Movie making in Nottinghamshire

More star names from the movie world could be coming to Nottinghamshire following the launch of a new film group.

EM Media is the name given to the new regional agency designed to support the development of the film and media industry in the East Midlands.

It brings together agencies like the East Midlands Screen Commission and Media Training Consortium with the hope that red tape will be cut and more films will be produced.

Commenting on the launch of the organisation, it's chairman, Ian Squires, said: "It will bring about change and make things happen."

Mark Williams in a scene from the soon to be released Anita and Me

In the past few years the East Midlands has been best known for bringing on the talents of the Nottingham film director Shane Meadows.

His film Twenty Four Seven, starring Bob Hoskins, became a major box office hit.

EM Media's chief executive, Ken Hay, says the success of Meadows shows the importance of Nottinghamshire as a film centre.

However, he doesn't want to develop multi-Shane Meadows, he'd prefer to bring on directors with their own individual talents.

"Our hope is we can produce more films from within the region."

Nottingham's very own Shane Meadows

That could be a tall order because Nottinghamshire's done quite well in the past months.

Before the end of the year two movies filmed here - Anita and Me and Once Upon A Time In The Midlands - will go on general release.

The decision to film these two films in the county brought £6 million to the region.

It's this kind of spin-off which is so attractive to the people behind EM Media.

They've already secured £500,000 in lottery funding to distribute to up and coming filmmakers and hope to attract more Bollywood productions to the area.

Movie making in Nottinghamshire. On the set of Once Upon A Time In The Midlands

As well as making films, EM Media hope to demystify the whole process of movie-making to make it easier for people to get involved in all aspects of the industry, either as directors, actors or just paying customers.

The first development from the group will be a film by up and coming local director Chris Cook. He's already worked in television and made short films.

His first major feature will be called One For The Road and should be released towards the end of this year or early next.