2011, Writer/Director
C4 Japan’s Killer Quake (Ob Doc)
Japan was rocked by a massive 9.0 earthquake on March 11 2011. 20 minutes later a terrifying tsunami 10 metres high washed across 20 kilometres of farmland around the north east prefectures. I was on location with a geologist within four days while the show was already being edited 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
2011, Writer/Director
Mentorn International 100 Days In The Gulf (Ob Doc)
In April 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig blew up and sank 48 miles from the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf Of Mexico. What happened next is one of the biggest news stories of the 21st century. This documentary tells the story of what the truth behind “that” was with the help of Louisiana residents and workers in the oil and fishing industries – “the only two games in town.”
2010, Director
WGBH/Nova World’s Most Dangerous Places (Ob Doc)
The world’s earthquake hotspots can be counted on one hand. I’ve documented all of them at some stage and I investigated the aftermath of the Chile earthquake which was so large, the shift in the mass of Chile slowed down the rotation of the earth. Chile has in many parts moved up or down as much as 20 metres. The visual evidence of this is dramatic and we travelled down the earthquake zone in this 4,300 km long country. Beaches which were 50 metres wide before the February quake are now 250 metres, a new coastline has appeared, harbours are now beaches and the towns struck by the resulting tsunami were washed away. Our footage told the real story of the intense local destruction which wasn’t even featured on the news footage at the time. In a repeat of Indonesia, lives were lost because holidaymakers, unfamiliar with the threat of tsunami following a quake, stayed in their beach front houses instead of running like most of the locals and they drowned as a result.
2010, Producer/Director
Channel 4/Discovery US Killer Quake: How It Happened (Ob Doc)
Following immediately after the Haiti quake I went in with geologist Roger Bilham to find out why the quake happened. We slept in tents and were 100% self-sufficient. Protected by armed close personal security specialists we filmed the aftermath in detail including world-exclusive footage from the air of uplifted and sunken coastline, as well as filming the epicentre and faultline from the air. We were the first team on location to do so. The programme was put together and broadcast in record time. It smelt really badly of dead bodies everywhere we went, constantly reminding us of the extent of the disaster and the thousands of people lying dead under the rubble of Port Au Prince.
2008 – 2009, Development Executive
Global Realignment Foundation
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
2008, Writer/Director
Discovery Channel US Ways To Save The Planet Earth (Specialist Fact Ent)
Innovative 9 part series investing in geo-engineering solutions to the threat of global warming. Flagship series presented by Jennifer Languell, Basil Singer and Kevin O’Leary designed to launch Discovery Green HD in Europe and lead fall schedule worldwide. We were set the task of developing a new technology to combat climate change. “Carbon Scrubbers” investigated the development, design, build and testing of an innovative low-energy ultra-efficient capture device which could absorb the world’s transport emissions of CO2, a potent greenhouse gas. During the programme we worked with French Nuclear scientists and set up a series of scenarios and observed the results.
2007, Writer/Director
Nat Geo US and BBC Engineering Connections (Fact Ent)
First series in the strand hosted by Richard Hammond on the intriguing links between spectacular machines and the history of engineering. I directed Taipei 101 on the Taipei Tower, tallest building in the world at the time which held the dubious distinction of pumping concrete to the highest level, thanks, originally to a British invention from the 1600s. We linked the ceramic brakes in the skyscraper elevators to the brakes in Porsche sports cars. The series presents complex science, engineering and physics concepts in a digestible format which makes high concepts easy to absorb.
2007, Writer/Director
Discovery Channel US Investigation Earth (Fact Ent)
60 min pilot episode on Kenyan Lions for a series on disappearing species presented by Jeff Corwin on location in a variety of interactions with wildlife on location which we set up, using the wild as our studio as a vehicle for Jeff Corwin to present to camera in close proximity to some very wild wildlife.
2007, Writer/Director
Travel Channel US Into The West (Fact Ent)
3 x 60 mins in 8 part series hosted by Jeff Corwin on North American travel and its wildlife. Our journey took in Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming, Arizona and Washington. We saw wolves, mountain lions, beavers, badgers and porcupine. Jeff flew in a balloon over the Rockies, kayaked rivers and drove cattle in a series of challenges he was set to use his initiative and resource to track wildlife along the lines of Bear Gryls.
2006, Writer/ Director
Discovery Channel US Into Alaska (Fact Ent)
2 x 60 mins in 8 part series hosted by Jeff Corwin on the wildlife and scenery of Alaska where Jeff experienced all four seasons in a series of challenges in the wild which included mushing Huskies with a sled, racing a skidoo against an Iditarod husky race winner, reaching Alaska's tallest peaks in -30c and finding a game of cat and mouse between killer whales and Humpbacks close up.
2006, Writer/Director
BBC (Bristol) DIY SOS (Fact Ent)
Returning series featuring presenter Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team as they rescue another victim of DIY hell.
2006, Writer/Director
Gamma for Discovery Channel UK Massive Speed (Fact Ent)
2x30 documentaries on the history of motorbikes and helicopters presented by star of Red Dwarf series Chris Barrie. Chris raced against an Isle of Man TT Winner on the actual TT course and flew in an Apache attack helicopter.
2006, Director/Cameraperson
Pioneer for Channel 4 The Year The Earth Went Wild (Ob Doc)
Location director/cameraman for 120 minute special for Channel 4 on natural disasters in 2005. Covered Pakistan earthquake, Indonesian tsunami and European floods.
2005, Producer/Director
Pioneer for National Geographic US Naked Science (Fact Ent)
2x60' episodes in Naked Science series for National Geographic Channel US on tsunamis and volcanoes. Filmed on Hi-Def in US, Indonesia and Hawaii.
2005, Producer/Director
Celador for BBC2 No Waste Like Home (Fact Ent)
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! 11% recycle compared to 45% in Canada.) Penny set a different family every week the task of understanding their own consumption, waste and emissions better by challenging them with a variety of tasks. It was the first of its kind in eco-conscious fact ent shows.
2004, Writer/Director
Pioneer for National Geographic US Surviving Nature (Fact Ent)
60' documentary for new broad-based science flagship series Naked Science. Second episode I 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. Host Louise Brady was set a variety of challenges to illustrate different aspects of the danger being exposed to nature represent. We electrified, froze, boiled and tried to drown her. And tried to wash her away in a flooding river. She was still smiling at the end and looking for another challenge.
2004, Writer and Director
Pioneer for National Geographic US Bermuda Triangle (Fact Ent)
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. We set out to discover the facts behind the myth of the Bermuda Triangle with some surprising results including re-flying the famous Flight 19 course in an original Avenger Bomber identical to the planes which disappeared made famous in Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters”.
2003, Director
Black Diamond for Bravo Gadgets & Stuff (Fact Ent)
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 gadget-obsessed Tomorrow's World presented by Liz Bonnin who has now gone onto a similar show The Big Bang Theory for the BBC. Each week Liz was tasked with testing examples of new technology in comparative tests and explaining the science, appeal and trending behind them. This included high tech stunt planes, cars which were also boats, tiny mp3 players, private jets the size of commercial airliners and radio controlled model aeroplanes and helicopters.
2003, Director
BBC2 Top Gear (Fact Ent)
Programme director working with presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond on items on new 13x60 minute format. Guests included Jamiroquai, Jonathon Ross, Sir Michael Gambon, Tara P-T, Gordon Ramsey, Ross Kemp, Harry Enfield. We were never quite sure how factual it was but it was certainly entertaining.
