Like millions of movie lovers around the world, Bermudian Mark Jones will be glued to the television for the Oscars on Sunday evening.But the 33-year-old will have more reason than most to be rooting for Best Picture contender The King’s Speech, since he played his own part in bringing the story to screen and helping it soar to cinematic success.Mr Jones, who grew up in Smith’s and whose father and three sisters still live here, landed his dream job in 2003, when he became a publicist for Momentum Pictures, a British film distributor.The London-based company specialises in small, independent movies and the former Saltus Cavendish student has been involved in promoting more than 150 such titles over the last eight years.Movies he’s been involved with include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Vera Drake, Milk, Let the Right One In and Lost in Translation.But perhaps the one to gain most attention has been 2010’s The King’s Speech, which is based on the true story of British monarch King George VI’s friendship with his speech therapist.The film has grossed more than £38 million ($61.3 million), won seven awards at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards (BAFTAs) earlier this month and is nominated for 12 Oscars.“I read the script two years ago and was blown away by the story,” Mr Jones told The Royal Gazette. “This film is a very small independent British film, which is something we really specialise in.“It’s made more money now than Monsters Inc. It’s unbelievable. It’s in the 30 highest grossing films of all time in the UK at the moment. It’s hopefully going to make more money with a bit of Oscar success.”The last few weeks have been hectic for Mr Jones, who studied mass communications, film and English at Boston University and worked in the press office at CNN in London before joining Momentum.As well as The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth, he has been publicising fellow Best Picture Oscar contender The Fighter; Mike Leigh’s Another Year, which is shortlisted for Best Original Screenplay; and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.He also became a father for the first time in December, when his son Otis was born.His job for Momentum involves everything from setting up interviews and screenings for journalists, organising movie premieres and parties, and attending film festivals.“The variety of what we do is incredible. One minute you are working with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg and the next thing you are talking with Mike Leigh and dealing with incredibly delicately made dramas.“Part of our job is to promote films but we effectively own the films so there is a real sense of ownership and a real sense of passion.“What you see on the front page of a newspaper starts quite early with us. We are the ones that really try and get the press passionate about films.”The self-confessed film and media geek, who is on the board of the London Asian Film Festival, added: “We are behind the scenes. The glitz and glamour are there but there is a lot of hard work that goes into it.”He was backstage at the BAFTAs when The King’s Speech won its raft of trophies on February 13 and was thanked in the acceptance speech by the producers.“I didn’t hear it but someone told me later on that I’d had a name check. It was a very exciting thing. The producers are someone we have known for a long time. It was a very gracious gesture.”Mr Jones’ brother Derek, who lives in Boston, said: “As a Bermudian who’s managed to get himself into a very good position in London, I think it’s inspiring to see such success from following one’s ambitions.“The harder you work, the luckier you get and landing an opportunity to be involved with such a fun and exciting industry just goes to show what can be achieved.”l Useful websites: www.momentumpictures.co.uk, www.oscars.org, www.kingsspeech.com