A DAD says he is "living the dream" by working on promotional campaigns for a popular movie franchise which has seen Southend used as a backdrop for dinosaur sightings around the world

Sam Phillips, 36, has been part of the Jurassic World franchise viral marketing team for the past six years.

He has helped created many campaigns to promote the movies, including the Dinotracker website which has been set up to coincide with the latest film, Jurassic World Dominion.

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The website provides videos and photos of dinosaur sightings across earth in a make-believe world.

To many peoples surprise, some of the shots for the Dinotracker have been filmed by Sam in Southend.

He said: “The point of Dinotracker is to showcase dinosaur sightings around the world after their escape at the end of the last movie.

“Our team of eight people scattered around the world, but for me Southend is where I live and that is what I utilise.

“I looked at what locations in and around Southend could double for other parts of the world, for example the Gallimimus France video, was shot in one of the quiet country back roads of Shoebury with my family.

“We’ve used East Beach and I’ve filmed my dog Daisy in my own kitchen, which became the Nasutoceratops video in Canada.

“Obviously, there was a lot more we then did to create the dinosaurs, but that is the basics of it."

He added: “The realisation of it all was being at the Hollywood premiere earlier this month, having our videos played on the big screen, knowing they were shot in my home-city using my family members.

“It is something I will never forget.”

Once Sam has taken a concept video in Southend, they are then sent to the CGI team, who are able to integrate the dinosaurs.

Sam, who is a dad of two, has lived in Southend and Shoebury all his life and says he is working in his job is a dream.

He said: “It is literally a dream come true; I have always wanted to do this.

“After all the work we have done on the Jurassic movies over the years, it still has not sunk in.

“But it most definitely shows that you can utilize what is around you - and that is the magic of Hollywood.”

To see the Dinotracker, and videos shot, visit https://www.dinotracker.com/