HOLLYWOOD is beckoning for former Chiddingfold resident Guy Thompson after a film he worked on has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the best short documentary category at this year’s awards.

Guy, who grew up in Chiddingfold and attended Grayswood school and St Bart’s, was art director of Black Sheep, a film directed by Ed Perkins and produced by Simon and Jonathan Chinn.

The film follows the story of Cornelius Walker after the murder of 11-year-old Damilola Taylor in November 2000. Cornelius, also aged 11 and with Nigerian parents, lived nearby. His mother, fearing for Cornelius’s safety, moved the family out of London and he suddenly found himself living on a white estate among racists.

The 27-minute film explores questions about ethnicity and identity and the compromises people make to fit in. It won the best short documentary award at the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival in June.

Nominations for the 91st Academy Awards will be announced on January 22.

Guy, who went on to study fine art, said: “I started at the bottom of the film industry making teas and in ten years have worked my way up to head of department making music videos and commercials and now make short films and pilots and am moving into feature films.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to be on the shortlist for an Oscar. On the list there are ten films. If we get nominated I will definitely be going to the ceremony. It’s obviously a dream come true to be considered among the best films in the world and have your work recognised in this way. It’s also an amazing networking opportunity for future film work. I really hope this can be a stepping stone to the world of feature films for me.

“I was brought up in Chiddingfold and my parents still live in the same house and now my sister and her family live in Camelsdale. I’ve always been interested in film and art and my family have always supported my ambitions to have a career in this field.”