Shades of Grey is a student project that started out with a broad brush stroke as an investigation into mental health. It ended as a finely detailed personal portrait of one very unusual but charmingly likeable individual. This fifteen minute documentary gained the approval of TV professionals in the Royal Television Society North East and Borders Region who gave it their Best Student Factual Award.

himself	Zyra
herself	Chelsea
himself	Alan

Editor	John-David Hames
Director	Michael Flack
Camera 2 Operator	Hi Yuang
Camera Operator	Will Ranoe
Sound	Elaine Lam
Producer	Elaine Lam
Researcher	John-David Hames

Zyra is unconventional. He has always been, as he puts it, "A little bit different." This film, by keeping its focus on one complex individual achieves a very personal and intimate portrait of one man who distances himself from his illness and uses it creatively to live a life that for him, is fullfilled and to offer alternative information and alternative solutions to help others in a crazy world.

The Production
The majority of the film was shot by a crew of six people in nine days with twenty five hours of footage on mini-DV. It was very much a team effort. The crew were all Media Production students at the University of Sunderland and after winning an RTS regional award the film is regional nominee for an RTS national award as Best Student Factual.