About Simon

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I am an award-winning director. Factual entertainment in dramatic reconstruction, science, survival and adventure are my main areas of specialism.

Recently I have done Killer Quake for C4 on Japan and Haiti, World's Deadliest Places for Nova (WGBH). Also Ways To Save The Planet for Discovery.

DIY SOS with Nick Knowles for BBC Bristol and Into Alaska for Travel Channel US hosted by Discovery/Animal Planet Natural History expert Jeff Corwin. Top Gear for BBC2 and Into The Bermuda Triangle for National Geographic.

I've had a great deal of hands-on experience with global warming issues, science in general, wildlife  and engineering. The other side of the coin is I also have a background in showbiz, film and music. I was a music magazine editor and magazine journalist before.

I try to bring something new and compelling to all the subjects I deal with and to make television which is good to look at as well as thought-provoking and informative.

I stay calm under pressure and am used to running multiple crews/cameras as well as single units under difficult and sometimes dangerous situations in varied conditions.

I have worked under armed escort and have been shot at on occasion  - but they've missed so far. At it again in Haiti recently with armed guards in tow which proved to be essential.

Recently I've been filming a dramatic reconstruction series and earthquake programmes before that in Japan, Haiti and Chile and a series on trying to slow global warming called Ways To Save The Planet  for Discovery and Engineering Connections with Richard Hammond for BBC 2. Before that I did North American wildlife with Jeff Corwin for Travel Channel US/Discovery HD and a one hour special on Kenyan Lions, also with Jeff for Discovery Channel US.

I did a season for BBC2's Top Gear  and Gadgets & Stuff for Bravo with zoologist Liz Bonnin.

I wrote and directed Massive Speed with Chris Barrie for Discovery on the history of motorbikes and helicopters. Locations included TT course on the Isle of Man and Dutch Air Force in Holland.

I filmed the aftermath of the Pakistan earthquake zone and its impact for Channel 4, and was producer/director for Pioneer for Nat Geo US hi-def series Naked Science on the causes of tsunami and volcanoes also for Celador for BBC2 series No Waste Like Home on eco issues.

Before that I was producer /director of a documentary for National Geographic TV US on the Bermuda Triangle filmed on location in Florida including flying in a WW2 Avenger bomber, and we went as far afield as San Francisco and Vancouver plus I did a second show on surviving extreme weather for the same strand on lightning and tornadoes filmed in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Florida.

I am experienced in single camera factual/interviewing; multi-crew, dramatic reconstructions, outside broadcast and  location filming.

I have self-shot on most modern camera formats..

I always feel really excited about the next challenge/adventure/trip as every project is unique.
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Credits

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Japan's Killer Quake - Pioneer Productions , United Kingdom
2011 - Director
Japan was rocked by a massive 9.0 earthquake on March 11 2011. 20 minutes later a terrifying tsunami 10 metres high washed inland across 20 kilometres of farmland around the north east prefectures. I was on location with a geologist within four days while the show was assembled back in London. It was broadcast 12 days after the tragedy on C4 in the UK and a few days later in the US on Nova. We experienced repeated aftershocks and the threat of radiation.

100 Days In The Gulf - World TV , United Kingdom
2011 - Writer/Director
On April 20 2010 the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig blew up and sank with the loss of 11 lives. It caused one of the worst oil spills on record and made BP public enemy number 1. This film documented the accident and what really happened next despite the media blitz which turned it into the biggest media circus of the century and the government all out assault as Obama's popularity sank as fast as the rig.

World's Deadliest Places - Pioneer , Chile
2010 - Director
Most dangerous regions in the world for earthquakes. Review of recent record-breaking events around the wortld and predictions for the future on where the next one might be. How buildings are constructed impacts on casualties in populated areas and the progarmme reveals how recent cost-cutting around the world in the way in which buildings are constructed is putting lives at risk. the lessons of Haiti are being quickly forgotten or ignored.

Killer Quake: Why It Happened - Pioneer for Channel 4 and Discovery US , Haiti
2010 - Producer/Director
Geological investigation of the causes of the quake filmed on location in Haiti two weeks after the quake. I led the team as producer/director with a cameraman, a geologist, two armed guards and two drivers.

The country was in a state of complete anarchy so we had to be 100% self-sufficient down to having our own tents.

We slept 100 yards from the runway at the airport and made our excursions from there around Haiti including borrowing a helicopter.

