A producer who assisted in bringing actor John Travolta to the region expressed confidence that other stars will follow in the wake of the news of a £1.275 million government boost for the creative industry in the east.
Last year, Richard Johns filmed with John Travolta in Norfolk, and he is a consultant for the new Creative East initiative.
Now, entrepreneurs in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire have access to mentoring and training.
Mr. Johns stated,
“You can work locally yet conduct business globally.”
Tuesday saw the inauguration of the Creative East: Generate Growth Project at the Theatre Royal in Norwich.
According to the study, employment in the sector in the eastern area is growing three times faster than the national average.
Detectorists, Danny Boyle’s Yesterday, and Nuno Lopes’ Preliminary Figures are among the television shows and films produced in the region.
Mr. Johns advised creative entrepreneurs with growth aspirations to submit an application to Creative East.
“What is being offered is a sum of money from the federal government – that’s taking the east seriously.
“If you are a regional creator, you can start here, grow here, and create sustainable jobs without feeling compelled to relocate to London, Hollywood, or any other city.”
Now, organizations will be able to join the program to gain access to expert guidance, assistance, and mentoring.
It is envisaged that the project will highlight the region’s creative industries’ capabilities.
Mr. Johns, a producer on the Oscar-nominated picture Shadow of the Vampire starring John Malkovich, invited Travolta to West Raynham.
They labored on Frederick Forsyth’s The Shepherd, which will premiere on Disney+ around Christmastime 2019.
“My location manager called and informed me that John Travolta was signing sausage buns at Morrison’s in Fakenham. he stated.
It reminded me of the influence it can have.
“Thinking regionally is not necessary simply because we are in the region. That you can work from any place is a mentality that I believe we are capable of overcoming.
“I’d love to bring John back to the region, and I also plan to attract other Hollywood talent and a galaxy of British talent to the region.”
Mr. Johns has now established Argo Films and is collaborating with Zeinab Balami, a creative producer from Norwich, on a children’s project.
Ms. Balami had the idea for her master’s degree in animation ten years ago and planned to gain from the new project while remaining in Norfolk.
She said,
“I’m quite lucky to be able to work online with individuals from all around the world.”
“I worked with character and background designers in Denmark, France, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom prior to the pandemic. Everything is interdependent.
If I participated in the program, the business would advance to the next stage.
New Anglian Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Greater Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Norfolk County Council, and Suffolk County Council are leading the initiative.
University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich, along with ARU Peterborough, University of Suffolk (UoS), and Norwich University of the Arts, will deliver it (NUA).
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