Page title Name
Hugh Ballantyne
Director, Producer/Director
London,England

Hugh's Biography

Hugh is a producer and director of factual television. He has made films for ITV, SKY 1, CH 4, SBS [Aus], Network 9 [Aus], Channel 10 [Aus], The History Channel and Discovery Channel.

Shot all over the world including India, Canada, Australia, US, and Europe, Hugh has made films for international production companies such as: Nutopia, Diverse, Optomen [US], Mentorn [UK], Carbon Media [UK], North One TV, Lonely Planet [Aus] and Beach House Pictures [Asia].

Hugh's stories include history, science, survival, travel, art, culture and music. He draws on a breadth of experience, which includes writing and directing short films, which have achieved acclaim at many international festivals and high-end music videos. Hugh has a strong sense of story, which he compliments with arresting visuals.

Hugh graduated from the Sydney Film School in 2003. Previously, Hugh worked as an architect, having graduated from Greenwich University in 1991 and achieved his chartered qualifications in 1997.

Credits

FAN V WILD - Diverse , United Kingdom
2010 - Producer/Director
1 x 44 min for Discovery and CH 4.
Bear Grylls takes 2 city slickers into the Canadian wilderness on the adventure of a lifetime. Their journey begins fast roping from a helicopter onto a 10,000 ft mountain peak. Their only way out is down an 80 ft sheer granite rock face. Sliding through a snowfield they reach a glacier, covered in a minefield of crevasses. A 50 ft ice wall is their biggest challenge yet. Exhausted and hungry they have to build a shelter, prepare and cook food before it gets dark. After a freezing cold night their journey continues: navigating a 300 ft waterfall, swamps and raging glacial rivers. This will be their toughest personal challenge and a life changing experience.

AMERICA - THE STORY OF US - Nutopia , United Kingdom
2010 - Producer/Director
1 of 12 x 44 mins for The History Channel
The series looks at the origins of America. From infrastructure and technological development, to exploring the people, places and things that shaped the country's history. Key events are explored with re-enactments and CGI.

This episode tells the story of the taming of the west. 1865, the inter net of the era is about to change the face of America, the railroad. Within 45 years America's population triples and millions of settlers farm the plains. The traditional way of life for the Native Americans comes to an end and a new world emerges. America grows from an agricultural to an industrial superpower and by the end of the 19th century becomes the fastest growing single economy in the world.


HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT  - Carbon Media , United Kingdom
2009 - Producer/Director
3 of 8 x 45 mins for Sky 1.


I was the principle PD who developed and directed the first 3 episodes of a new prime time series for SKY 1. I set the style, tone and language of this new series.

The series is hosted by 3 of the world's eminent psychologists, including an expert in body language, neuroscience and social science.

From A list celebrities, to sports stars and politicians, HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT will examine how these people have reached their goals and what we can do to achieve their success.

Using archive analysis of celebrities and illuminating and entertaining demonstrations involving the presenters and the general public, our experts will examine modern day thinking and behaviour.

Further episodes include: Power, Winning, Selling, etc.


CONVERSE 'Spark' TV Commercial  - ACNE [Los Angeles] , United Kingdom
2009 - Director
I was selected by Anomaly, leading New York advertising agency, as 1 of 8 directors from around the world to make a film about their country's creative genius.

The short film / advert is for Converse, the trainer people. This is a part of a new worldwide advertising campaign that will be launched internationally Jan 2010.

My film can be seen... http://consulate.wiredrive.com/r/p/presentation=3991efdf44514bdd20f057cec8b3


INDUSTRIAL JUNKIE - North One Television [UK - All 3 Media] , United Kingdom
2009 - Producer/Director
2 x 22 min for Discovery Channel.

Presenter Jonny Smith, Fifth Gear [CH 5], gets up close and personal with Europe's biggest Industries. In the 'Rubber' episode Jonny gets a hands on insight into the world of high performance rubber production, from creating the sticky mix at Michelin HQ in France to hand building a tyre for the largest commercial aircraft in the world, the A380. Jonny travels to Airbus HQ in Toulouse to install his pride and joy on an A380 test aircraft. Both the rubber and Jonny's workmanship are then put to the ultimate test, on the runway.
To be aired early 2009.

