PRODUCER/DIRECTOR CREDITS |
ABOUT ME |
The credits selected below illustrate the diverse range of programming I have produced and directed. They also have several things in common – creativity, visual style, editorial judgement, strong structure, scripts and narrative drive.
My personal skills are also key to making successful films. They include integrity, resilience, stamina and the ability to communicate, motivate others, and think on my feet.
MEDICAL & SCIENCE
INFECTED ABROAD
Discovery for Discovery x 60’ TX 7.7.2017
Up to date new information from experts at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and from CEO of SEEK biotech re possible solutions to threat of spread of diseases like zika and predicted future diseases from aedes mosquito – using case studies from past series Bugs Bites and Parasites.
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LONG LIVE BRITAIN
Maverick TV for BBC 1
VT inserts of 3 different celebrities meeting people with end stage complications of the disease for which they have just been diagnosed. “Level 3” hospital shoot on day of mass screenings in Manchester.
HOW TO BUILD A HUMAN/Creation
BBC for BBC 2 /TLC Discovery 60’ PD
First episode of landmark series on genetics following, over several months, the first ever human cloning in USA – and the story of the man who donated his skin cells. This was intercut with the “human” story of nature’s “natural” clones – the birth of triplets.
THE LYING GAME/Telling Lies
BBC for TLC/Discovery 60’ PD
Content included everything from kids acquiring “Theory of Mind” to professional liars like the DEA in the US
MEDICAL MAVERICKS/Discovering Vaccines BBC for BBC 4 60’ PD
Michael Mosley exposes gruesome ways scientists discovered vaccines for diseases like polio by turning themselves into guinea pigs. Includes dramatisation.
MAKE ME A BABY
Mentorn for BBC 3 60’ Series Producer
Dr Simon Atkins, first time presenter, meets 100 couples brought together for a weekend of tests including mass pregnancy test in first episode of series on science of conception.
PLASTIC SURGERY RUINED MY LIFE
Granada TV for Five 60’ PD
Stories from Hollywood and UK – some involving heartbreaking tragedy and others were slightly more light hearted examples of disastrous surgery.
HORIZON/ A Second Chance?
BBC for BBC 2 60’ PD
The rebirth of the drug disastrous drug thalidomide, as a successful treatment for cancer – examples shot at Dana-Farber Cancer institute in USA
ROBO SAPIENS
Eagle TV for TLC/Discovery 60’ PD
Shot in USA and Japan – conclusion from Rodney Brooks at MIT was that robots and humans will merge.
SURVIVAL/Malaria
Rockhopper TV for BBC World 60’ PD
Shot all over Uganda about problems/solutions concerning the global disease malaria
SECRETS OF THE DEAD/Blood on the Altar
TwentyTwentyTV for C4 60’ PD
Did the Phoenicians practice child sacrifice? A scientific investigation with drama reconstruction
VITAL SIGNS
Rockhopper TV for BBC World
A trip to Rwanda and Tanzania in order to make films for a global health series on subjects key to “low resource” settings. For example, a revolutionary new device that makes it possible for male circumcision to be done in a tent or a classroom because it doesn’t require anaesthetics, blood or sutures.
CITY/Shanghai
Rockhopper TV for BBC World 60’ PD
Commissioned to transmit as the UN Climate Change Conference opened in Copenhagen
China is now at the front of the global economy. It’s also the worst offender when it comes to contributing to climate change. Shanghai, the hub of the Chinese economy, faces storms, rising seawater levels, drought and overpopulation if climate change is not addressed. Sustainable growth is possible. But will the city adapt? Or die?
ARTS
PIANO MAN
Fresh One for Sky Arts 30’ x 3
James Rhodes is a classical pianist who presents a series in which each episode is based on a central performance but also includes documentary footage revealing James’s extraordinary biography (and history of breakdown) as well as giving his personal take on each composer and piece. My 3 programmes were built around performances of Beethoven’s 109, Bach’s 5th French Suite and a mixed programme of Rachmaninov, Ravel and Debussy.
BACKSTAGE AT LA BOHEME
West Park Pictures for Sky Arts 1 160’ (live) Producer
Penny Smith (GMTV presenter and opera buff) investigated – live – everything going on backstage at the Coliseum at the premiere of the ENO’s new version of La Boheme (directed by Jonathan Miller) – interviewing all the principal cast and artistic staff and many chorus members as they prepared in their dressing rooms, or waited in the wings to go on stage. Sky Arts 2 simultaneously carried the opera performance as it was seen on stage.
