A Coatbridge independent film director has had a year to remember after his debut made a splash at the film festival and is now on YouTube.
Paul Morris spent six years working on the low cost coming-of-age tale 'Angry Young Men' before it hit the silver screen.
The 30-year-old was looking to showcase local talents and Hamilton to a wider audience and really bring his story to life.
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Speaking to Glasgow Live, he said: "The budget was just the price of the equipment. It was all about people who wanted to get involved. We were all in the same boat, it is hard to get work in Scotland and do what you want to do, especially with actors.
"There is a lot of people I know who are super talented, but in terms of paid opportunities they are hard to find.
"I was very transparent about writing it and the casting process. I went to see theatre groups and offered to do trailers for them and adverts for them. I didn't want paid for them but I would just ask to meet the cast, it was the same with the Theatre School of Scotland for the kids roles.
"I also spoke to local theatre groups in East Kilbride. It wasn't done with the intention of being a community project. It was more about me writing about my hometown.
"It kind of means more now looking back at it, seeing the number of people who turned up for it."
With a budget of less than £5,000, a lot of the work behind the scenes, including editing, filming and sound, was carried out by the director - an experience he believes he will benefit from in the future
The 30-year-old explained: "I did try and get directors of photography and composers but I didn't have the resources to pay them.
"I had to do every job but I'm glad it worked out like that. It gave me an education in a lot of areas."
Prior to embarking on the mammoth effort, the aspiring director had tried his hand at a few short films, but the dream was always to create something on a larger scale.
In March of this year Paul's dream of seeing a piece of his work on the big screen finally came true when 'Angry Young Men' was screened at the Glasgow Film Festival.
Paul said: "I got serious about it in 2017 then finished the script in 2018, it was the first feature I ever wrote.
"I wanted to figure out what my identity was going to be. Filming took place from 2018 to 2021 then I was editing it for a good few months.
"It was then a PR push after we got into the Glasgow Film Festival. Getting it on YouTube was the last stage which is quite mad because it has been a long process. I always thought this was doable. It was the big goal.
"There was a big push to get the editing done, the sound all finished in time for the submission deadline on October 31 2021.
"The composer had dropped out so I had to write the music and then my friend, who is a DJ, produced the music. That was all done in a small time scale and we submitted the film minutes before it closed.
"I didn't find out until December 10 that it was part of the festival and I was elated it got in.
"Then we had the premiere with all the cast, all my family were there and people who had heard about it were there. We sold out three screenings which was amazing. It was unreal."
After the success of his directorial debut, Paul now has his sights set on his second project.
He hopes that the next film will be another step up and provide even more local aspiring film stars the platform they deserve.
The director said: "I've got a script that I'm working on just now and a few other ideas, so it's just about seeing what can be done.
"There are loads of people here I'd love to work with. I want to make sure it's more polished, upgrade camera stuff and get a proper crew together not just a one man band.
"I feel it is admirable on your first outing but we need to see what's next. Once the script is done we'll take it from there but that's the main focus."
The tale of Mauchton, the fictional gangland in which the film is set, has resonated with many and film buffs have come out in their droves to praise the work.
Paul said: "I think a lot of people have commended it. People admire and enjoy the film, and I'm delighted with it.
"It's really about having something under your belt and seeing it through to completion which is probably the hardest part, in terms of writing and directing it.
"The feedback has been great so it is now onto the next one."
'Angry Young Men' is now available to watch on YouTube here.
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