of a fantasy adventure like horses and sword fights. A period action film is so difficult to achieve on a small budget. In fact, we did much of the post production in Hollywood, where Les has moved to, and the industry professionals who've seen it have been really impressed, and don't know how we managed it!"

The film is now being pushed in America and the UK in the hope of getting a distribution deal. Already secured is a future screening at Pinewood studios with hopes high to get it shown and entered in major film festivals in Los Angeles, New York and Cannes.

Chris on the up

Since graduating in 2005, Chris has been busy making his name as a freelance filmmaker directing short films and music videos.
He came second in a competition to shoot a video for Robbie Williams and another video, shot for The Chameleons and featuring Robbie Williams' dad Pete Conway, has been nominated for Best Music Video in London's Limelight film festival.

Chris added: "It's about producing stuff, getting it out there and getting it noticed. My degree was brilliant I learnt so much and my advice to anyone would be to build up a showreel to show what you can do and make it the best you can."