Life-threatening condition wasn’t in the script

COLIN CUMMING, from Paisley, has always been a fan of adventure stories.

Growing up, he loved watching cartoon serials like Thundercats and The Mysterious Cities Of Gold and was also a fan of live-action heroes like James Bond and Indiana Jones.

It inspired a passion in Colin and he went on to university in his home town to study media theory and production.

He had never missed a day of his four-year honours degree when he suddenly took ill.

Thinking it was simply a sore back from bad posture, he put off going to his GP until the pain got severe.

It turned out Colin had peritonitis and required emergency surgery, which knocked him sideways for four months.

Thankfully he was back on his feet in time to complete his studies, but his near-death experience made him determined to make the most of life. And he’s certainly done that. Colin financed a trip to Princeton University in America and earned a diploma in film studies.

He also got in touch with legendary film stunt co-ordinator Vic Armstrong, which led to Colin spending a week on the set of Bond movie, Die Another Day at Pinewood Studios in London.

He made another trip south to work on The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy movie, too.

Now 37, Colin owns a small film production company in Paisley, mostly working on corporate material for clients, and also writes scripts in his spare time.

He’s penned a script for a thriller that interested Vic and was given the thumbs-up by the staff of his buddy, Gerard Butler.

But it’s a script that he was inspired to write while visiting a friend in Hong Kong that’s brought him most joy.

Initially pitching it as a cartoon serial similar to those he enjoyed so much in his childhood, Colin re-wrote it as a novel, The Admiralty Adventures: Treasure Of The High Seas, under the pen name of CE Cumming.

Colin’s had great feedback from adults and kids alike since it was published and even received the backing of his local MP, Mhairi Black.

He’s already being asked for a sequel – but will happily speak to Gerry Butler first if the A-lister decides it would make a great film!