EVOLVE  - Optomen [US] , Australia
2008 - Producer/Director
2009 EMMY AWARD WINNING SERIES

1 x 1 hr for The History Channel.

This 11 x 1 hr series traces the history of the key innovations that have led nature's evolutionary arms race, using docudrama, experimental science and live-action natural history sequences. In this episode we explore venom. Scientist Bryan Fry catches and extracts venom from the world's deadliest snake, the inland Taipan. Injecting venom into samples of his blood, Bryan demonstrates how this killing machine has converted the building blocks of its body into lethal toxins.

NATURAL BORN TRAVELLER  - Lonely Planet Television [Australia] , Australia
2008 - Producer/Director
WINNER BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, ASIAN TV AWARDS 2009. NOMINATED BEST LIFESTYLE SERIES, AUSTRALIAN ASTRA TV AWARDS 2008.

4 x 24 mins for Discovery Channel.

Nobody has used a motorbike to traverse the 7,000 km spine of Australia, The Great Dividing Range. Steve Crombie is a 29 yr old Australian thrill seeker who has travelled half way round the world in search of adventure. Now he takes on his own backyard. Steve experiences the culture of this iconic range through its people, a colorful cast of: cattle musterers, loggers, hippies, graziers and Aboriginal elders. With the wet season lapping at his wheels, will Steve make it to far North Queensland?

BLUELIST AUSTRALIA  - Lonely Planet Television [Australia] , Australia
2007 - Producer/Director
4 x 26 mins for SBS Network [Australia].

Featuring some of Australia's most unique and thrilling travel experiences as voted by the Australian public. Presented by actor Samuel Johnson, The Secret Life of Us [CH 4], each episode contains travel experiences road tested by humorous personalities. From satirical writers exploring Melbourne's underground graffiti culture to an award-winning actress roughing it on a road trip across the outback.
This is the second highest rating series in its time slot [Wed 7:30pm] since SBS began.



MAGIC ASIA - Beach house Pictures [Singapore] , India
2007 - Producer/Director
NOMINATED BEST ENTERTAINMENT SERIES, ASIAN TV AWARDS 2008.

6 x 26 mins for AXN Network [Asia].

The art of performance is an integral part of Indian culture. Journey with Chris and JB, two of America's most celebrated street performers, as they bring their unique spin on an eastern art form back to its birthplace, Mumbai. A city of contrasts, the boys get to know the children of India's largest slum through becoming part of a traveling circus, feast with the tradesmen of the city's largest subterranean night food markets and learn choreography to perform on the glamorous set of the latest Bollywood release.



DARN GOOD FOOD - Heiress Films , Australia
2007 - Producer/Director
Pilot for 10 x 26 min for Village Roadshow. A journalistic journey in the world of reviewing restaurants, food & wine with the editors of The Age's Good Food Guide 2007, winner of the best English language restaurant guide in the world.

A TRIBUTE TO STEVE IRWIN - Mentorn [UK] , Australia
2006 - Producer/Director
1 x 60 min for ITV Network [UK]. Steve's passion and commitment to wildlife touched a chord with millions; a showman, a wildlife conservationist, a crocodile trapper, a husband and a dad. Screened Jan 07 to 2.5 million viewers.

WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU - Beyond International , Australia
2006 - Producer/Director
1 x 60 min for Channel 9 Network [Australia]. Weekly medical series answering all life's health mysteries. 1.5 million viewers per week.

LITTLE BEDROOMS BIG BEATS - Deepend , Australia
2005 - Producer/Director
2 x 26 min for MTV. Join Australia's next big electronic music producer as he packs up his bedroom studio & tours with some of the world's top Hip Hop acts, records an album and travels to London to try to get signed.

