Introduction

Ever since I was a little boy all I've ever wanted to do was make movies. I grew up in the English countryside, and with no neighbours or friends in close vicinity, my closest companion was the cinema, and the great movies produced time and time again by Hollywood. Films like 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' opened my eyes to the outside world and shaped my heart for many years to come. I was submersed in the world of movies, I literally slept, ate and breathed cinema. This was all at a time before the digital revolution, before directors commentaries and the 'making of' on DVD. I was too young for film school so just I watched and studied films closely, independently striving to figure out key questions on how they were made, and then trying to second guess a director on how a scene would shape, twist and develop. I would then, of course, take theory into practice and after school produce my own mini-films on my father's video-camera. My childhood was to have a profound effect on my future.

Provenance

When I was fifteen I wrote to Pinewood Film Studios asking for work experience but they never replied to my letters. And so, inspired by a news article on how a young Steven Spielberg sneaked into Universal Studios, I set upon my own mischievous mission. My father, falsely believing I had obtained legitimate permission drove me to the studio gates. He asked whether he could walk me in, but I politely declined and waved him goodbye. As I nervously approached the gates I turned to the security guard, ready to tell him some elaborate (and totally unbelievable) story (lie), so he would indeed allow me to pass into the studios. However, much to my amazement and damn good fortune, he just nodded 'good morning' and waved me inside! I spent that day and the following summer months visiting the studios every working day and meeting as many people as possible. The ignorance of my young age provided me with true balls of steel, and I would continually sneak onto dozens of film sets and just watch and learn as a scene was being shot. I guess thus began my career as a film director...

Professional Experience

I born in London, UK to British parents. I began my career in the film industry by sneaking past the guards at Pinewood & Shepperton Film Studios, when I was 15 years old and quickly established myself as a regular face amongst those who worked there, eventually obtaining work experience on British & American movies such as, The Son of the Pink Panther, Frankenstein, Secret Garden, Shadowlands, Interview with the Vampire, The Muppets, The Lost World, Hamlet, Judge Dredd & The Fifth Element. By working alongside the very finest directors and artists in the industry, my education was first-hand. When the flow of feature films coming into Britain briefly stopped in the early nineties, I moved into commercials, working my way up the ladder with London's foremost film production companies. During this time I worked on over 400 Television programs, advertising & music videos. Most crucially, I built up a strong relationship with Panavision. It was through this close affiliation that my learning excelled and accelerated. My own first short 16mm film projects were green lit through their sponsorship. However, it was not until my first 35mm film The First Day (1997), that things began to happen. On completion of this half hour film, Channel 4 beat off other network interest and acquired the movie. The film screened prime time in early 1998 and became the highest rated short film in their history.

Career Apex

Walking onto my first big movie set at Pinewood Studios when I was a kid, you couldn't wipe the smile off my face!

I Like

Positive people. Australia. My friends and family!

Film Taste

The Lost Boys, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator I & II, Contact, Spirited Away, The Prince of Egypt, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, LA Story, Lord of the Rings, The New World, Angels in America, Close Encounters of the third kind, Unbreakable, Sixth Sense, Signs, Superman, The Big Wednesday, The Big Lebowski

Music Taste

Soundtracks - James Newton Howard / James Horner

Book Taste

Interview with the vampire - Anne Rice