Gary Thomas is an example of how the arts can transform someone’s life.
After a childhood spent in and out of hospital, Gary is now developing two feature film scripts and a flourishing community film making career.
Gary has been through a series of corrective surgery operations, and experienced bullying and depression. And he’s put these difficult experiences into his work.
His determination and passion for film making won him the backing of UnLtd, a charitable organisation promoting social entrepreneurship. UnLtd granted him with funding to buy his own camera and that has made a real difference to his life. In 2007, Gary began to produce documentaries with and about people with learning difficulties. He then began to produce short films and in 2008, sold his production of ‘Early One Summer’ to distributors at Cannes Film Festival.
Since 2008, through his company film on film entertainment ltd, Gary has worked with a variety of people and organisations, from Driving Inspirations (Creative Bucks), which taught filmmaking to 42 young people in 11 schools across the South East, to The Dog & The Palace Film & Workshops, working with Karen Gilchrist, Christine Wilkinson & Jon Potter, inspiring 40 9-12 year olds in Essex about the Olympics & Paralympics.
The company specialises in working with disabled and young people, as well as creating its own projects.
Gary Thomas- Biography:
Gary is a strong minded and determined individual who has battled life’s obstacles in order to follow his passion to become a film maker. Gary had undergone four operations before the age of ten after being born with a flat nose & Cleft Pallet and when most teenagers were off to University, Gary was having more corrective surgery & spent 10 days in intensive care. He then decided that as he was going to be in and out of hospital for various operations, he would focus on his education.
He managed to secure some valuable work experience with Arena Digital, a post production house, and then with children’s television channel, Trouble, which both led to future paid employment. In 2003 he also worked as an intern for six months for the New Producers Alliance, which is where he began to learn everything about the UK production scene.
In 2001, Gary graduated with a degree in digital imaging, and in order to concentrate on his career as a film maker, he left his job with a local newspaper. Since leaving his job, Gary has been funded by Screen South, Arts Council England, UnLtd, & Dada-South.