Rupert is a producer/director who has worked on a number of programmes and projects with Redbird.

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PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

I am an award winning Producer/Director making critically acclaimed arts, entertainment, history, drama, comedy, adventure programmes for major broadcasters including the BBC, CH4, ITV, Nat Geo and Discovery. I am also a highly experienced self shooter on DSR 450’s, Sony Digi 700’s and EX3’s.

My passion is for people and telling their stories and I specialise in character/presenter led obs doc’s and more constructed factual/entertainment series. My programmes are praised for their visual style, creativity, originality and sensitivity towards the people I work with. I like to seek out the human side of people, revealing their vulnerability as well as their humour. Experience also includes that of Series P/d’ing where I’ve been responsible for creating the format, visual style and narrative structure, managing and encouraging both large and small teams and endeavouring to bring the highest production value to a series whatever the budget constraints.

I have extensive experience of shooting abroad and in situations where one has to constantly think on ones feet. I have amassed a wide range of programme making experience directing Drama, Drama recons, self –shooting/ directing award winning short films and working creatively on iconic feature films and TV series as an editor, BAFTA winning sound editor and art director. As a freelance photo journalist, I explored the far reaches of the world documenting the lives of far flung communities.

AWARDS

BAFTA Drama Best Sound ‘Roddy Doyle – Family’ BBC1 Sound Editor

RTS Best Drama Doc ‘Historyonics’ BBC1 Series Director

British Short Film Festival - Best Of British ‘Slough’ ITV Director/ Camera

TV Broadcast Garden Media Guild Award ‘Cottage Gardens’ BBC2 Producer/Director

Edinburgh Film Festival Selection ‘Fear of Fat’  CH4 Director

SELECTED TV CREDITS
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC/ ICON FILMS – 1 x 60 min

Producer/Director – “WILD THINGS”

New series in which biologist and self confessed “monster hunter” Pat Spain goes in search of the truth behind five of the most wanted cryptids in the world. Part adventure, part science and mixing drama and actuality. Shot on HD

BBC1 - 2 x 60 min

Producer/Director –‘AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS’

Major Primetime celebrity-led obs/doc series for BBC1. Celebrities race to get round the world in real time. Prog 1 features Frank Skinner and Lee Mac travelling from London – Turkey/Iraq and seeing as much of it as time allows. Prog 6, Crosses America, The Atlantic (surviving a hurricane) and includes the hilarious drama soap “Cargo” starring Shane Richie & Josie Lawrence. Shot on HD

BBC 1- 2 X 30 min

Series Director – HISTORYONICS ‘GUY FAWKES AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT / DICK TURPIN’

History comedy/drama series I helped create and write with presenter Nick Knowles. “A joyous programme….Sardonic asides, awful jokes and a mass of information,” (The Times); “Perfect Entertainment” (TV Choice); “If only we’d had this as history when I was at school”, (Caller to Points of View).  Cast includes: John Lloyd Fillingham, Dave Atkins, Paul Mohan, Clive Hayward, Chris Bianchi Won the RTS best Drama/Doc Series and was highly commended by the judges for its "originality, invention and hilarity".

BBC2 -12 x 30 min

Series Producer/Director/Camera -‘CHRISTINES GARDEN SERIES1& 2’

A self shot series that had the critics glowing - “exquisitely shot” (Times) This obs/doc follows the life of plants woman Christine Walkden and described as “unmissable” by the Sun and a “Cult Show” by the Times.

BBC2 - 1 x 60 min

Producer/Director –‘GARDENERS WORLD SPECIAL COTTAGE GARDENS’

Presenter Rachel de Thame sets out on a journey to discover the origins of the Cottage Garden and in doing so, how much the threat of climate change might affect its very traditional image. Shot on HD

Won the Garden Media Guild Award as TV Broadcast of the year, praised for its highly visual style, clear narrative, use of music and being a film with a real heart

DISCOVERY - 1 X 50 min

Director/Producer –‘ANTHONY HEADS TRUE HORROR  VAMPIRES’

Using drama and documentary, actor Anthony Head goes in search of the truth behind vampires. Pick of the Day in newspapers across Britain and Europe. Filmed on location in Romania and UK

BBC1 - 9 x 30 min

Director - ‘DOCTORS’

Two camera continuing drama based at a Doctors practice. Shot on HD

Cast includes: Sadie Pickering, Cathy Shipton, Sean Wilson, Tyger Drew-Honey

BBC2 - 1x 60 min

Director/Producer –‘THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE’

Period drama I co-wrote telling the story of William Wilberforce’s attempts to end slavery. “This accomplished dramatisation”(Sunday Times).“Solid performances from all the cast in this above average drama” (Sunday Telegraph) Filmed on location in Jamaica and Bristol.

Cast includes : Chris Curran, Martin Turner, Jamin Adebiyu, Daniel Weyman

BBC2 -1X 30 min

Director/Producer – ‘FAY RIPLEY - HARRY POTTER AND THE BIG READ’

Drama/ documentary with actress Fay Ripley. Unable to use images from the book because of copyright, I created a believable imagined world of Harry Potter that had critics full of praise “Visual Extravaganza with wit and flair” (Telegraph). Fay’s performance picked out “as totally convincing”(Guardian Pick of the Day)

BBC2 - 3x 60min

Director/Camera –‘LIVING FAMOUSLY- PETER SELLERS, LAUREL & HARDY, MARLENE DIETRICH’

Drama recon and documentary biographies of famous actors, singers, performers. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School 1 x 25 min – Director – ‘MONSOON NIGHTS’ Drama I adapted for screen and working with film school students as crew. At the Monsoon Club, people gather for more than just the music. Cast includes :Theo Taptiklis, Antonia Rose-Thomas, Louis Mckenzie

BBC 1 - Various Inserts

Producer/Director/Camera – ‘THE ONE SHOW’

BBC3 - 6 x 15 min

Edit Producer - ‘DR WHO DECLASSIFIED’

Behind the scenes look at the making of Dr Who

CH4 - 1x 30min

Producer/Director – ‘WORLD OF DIFFERENCE CAMBODIA’

A group of young people travel to Cambodia to find the truth behind Pol Pot

BBC1 - 4x 30min

Director – ‘COMIC RELIEF CELEBRITY DRIVING SCHOOL’

Four celebrities try to pass their driving test all in aid of Comic relief

BBC1 – 48 X 30 min/ 2 x 60 min

Series Director – ‘DIY SOS’

Mix of observational documentary, scripted comedy and strong visuals. This is a series I helped create into a no-holds mad cap entertainment show.

NON DIRECTING CREDITS

DRAGON PICTURES - Sound Editor -‘WELCOME TO SAREJEVO’

REVOLUTION FILMS - Supervising Sound Editor – ‘JUDE’

DAN FILMS - Art Director/ Sound Editor – ‘BUTTERFLY KISS’

BBC FILMS - RTS nominated/Sound Editor – ‘GO NOW’

CH 4 – Camerman –‘SENSE OF INDIA’

BBC FILMS - BAFTA winner/Sound Editor – ‘RODDY DOYLE FAMILY’

CENTRAL TV 1st Assistant Editor –‘INSPECTOR MORSE’

GRANADA TV 1st Assistant Editor –‘CRACKER’

CENTRAL TV 1st Assistant Editor –‘VAN DER VALK’

 

References:

Producer: Hilary Durman, Redbird Productions

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Exc Producer: Tessa Finch, BBC

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