John L. Matthews
Thanks for dropping by! I’m the Lead Tutor, an award-winning producer, director, writer and company director at production house Bigger Picture Studios, which I set up in 2003. [We work with other tutors too and put their details here as and when]. I first wrote a book when I was just 10. I love creating something from nothing. That’s alchemy! The ‘Deadliest Crash’ story was in a book given to me – that [something I didn’t really want] changed my life forever! There began a long roller coaster ride!
Longlisted for a BAFTA for my film ‘Grand Prix – the Killer Years’, winning the Members Vote, this means I was nominated by my peers [I didn’t put myself forward], and Grierson Nominated for ‘Deadliest Crash’ [you can’t self-nominate at the Grierson’s]. I’ve also won many awards and nominations at Milan FICTS International Festival.
I’ve produced 5 books to date, two of which are best sellers – ‘Grand Prix the Killer Years’ and ‘Butcher Boy’. I personally outsold Berlinn, a huge publishers, with ‘Killer Years’.
I once made £45,000 in 15 minutes, selling international rights to my work. I was paid £19,000 for work I did not do on a UK feature film project. Some of my factual film work has repeatedly made 6 figures in rights payments. Am telling you this not to show off, but so you know that I think commercially. I want you to make money too.
I’ve successfully pitched into the BBC, BBC Studios, BBC Films, ITV, Channel 4, Discovery, Bravo [Virgin], Berlinn, Northern Ireland Screen and more.
I lecture at the University of Bolton, currently teaching creativity, writing, film making and employability. I’ve lectured at the University of York St John, Chester University, The Manchester College and guest-lectured at Salford University. I’ve taught the private Bigger Picture writing course for many years, which is where this started.
‘In my first session with John I learnt more in one morning than I had attending a six-week online course. John doesn’t just coach you, he makes you think hard about the skills he is teaching you. I found I learned much more from this focused approach. I highly recommend joining one of John’s courses’. Tracey Armitage, Holmfirth, course attendee.
‘When it comes to motivation, John is up there with Colonel Tom Parker!’ Mark Vernon,
Saddleworth, course attendee.