Last year, we shared the story of learner author Tyler, whose debut novel John's Wacky Wayland showcased his imagination and love of storytelling. Since then, Tyler has continued to build on that success, not only writing new books but also taking his creativity in an exciting new direction with the production of his very first short film.
Tyler has spent the past year developing a range of creative projects, including sequels to John's Wacky Wayland and several new original novels. Alongside his writing, he has successfully written, produced and completed his debut short film, a project he describes as one of his proudest achievements to date.
Inspired by a lifelong love of cinema, Tyler spent a year developing the screenplay; despite facing challenges along the way, he remained committed to seeing the project through.
The film tells the story of a woman living alone whose life begins to unravel after receiving a mysterious gift basket filled with golden eggs. Blending humour with unease, and an ending open to interpretation, Tyler hopes viewers will leave with plenty to discuss.
His hard work has already begun attracting attention, with the film being selected for two film festivals and receiving an Audience Choice Award, an impressive achievement for a first-time filmmaker.
Reflecting on the difference between writing and filmmaking, Tyler said: "With books, I can explain exactly what characters are thinking and feeling. With film, you have to rely on visuals, performances, music and sound to tell the story."
Studying at London South East Colleges has played an important role in helping Tyler develop both disciplines. Through his Art and English studies, he has gained a deeper understanding of storytelling, creativity and visual communication. He credits former English teacher Munuse with encouraging his creative writing and current Art teacher Jon with helping him think bigger and push his ideas further.
Looking ahead, Tyler's creative progress shows no signs of slowing. More books are already in development, while his next film, currently known as PROJECT R, promises to be a mind-bending found-footage production.
He also has a message for aspiring writers and filmmakers: "If you have an idea, plan everything and keep going, even if you think it won't work. Even if you don't like the result, at least you can say you did it. There will be people who are proud of you for trying."
As Tyler continues to turn ambitious ideas into reality, we look forward to seeing where his creativity takes him next.