ART OF CHINA (International Version)
Renegade Pics for BBC 4 and Chinese/French
TV 2 x 60 mins
Andrew Graham-Dixon is well known for his “Art of …”Series. I travelled round China with Andrew making the version without him! Only one third of the money came from the BBC – two thirds of the money came from elsewhere. Both versions were shot simultaneously with 2 crews. When shooting in Taiwan, I was also responsipble for Andrew Gd and the BBC version.
NABUCCO CINEMA INSERTS
Royal Opera House
PD
Verdi’s opera Nabucco was broadcast to 800 cinemas in 21 countries on 29th April 2013 and there were 3 films accompanying it. The 2 before the opera starts focus on Placido Domingo and why Nabucco is Verdi’s first masterpiece. The interval film is about the lives of The Chorus (the key protagonist in Nabucco) from the POV of Chorus Members
VIVALDI UNMASKED
BBC for BBC 1 60’ PD
Charles Hazlewood, a first time presenter, goes to Venice and investigates Vivaldi’s life history. This is interwoven with him conducting and analysing The Four Seasons music played by violin soloist Clio Gould with chamber orchestra
TRAVELS WITH MY TUTU
Paladin Pictures for BBC 2 4 x 30’
Series Producer and Director
Deborah Bull, acclaimed ballerina, tries out Break dancing/Belly Dancing/Jive/Argentine Tango while exploring the people and culture behind each dance form. Finale of each film is a specially shot dance performance
DANCENIGHT/Dance Ballerina Dance
Paladin Pictures for BBC 2 45’ PD
Deborah Bull, principal in the Royal Ballet, investigates how male choreographers portray women and dances in 4 classical ballet extracts to illustrate her polemic
GREAT COMPOSERS/Beethoven
BBC for BBC 2 60’ PD
Landmark series shot in Europe and USA combining biography, historical context and music performance and analysis. Contributors included top musicians and academics.
THE SOUTH BANK SHOW/The Shearing
Touch
Paladin Pics for ITV 60’ PD
Melvyn Bragg conducted the interview at the centre of this film on the life and work of the legendary British blind jazz pianist
STRINGS, BOWS & BELLOWS
Hawkshead for BBC 2 10x 10’ PD
Joanna MacGregor, the top concert pianist, presents a series of “pop video” style classical music performances. This series came about as a personal request to me from the Head of BBC Music Dept “to do for contemporary classical music what you have achieved for dance”
PRIMETIME FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT
SECRETS OF THE ROYAL WEDDING
ITN Productions for TLC 60 mins TX 18.5.18
Fast turnaround doc that transmitted in USA and Europe the night before the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle . Interviewees were from both USA and UK and ranged from tiara, cake and floral experts, to a mental health charity worker with an invite to Windsor Castle, to various Royal Correspondents including Andrew Morton. Involved shooting and writing for 2 edit suite at once.
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ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN
SpunGold TV for ITV 1 60’ PD
Alan Titchmarsh presents primetime doc about the variety of characters and acts behind the Royal Windsor Castle Tattoo. Includes interview with Prince Edward, Alan chatting to the Queen, helicopter to helicopter filming, Alan on horseback with The King’s Troop, Alan driving a naval destroyer and Alan being driven down Windsor High St in a Scimitar light tank.
WHAT NOT TO WEAR/Identical Twins
BBC for BBC 1 60’ PD
Mica and Lisa presented this episode – which was chosen to open the 2007 series
WHAT NOT TO WEAR/Women Over Seventy
BBC for BBC 1 60’ PD
Trinny & Susannah were presenters of this episode that drew 100 women over 70 together.
TRAFFIC/Speed
Lion TV for BBC 2 60’ PD
The phenomenon rather than the drug!
THE DEVIL: AN UNAUTHORISED
BIOGRAPHY/Hell on Earth
Roger Bolton Prods for BBC 1 60’ PD
The Devil in his destructive “adolescence” wreaking destruction on heretics, Jews and “witches” shot around Europe
BRANDED/Blue Dreams
Elgin Prods for BBC 2 60’ PD
Levi Strauss & Co – then at the peak of their success with 501 jeans. The film included an interview with the CEO and was shot in Europe and USA as the latest 501 advert was released
POLITICAL NIGHT/If John Smith Had Lived…..
Roger Bolton Prods for C4 30’ PD
Andrew Marr investigates the life and views of John Smith – meeting people like Gordon Brown and Ken Livingstone on his journey
NON BROADCAST WORK
CLIENTS INCLUDE:
Royal Opera House, Central Office of Information, Halifax Building Society, Boots, Kingfisher, Littlewoods and Burton Group, NatWest Bank, British Airways, Railtrack ,The British Council, The Department of Health, the DFEE, GE, Metal Box, North West Water, Andersen Consulting, PowerGen