Global Realignment Foundation - GR , Monaco
2009 - Development Producer
Six months consultation spent developing the strategic policy of a new not for profit organisation which has been set up to own an infrastructure of companies designed to combat climate change. Using the major financial contribution of one private individual, I have been utilising my networks of contacts and experience of climate change issues from a scientific perspective to advise on the options available to address the most pressing issues. I have formulated a course of action for the Foundation to follow and I have developed a website in preparation for the launch. No more progress can be made until we have the full buy-in and support of key political leaders. No point planting trees if illegal logging is allowed to cut them all down again or no immediate realistic curbs on CO2 production by industry are imposed worldwide. We expect this process of consent at the highest levels to take another year.


Ways To Save The Planet - Impossible Pictures , United Kingdom
2008 - Writer/Director
Innovative 9 part series on the survival of the planet seen as one big adventure. Presented by Jennifer Languell, Basil Singer and Kevin O'Leary. Uniquely, scientists were given the opportunity of financial backing for their ideas by the programme. The very topical theme was investing in geo-engineering solutions to the threat of global warming. "Scrubbing The Air Clean" commissioned the development, design, build and testing of an innovative low-energy ultra-efficient capture device which can absorb the world's transport emissions of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas, to the tune of 6 billion tons a year.

For official press release cut and paste

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/project-earth/highlights/highlights.html

into your browser.

Engineering Connections - - , United Kingdom
2008 - Producer/Director
Intriguing engineering links between modern icons and their historical origins and inspiration presented by Richard Hammond.

Into Alaska - - , United Kingdom
2007 - Writer/Director
3x60 min of 8 visitor's natural history guide to year-round Alaska presented by Jeff Corwin where Jeff experienced all four seasons, mushed Huskies with a sled, raced a skidoo against an Iditarod husky race winner, stood on Alaska's tallest peaks in -30c and observed Humpback whales close up.

Into The West - - , United Kingdom
2007 - Director
4 x 60 min episodes of a new 8 part series hosted by Jeff Corwin on North American National Parks, the wildlife and the scenery. Includes encounters with mountain lions, wolves, snakes and elk and ranch life across Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, Idaho, Utah and Washington State.

Investigation Earth - - , United Kingdom
2007 - Director
60 min pilot for a wildlife series hosted by Jeff Corwin. Kenya's disappearing lion population was chosen as the focus for the first episode.

The Year The Earth Went Wild - - , United Kingdom
2006 - Director/Cameraperson
Location director/cameraman for 120 minute special for Channel 4 on natural disasters in 2005. Covered Pakistan earthquake, Indonesian tsunami and European floods.

DIY SOS - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2006 - Writer/Director
Returning series featuring presenter Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team as they rescue another victim of DIY hell.

Massive Speed - - , United Kingdom
2006 - Writer/Director
2x30 documentaries on the history of motorbikes and helicopters presented by ex-Red Dwarf Chris Barrie.

No Waste Like Home - - , United Kingdom
2005 - Producer/Director
New format eco series with new eco-warrior presenter Penney Poyzer for BBC2 examining how good or bad Brit families are on recycling and use of resources. (Answer: not very good! 18% recycle compared to 45% in Canada.)

Naked Science - - , United Kingdom
2005 - Producer/Director
2x60' episodes in Naked Science series for National Geographic Channel US on tsunamis and volcanoes. Filmed on Hi-Def in US, Indonesia and Hawaii.

Surviving Nature - - , United Kingdom
2004 - Writer/Director
60' documentary for new broad-based science flagship series Naked Science. Second episode I've directed in the series for National Geographic TV US. This one is on the emotional personal cost of extreme weather. Filmed mainly in the US.

Bermuda Triangle - - , United Kingdom
2004 - Unspecified
Writer and Director of 60' science programme in Pioneer's Naked Science series for National Geographic TV US on the legend of the Bermuda Triangle. Re-flew recreation of the famous Flight 19 featured at the start of Close Encounters to tempt the ghosts.

Top Gear - BBC , United Kingdom
2003 - Director
Programme director working with presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond on items on new 13x60 minute format. Guests included Jamiroquia, Jonathon Ross, Sir Michael Gambon, Tara P-T, Gordon Ramsay, Ross Kemp, Harry Enfield.

Gadgets & Stuff - - , United Kingdom
2003 - Director
Writer, director and producer of 13x30' series for Bravo about hi-tech gadgetry from solid state video cameras to executive jets and racing cars. A sort of sexy Tomorrow's World presented by Liz Bonnin.

- - - , United Kingdom
2001 - Associate Producer
Associate producer of Emmy Award-winning animated and live action feature "Peter And The Wolf" for ABC Network starring Kirstie Alley, Lloyd Bridges.

