Film by ex-Wolverhampton Uni student in LA to feature at Birmingham Film Festival

Nick J Townsend, of Stourbridge, who is now in his 40s, picked up a camera to produce his so-called mockumentary whilst holidaying in the Californian city last year.

The 50-minute production, called Clingfilm, examines why people move to Hollywood to begin their film careers and the challenges they face along the way.

Now it will be screened as part of Birmingham Film Festival, which starts today and runs throughout the weekend.

The film will be shown on Sunday at the The Mockingbird Theatre and Kitchen based at The Custard Factory on Gibb Street where it may be up for one of 18 prestigious awards.

Speaking of how it feels to be part of the event, Nick said: "I had no idea that the festival was so big.

"I credit Wolverhampton University for all of this. They taught me the rules and then I figured out how to break them."

The film was meant to last around 15 minutes but was extended to 50 after Nick discovered how vocal people were about the issues of fame-hunting in LA.

Nick said: "I just thought I can't become anything in film unless I go to Hollywood and speak to the people who are already out there in the industry, trying to make ends meet and trying to make a name for themselves."

"It was meant to be just a series of interviews, but we ended up with so much material that we couldn't just cast it aside."

The film mixes real-life footage of interviews with mock-ups of comedic interviews and other scenarios, including the moment Nick realised he had lost his passport.

He said: "I think the most interesting part of the film is how it seems to patische itself, mixing the reality of the interviews with funny asides and mock interviews."

Being part of the festival has enabled Nick to feel more like a credible film-maker.

He added: "I've not really seen myself as a film-maker until being involved in this festival. Now I feel like I can say that I am without feeling guilty.

"I hope one day to be able to call myself a films-maker."

Nick is already planning his next production, although his most recent venture saw him in front of the cameras. He said: "I and my other half had to dress up as zombies as part of an event for Halloween in Drakelow Tunnels.

"It was an experience to say the least. Not too dissimilar from Hollywood." Nick has also appeared in several BBC TV shows himself over the years.

His first role was as the character Freddy the Face in Hustle, he also played a high ranking vampire in teenage horror drama Young Dracula.