Gary Thomas

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Gary Thomas: A Life Transformed

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.

Gary is continuing to pursue his career in film making, and is now participating in a range of work including an arts film about hope and recovery, video work for the local council, a feature film script called ‘2 Weddings’ and a short story about the 2012 Olympics. He is also writing 2 spec TV scripts, and has recently been selected for 'sync south east', a leadership programme for 30 artists in the South East region. He is proud of his achievements so far, and is often blatantly honest about the obstacles he faces.

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.

Films produced so far:

‘He Came with Wheels’ was produced in 2004 and is about a disabled escort. The film was shown in four festivals.
‘Coming Out’ was his first artist commission, funded by and screened at Dada-South and was launched in 2005.
‘Madness as a Form of Relaxation’ was a collaboration with Abbie Norris and was funded by the Arts Council in 2006.
‘Early One Summer’ starring Charlie Ross, Graeme Dalling & Janet Greaves was produced in 2007 and then sold to US Distributors.

‘Hearing Voices’ is a 30 minute documentary made with people who have learning disabilities and was funded by UnLtd.

Scripts written so far:
‘2 Weddings’ Rom-Com feature script.
‘Dead’ by Mark Lever & Gary Thomas – TV spec.

For more information on Gary's company see http://www.filmonfilmentertainment.com 

For more about my work, to see images, and to contact me please click on the links above or below.

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