The film production company Elliott Johns founded while studying at University of Staffordshire is now working with national brands and helping to create independent films.

First Reunion Productions has clients including Merlin Entertainment, The Inspirational Learning Group and IronMarket Wealth. It has collaborated on films including one featured on the Raindance Film School website.

Elliott started the company in the second year of his Media Film Production degree, kept it running part-time after he graduated in 2015 and by 2019 had built the business to the point where he was able to work on it full-time.

He works with a team of around 20 freelance film creatives who collaborate on one another’s projects which led to him co-founding Staffordshire Film Collective.

The Collective, most of whom are University of Staffordshire alumni, have released a number of films and work together to develop skills and help others to build a film career in Staffordshire.

“We’re showing people that you can have a career in the film industry and be based in this region, that you don’t have to move away,” said Elliott. “It’s really fun to work together and we’re incredibly lucky to have the sort of clients we have.

“Running this business and working in this industry is generally awesome. It’s a blessing. I was lucky to be able to start using a film camera from an early age, from year nine at school, and I haven’t stopped since.

“Everyone in the collective works really hard, supports one another and we see the benefits of that.”

Elliott, who runs his business from Beaconside Business Village in Stafford, has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards. He has also entered First Reunion Productions into the Small Business of the Year category.