Life begins again at 40 for wannabe filmmaker Mike

Mike Graham from Berkhamsted said the prospect of hitting the milestone age of 40 was what inspired him to follow his dreams.

He said: “I think I had a bit of a mid-life crisis. I was just plodding along and realised I was not doing what I really wanted to do.”

Although Mike pursued a career in acting two years ago, reaching audition stages in New York and LA and securing a high-profile agent, he decided his heart lay on the production side of the silver screen.

Mike, who served time in prison aged 20 for car fraud, said: “Turning 40 makes you re-evaluate your life and I want to do so in a positive way.

“I have been in prison, had lots of jobs, been unemployed and now I am hoping to become a film-maker. I have seen the whole spectrum of society, good and bad, and I want to draw on those life experiences.”

His first short film, Without Eve, is about the sadness that New Year’s Eve can bring for those who are alone. He hopes to shoot most, if not all, of the film in Berkhamsted.

If he secures enough sponsorship to create the film, he will then enter it into film festivals such as Cannes.

A Hemel Hempstead company has already helped towards funding the film. Mike said: “If I can get the local community behind the project, it will be great.”

For more information, visit indiegogo.com/projects/without-eve-short-film. Incentives include names on the credits, DVD copies and the chance to be an extra.