After leavening university, I was bursting to get into the film industry, but it proved to be an extremely difficult challenge, and still is. Six months later, and there was still no sign of getting a job, so I decided to blow the last of my student loan on a trip to The New York Film Academy, Universal Studios, Los Angeles.

I attended a 2-month long workshop, where I learned all aspects of filmmaking. I learned more there than the three whole years at university! At the end of the course we had to working in groups of four and try and make a film each, alternating roles within each project.

'Rock and a Hard Place' was my film, shot on black and white, 16mm reversal film, you had to cut the master print, there is no negative to copy. We had to use old 16mm Arriflex camera that looked like they survived the Second World War. So we weren't expecting fantastic film quality results.

Considering all the factors I think (for a first attempt at shooting 16mm film), I am quite pleased with the results, but more pleased to have had the privilege to work with film in the first place.

All the actors I worked with on this project were fantastic. This was the first time I had worked with real actors, and they made me feel right at home. I think it could have been my English accent that helped! :)

Even before I called them in for the auditions, I was sure I had got the right group of people together. Their faces spoke volumes about their personalities, and their headshots even helped my shape the loosely formed screenplay.