- - - , United Kingdom
2000 - Head of Production
Head of Production for seven years overseeing and directing award-winning corporate commercials and training videos with typical budgets of a million plus for international blue-chip companies in automotive, aerospace, IT, banking.

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Employment History

Observational documentary, science and engineering credits for BBC1,BBC2(Top Gear),C4,C5,National Geographic US,Discovery US and UK and Travel Channel US.
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Education

Dulwich College
Cranbrook School, Kent
UCLA
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Industry Qualifications

NUJ Journalism Diploma
Film Degree UCLA Los Angeles
BBC Safety
Safe Management of Productions Parts 1 and 2
(9th August 2002)
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Industry Awards

Emmy
IVCA Gold
American Screen Festival Gold
Cosmopolitan Young Journalist Of The Year (Strange but true)
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Skills

US I-Visa

Showreel clips can be viewed on productionbase
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Additional Information

Industries

  • Animation, 
  • Commercials, 
  • Corporate, 
  • Film, 
  • Mobile Content, 
  • Music Promos, 
  • Online, 
  • Radio, 
  • TV

Programme Types

  • Animation, 
  • Arts, 
  • Biography, 
  • Business, 
  • Childrens, 
  • Comedy, 
  • Comedy (Children's), 
  • Commercial, 
  • Cookery, 
  • Corporate, 
  • Current Affairs, 
  • Daytime, 
  • Development, 
  • DIY, 
  • Documentary, 
  • Docusoap, 
  • Drama Reconstruction, 
  • Drama: Feature Film, 
  • Drama: Short Film, 
  • Drama: Television Serial, 
  • Dramatised Documentary, 
  • Entertainment, 
  • Environment, 
  • Events, 
  • Food, 
  • Glamour (Adult), 
  • Health, 
  • Historical Documentary, 
  • Investigative, 
  • Leisure, 
  • Live Multi-cam OB, 
  • Live TV, 
  • Magazine, 
  • Motoring, 
  • Music, 
  • Music Promo, 
  • Natural History, 
  • New Media, 
  • News, 
  • Observational Documentary, 
  • Outside Broadcast, 
  • Property, 
  • Reality TV, 
  • Religion, 
  • Science, 
  • Science Fiction, 
  • Shopping, 
  • Sitcom, 
  • Social Action, 
  • Sport, 
  • Studio Debate, 
  • Studio Direction, 
  • Style, 
  • Training, 
  • Travel, 
  • Youth

Specialisms

  • Advertising, 
  • Africa, 
  • Animal welfare, 
  • Anthropology, 
  • Archaeology, 
  • Architecture, 
  • Arts, 
  • Aviation, 
  • Biology, 
  • Business, 
  • Cars, 
  • Celebrity, 
  • Children's, 
  • China, 
  • Cinema/Film, 
  • Comedy, 
  • Consumer Affairs, 
  • Cookery, 
  • Corporate Films, 
  • Current Affairs, 
  • Dance, 
  • Digi Beta, 
  • Digital Special Effects, 
  • Diving, 
  • Drama, 
  • Ecology, 
  • Electronics, 
  • Engineering, 
  • Environment, 
  • Events, 
  • Farming, 
  • Fashion, 
  • Food, 
  • Genetics, 
  • Geography, 
  • Health, 
  • High-Definition, 
  • History, 
  • Human Rights, 
  • Industry, 
  • International Affairs, 
  • Internet, 
  • Journalism, 
  • Languages, 
  • Literature, 
  • Location Filming, 
  • Middle East, 
  • Motorbikes, 
  • Music, 
  • Natural History, 
  • New Media, 
  • News & Current Affairs, 
  • Outside Broadcast, 
  • Paleontology, 
  • Paranormal, 
  • Parenting, 
  • Period Drama, 
  • Police, 
  • Politics, 
  • Popular Culture, 
  • Programme Development, 
  • Psychology, 
  • Radio, 
  • Religion, 
  • Science, 
  • Sex Industry, 
  • Sexuality, 
  • Shopping, 
  • Social Anthropology, 
  • Social Issues, 
  • South East Asia, 
  • Sport, 
  • Technology, 
  • Tourism, 
  • Transport, 
  • Travel, 
  • Undercover Investigation, 
  • USA, 
  • Wildlife, 
  • Wine, 
  • Writing, 
  • Youth Culture, 
  • Zoology

Languages

  • English, 
  • French, 
  • German

Permits

  • EU, 
  • USA

Licenses

  • Basic Driving (PLG), 
  • Glider Pilot, 
  • Motorcycle, 
  • PADI Diving licence, 
  • Personal Trackside Safety (PTS)
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