Lights, camera action as budding film director from Wigan graduates from university

Josh Waywell, 22, has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a muscle-wasting disease which has resulted in him using a wheelchair and needing support to do many things.

He has also been hospitalised three times over the past three years, after developing chest and stomach infections.

But that has not stopped him graduating from the University of Central Lancashire in Preston with a first class bachelor’s degree in film and media studies.

It means he now has the skills and qualification to pursue his lifelong ambition of becoming a film director.

Mum Liz Waywell, of Appley Bridge, said: “He’s very determined. It’s been his dream since he was three. It’s what he has always wanted to do.”

Josh, a former pupil at Standish High School, has spent the past three years focusing on his studies.

He had the opportunity to do projects based on his interests, for example an advertising campaign for a horror film festival and a documentary on Miles Davis and jazz music.

“He really enjoyed it,” Liz said.

“The university has been really good. It’s a lovely campus and all the lecturers have been very accommodating with Josh - because he is in a wheelchair they made sure his lectures were in accessible places and he could get around. They gave him books he could read online, so he was able to access uni fully.”

Josh is now drawing up ideas for a film and is particularly interested in horror, science fiction and action films, like his heroes Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and John Carpenter.

Liz said: “He has made some contacts with people at university who are script writers or lecturers in script writing. When Josh has got some ideas together, they will help him formulate a script and take it from there.

“It’s the ideas at the moment and with Covid-19, it’s probably a good way of focusing him on that so when we finally come out it, he can start making films.”

Josh is having to do it all at home, as his health issues mean he and his family are continuing to shield to avoid catching coronavirus.

Liz said: “At the moment his health is stable, but as well as Duchenne, he can be susceptible to chest infections which is why we are in total lockdown at the moment with Covid-19.

“His health is stable but his physicality is deteriorating quite a bit “

Josh uses a wheelchair permanently, his hands become stiff and he uses a vent machine all night and for up to six hours a day to help him breathe.

But Liz is hopeful that will not affect his future career.

She said: “Because he is going to be a film director, everyone else will be doing the work for him. He can type so he uses a special mouse he can lean on and just click with his fingers and uses an on-screen keyboard. For filming we can set up cameras under his guidance, but someone has to do it for him.”

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