GREAT filmmakers like Spielberg, Coppola and Scorsese all had to start somewhere small.

Perhaps a similar fate awaits Winchester filmmaker Toby Robinson who completed his first film last Thursday (March 14).

What if Life was Like the Movies? was shot at several pubs around the city, including The Hyde Tavern and The Railway Inn.

The story centres around three friends who, during a visit to the pub, begin to discuss which movie genre would be best in which to get the girl of their dreams.

Although just a 25-minute short, Toby, 21 of Western Road, Winchester, hopes this is the first step towards a feature film career.

He said: “At the moment I'm looking to tour this around some of the short film festivals around the UK. It's gone pretty smoothly and I've had a great cast of actors and crew to work with.

“Working in features is my biggest aim but at the moment I'm happy just building towards that and getting as much stuff on my show reel as possible.”

His favourite directors are Ridley Scott, of Alien and Blade Runner fame, and Atonement's Joe Wright.

And like many British filmmakers, Toby would love to be involved in perhaps the greatest British film franchise - James Bond.

He said: “I don't really have a favourite genre but I've always imagined doing a Bond film and it would be a dream come true if that ever came along in the future.”

Toby attended Western Primary and The Westgate schools and Peter Symonds College before studying film at the University of Creative Arts at Farnham, Surrey.

He has been given a helping hand by several fellow graduates who joined 12-man film crew.