2020 was incorporated in 1995, and immediately made a huge impact on the UK film industry.

Christopher Villiers and Richard Smedley started the business, when they met on the set of First Knight in which Chris was acting and Richard was a personal trainer.

Their idea was to create an agency of skilled professional background artistes, initially soldiers and dancers but this soon came to encompass all manner of abilities and talents. They also thought that they should photograph everyone themselves so the artiste you saw in their casting book was what you got on set. All this was made possible by using the latest technology fast databases and high quality digital photography. Their first job was Luc Besson's Fifth Element, which they completed admirably.

Within a few months, 2020's new way of working had changed the industry. They began to get bigger and bigger jobs, including Saving Private Ryan, Shakespeare in Love, Bond movies and Gladiator. The quality, professionalism and commitment of 2020's artistes and staff continually impressed assistant directors. 2020 then expanded to offer technical advisory services to assist with creating realistic action on film whether it was a pitched gun battle between New York gangsters, or a clash of Roman legions and Visigoths.

2020 have never stopped innovating and improving, and are passionate about the industry. From the release of Two Men Went To War written by Christopher Villiers to the starting of our own Screen Acting Classes aimed to further improve the standards and abilities of our artistes.