IAN JAMES DUNCAN

I come from a small village in the middle of England where Hollywood and movie-making seemed like a galaxy far away. I wasn't raised around creative types, so I was never exposed to the world of storytelling. When I was 15, I saw "The Shawshank Redemption" and was changed in a profound way. The story opened my eyes to many things; suffering, criminal injustice, survival, and ultimately the triumph of a genuine human connection. That is when my journey into filmmaking began. I had to tell stories, and my ultimate goal was to be someday a part of a film or series that moved someone as I was. I wrote short stories, got a camcorder, and began to create as much as I could... When I was 18, and about to attend university, I was strongly urged by my family to complete a dependable degree in business studies. I knew this wasn't my calling but felt torn between pursuing the life expected of me and the life I knew I wanted. That is when a movie changed me again. I saw "American History X." As..