by Ross Lidbetter

ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk

Meet Croydon's answer to Steven Spielberg - 74-year-old Tony Shepherd.

The grandad-of-five, from Charlwood, Forestdale, has made over 100 films during his lifetime.

And while they are not on the scale of ET or Jurassic Park, his latest short film has helped him scoop another accolade.

As his club, Spring Park Film Makers, announced its awards recently for the best films of 2009 Mr Shepherd won a special award for his nature documentary "From My Armchair".

Filmed from inside his living room through his window, it captures the rich and varied wildlife in his back garden.

"We are film makers - not just people with camcorders," he said, talking about the club's members.

"We make films we can present to the public.

"I have been involved in films all my life. When I was 15 I saved up for my own cine camera.

"I brought a second hand one for about three pounds and 10 shillings."

Mr Shepherd was a founding member of Spring Park Film Makers.

He and his wife of 51 years Mary are equally comfortable behind the camera and their films - which range in subject from natural history to family comedies - normally last between eight to 15 minutes.

Mr Shepherd - whose favourite films are Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinocchio - says filmmakers are lucky nowadays that they can use modern equipment.

"Before if you had any duff stuff it had to go in the dustbin," he said. "So you had to quickly learn how to use a camera, otherwise you would lose a lot of money.

"These days you just have to press a button (to delete what you don't like) and you don't have to be a cameraman.

"But you still have to be creative with making films. If you're making a short film you have to grab people's attention straight away."

Mr Shepherd, who used to work as a printer for the Daily Mirror newspaper, has won over a dozen trophies over the years.

Describing his latest accolade, he added: "I was very pleased. "Instead of being 5ft 8ins tall I feel 15ft 8ins."