ALL THE WAY - Bluewater Pictures , Australia
2005 - Producer/Director
1 x 15 teaser for a 1 x 60 min.
Observational documentary [self shooting on Digi Beta] into the making of the feature film "The Night We Called it a Day." The producers go head to head with the director and try to handle Hollywood royals Dennis Hopper & Melanie Griffith.




Employment History

_ 2010

> FAN V WILD
1 x 44 mins for Discovery and CH 4
Diverse [Bristol]

> AMERICA - THE STORY OF US
1 of 12 x 44 mins for The History Channel 
Nutopia [UK]


_ 2009

> HOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANT
3 of 8 x 45 min for SKY 1
Carbon Media [UK]

> CONVERSE 'Spark' TV Commercial
US TV
ACNE [Los Angeles]

> WE ARE FAMILY [INXS story]
1 x 90 min feature length documentary 
INXS Ltd [Australia]


_ 2008 


> INDUSTRIAL JUNKIE
2 of 8 x 22 min for Discovery Channel [10 eps in series]
North One Television 


> EVOLVE
1 of 11 x 1 hr for The History Channel [11 eps in series]
Optomen [US]


> NATURAL BORN TRAVELLER
4 of 4 x 26 min for Discovery Channel [4 eps in series]
Lonely Planet [Australia]



_ 2007

> BLUELIST AUSTRALIA
4 of 4 x 26 min for SBS [Australia] [4 eps in series]
Lonely Planet [Australia]


> MAGIC ASIA
6 of 6 x 26 min for AXN Asia [6 eps in series]
Beach House Pictures [Singapore]


> DARN GOOD FOOD
Pilot for 10 x 26 min 
Heiress Films [Australia]


_ 2006

> A TRIBUTE TO STEVE IRWIN
1 x 60 min for ITV [UK]
Mentorn [UK] 

> WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU
1 x 60 min for Channel 9 [Australia]
Beyond International [Australia]


_ 2005

> LITTLE BEDROOMS BIG BEATS 
2 x 26 min for MTV
Deepend [Australia]

> ALL THE WAY 
1 x 15 min Pilot for 1 x 60 min doc
Peter Clifton [Australia]

Education

2001 > 2003 Sydney Film School 
Certificate IV Film and Video Production

2000 Award School, Sydney
Advertising industry school of excellence 

1997 Royal Inst' of Chartered Surveyors 
Chartered Building surveyor, registered member

1989 > 1991 Greenwich University 
Bsc (Hons) Building Surveying

1984 > 1989 Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire
3 'A' Levels / 9 'O' Levels

Referees

Ben Goold
Series Producer 
Nutopia
1st Floor Kirkman House
12 / 14 Whitfield St
W1T2RF
0207 299 3437

Mike Smith 
Creative Director
Carbon Media 
4th Floor
18 / 20 Farringdon Lane 
EC1R3AU
0207 324 0700

Michal Porecki 

Series Producer 
North One Television 
Mayward House
46 - 52 Pentonville Rd
London
N1 9HF
0207 502 6000






Additional Information

Industries

  • Film, 
  • Music Promos, 
  • TV

Programme Types

  • Arts, 
  • Biography, 
  • Current Affairs, 
  • Development, 
  • Documentary, 
  • Drama Reconstruction, 
  • Drama: Short Film, 
  • Dramatised Documentary, 
  • Environment, 
  • Food, 
  • Historical Documentary, 
  • Music, 
  • Music Promo, 
  • Natural History, 
  • Observational Documentary, 
  • Science, 
  • Style, 
  • Travel

Specialisms

  • Architecture, 
  • Art, 
  • Arts, 
  • Cinema/Film, 
  • Digi Beta, 
  • Drama, 
  • Environment, 
  • Fashion, 
  • Food, 
  • High-Definition, 
  • History, 
  • Journalism, 
  • Location Filming, 
  • Music, 
  • Natural History, 
  • Popular Culture, 
  • Sex Industry, 
  • Social Issues, 
  • Sport, 
  • Travel, 
  • Wildlife, 
  • Writing, 
  • Youth Culture

Languages

  • French

Permits

  • Australia

Licenses

  • Basic Driving (PLG), 
  • PADI Diving licence