The actor has filmed a video promotion to help Adrian Bliss, Ben Robbins and Toby Stubbs - who want to make a film of Jules Verne's novel Clovis Dardentor - after they approached him outside a London theatre to tell him about the project.

The boys are raising money for the film by selling movie end credits for 10 dollars a name - through their website www.buyacredit.com - with larger donors offered set visits and even cameos.

Jude says in the video: "Now more than ever it's incredibly difficult to get a film funded even if you've been doing it for years and have a good track record. No matter how passionate you are, or how good your film could be, it's still a monumental struggle to get the money together."

He says of the plan to raise the money: "Essentially, you can be a movie producer and see your name on the end credits of a film knowing that you've helped to make it happen."

Stephen Fry is also backing the trio, after they sent dozens of tweets to his Twitter page, and will have the lead role of Mr Eustache in Clovis Dardentor.

Fry said he "admired in an amused manner the chutzpah, determination and the charm of these three young fellows in their determination to get into the movie business this way".

Fry also asked friends such as Sir Ian McKellen and Rowan Atkinson to offer their backing.

Bliss, 19, Robbins, 19, and Stubbs, 18, who need two million dollars, say they have already raised about 150,000 dollars.