MATTHEW Rosser, 20 has bagged himself one of only 60 places from 3,000 hopefuls for this year's National Youth Film Academy "Make it Happen" summer course.

The former Lakers pupil hopes to propel himself into a career in the film and TV industry, emulating the success of his idol, Daniel Day Lewis.

"It's a very big opportunity for me," he said this week, and family members said they were "very excited and happy".

The course includes tuition from a number of high-profile industry professionals Matthew hopes it will help him fulfill a long-time dream.

He will be studying for two and a half weeks in the heart of London.

Matthew, from Milkwall, said he was "ecstatic" to be one of the few who were accepted on to the course which is supported by the British Film Institute's Future Film Divison.

"The audition involved each auditionee being taken in to a room one-by-one for them to read their monologue," he said. His successful audition included a piece from Boy's Life by Howard

Korder.

Matthew gained his passion for drama during his time at Lakers school, which he subsequently left to do a course in Performing Arts at the Royal Forest of Dean College followed by a course at Brian Timoney's Actors' Studio.

A friend had told him about the National Youth Film Academy opportunity, he said, and "it really stood out for me because it was specifically based around film".

The course culminates with making a short film which will be screened at the prestigious British Film Institute Southbank Centre.

"I can't wait – it's very exciting," he said.