Fakenham's Will McGregor beat 400 other entrants from across the region in the BAFTA 60 Seconds Of Fame Competition 2007, winning a VIP trip to the star-studded awards ceremony in London's Covent Garden. Celebration Competitors were asked to to submit a minute-long film on the theme of celebration. The 19-year-old's film Happy Puppy focuses on the moment a puppy is reunited with its owner after being left on its own for the first time. Shooting the story was a real family affair: inspiration came from the new family pet, Ella, who also takes the lead role. Will's younger brother, Tom, stars as the puppy's owner and the movie was shot in the family kitchen.
 | | Ella, the family puppy |
"I'm only a young film maker, so it was all about using what I had around me really," said Will. Getting started Now studying at Surrey's University College For The Creative Arts, Will first became interested in movie making when a knee injury prevented him from playing his favourite sport, rugby. Movie-making helped fill the long days on the road to recovery, and he enjoyed success with two other short films prior to making Happy Puppy. "The film I made previously... was a six-minute short called Follow The Scent," said Will. "This film was about a brood of chickens stolen by rustlers and the attempt of the farm dog to bring them home. "My first film was called Piglet Tales and showed the lives of a litter of piglets from the moment they're born to the day they are taken from their mother," he added. Both films were shown at Bradford's National Media Museum, formerly known as the National Museum Of Photography Film And Television. The future Such recognition in his chosen field, and now a night at Britain's biggest movie award ceremony, has given Will the confidence he needs to pursue a career in the industry. "I had trouble convincing myself because at first I did it as a hobby," said Will. "It's kind of convinced me in a way. "And other successes I've had with other films, have convinced me I should probably stay doing the film side of things," he added. | 
