Michael Lacey

1999 was a good year for walking, some guy in China walked the wall, Ian Botham walked from John O Groats to Lands End and I launched my toolbox across a factory floor and walked away from a career in engineering. Armed with something to say I wrote my way into Manchester Metropolitan Film School and became fascinated by images, subtext and visually conveying emotion onto screen. The film bug bit and I swapped my pen for a camera. After graduating from film school, I worked as a V.T Operator and Assistant Director on TV commercials until I got a break directing corporate videos and commercials for Nissan, Lacoste, John Lewis and British Gas. I became increasingly aware of how the industry was littered with frustrated writers and directors and how quickly dreams fade with long hours and freelance concern. I needed a calling card, one that would open doors and give me the opportunity to kick-start my own move into the competitive world of Television drama. Unable to raise any funding I