Young film and gaming industry talents are putting their weight behind Platform 2012, Hull’s huge digital gaming and entertainment expo.

A creative collective from around the Yorkshire and Humber region is taking part in the event on March 17 and 18, to inspire other young people to start businesses in the industry.

Led by award winning film production company, Let There Be Light Productions, the collective has a distinctive combination of expertise in film making, editing, animation, special effects, caricatures, scriptwriting, voiceover and narration, concept art, online distribution and music composition for film and games.

Hugh M Adamson, director of Scunthorpe-based LTBL Productions, said that Platform 2012 was absolutely right in trying to create a new, youthful and vibrant digital gaming and entertainment sector to boost the local economy. Hugh, 26, and his business partner Jason Marris, 23, set up the company in 2010 after struggling to find opportunities to establish themselves in the British film industry.

“We started our company to become feature film-makers, with the ethos of finding jobs for other disenfranchised creative young people in the region. It has since turned into a thriving business,” said Hugh.

“Online film distribution and broadcasting is the future, and our collective will demonstrate how to access it, become a part of it and make a career out of it. With the Internet, there are far fewer limits and many exciting possibilities.”

The members of the collective, from Hull, Grimsby, Scunthorpre and Goole, are Hugh M Adamson and Jason Marris, co-founders of Let There Be Light Productions; Dan Lloyd of Element Animation, responsible for YouTube series The Crack; Gary Spate and Gary Adams, makers of youth feature film Dead Lies; Yen Ip, caricaturist and storyboard expert; Paul Parker, voice over artist for games and films; Peter Goundrill, creator of web series Humber City and Miles Hancock, a music composer for games and film.

They will be joined by students, Jay Smith, Michael Holcombe and Elisabel Kennedy of 720p Productions and graduate film-makers Katherine Sunlay, Mel Roberts and Lucy Mager.

Platform 2012, at the University of Hull, will showcase regional talent as well as national and international names. It is aiming to attract thousands of visitors with its unique combination of education, business and fun.

The event has secured big name industry supporters including EA Games, Microsoft, and Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment and Ubisoft.

There will be varied entertainment including demos, competitive gaming, retro gaming, cosplay, and a line up of top industry speakers.

For exhibitor, sponsor and ticket information: www.platformexpos.com

LTBL Productions show reel can be accessed at www.ltblproductions.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/platformexpos

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/PlatformExpos