Ang Lee, Tim Burton, Clint Eastwood, Luc Besson, Steven Spielburg, Hayao Miyasaki, Chan Wook Park, M Night Shyamalan, Yimou Zhang, Roman Polanski, Stephen Chow, Giuseppe Tornatore, Roberto Begnini, David Lynch, Jane Campion.
Awards
FOR MONKEY NUT TALES
The British Council 2008 Selected for international representation
UK Film Council/FilmLondon 2006 Pulse Digital Film Fund Award 2006
FOR ISOLATION 9
Buffalo Black & Asian Short Film Festival 2006 Best Film
The British Council 2006 Selected for international representation
Festivals
FOR MONKEY NUT TALES
The Times BFI London Film Festival 2007
FOR ISOLATION 9
Buffalo Black & Asian Short Film Festival
Professional Affiliations
BAFTA, BECTU
Jo @ UK Film's Interests
General
Film, film, film (directing, writing, producing and of course, watching), boxing, dancing, photography, art, travelling.
Music
Maxwell, D'Angelo, Joe Budden, Donell Jones, The Roots, Kelis, Jamie Foxx, Diana Krall, Sting, latin and world beats, film soundtracks (composers Joe Hisaishi, Tan Dun, Jan A P Kazmakarek, Eric Serra, Trevor Jones, Ennio Morricone, Rachel Portman, plus my two composers, Mat Davidson and Edwin Sykes!).
Movies
Babel, Little Children, Pans Labyrinth, Leon, Star Wars (original one), Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Oldboy, Galaxy Quest, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Strictly Ballroom, Practical Magic, Life Is Beautiful, Kramer Vs Kramer, The Fifth Element, The Sixth Sense, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman, Cinema Paradiso, The Best Man, Thomas Crown Affair (remake), Seven, Kung Fu Hustle, Amelie, Little Miss Sunshine, Million Dollar Baby, Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, The King, The World's Fastest Indian, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Swimming With Sharks, Independence Day, Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Princess Bride, Superman Returns, Die Hard, Indiana Jones, The American President, Aladdin, School of Rock, Bowfinger, Muholland Drive, ET, Heat, Rear Window, Marnie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Happy Feet, Bad Santa, Bad News Bears, Icelandic Dream...plus many, many more.
Television
The West Wing! The Oprah Winfrey Show. Dexter, Sex and the City. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Heroes, 24. Weeds. Entourage. Action. Nip/Tuck (series 1, 2 and 4, NOT 3), Carnivale, Prison Break oh and...American Idol, Property Ladder.
Books
The Kitchen God's Wife, The Belgariad & The Mallorean, Rebel without a crew, One Child, Scripts by Aaron Sorkin, Joss Wheydon, One hundred secret senses, John Grisham, James Patterson, plus hundreds more i can't think of right now.
Heroes
Oprah Winfrey, Ang Lee, Hilary Swank, Angelina Jolie, Bryan Fuller, Aaron Sorkin, Charlize Theron, Stephen Chow, Zhang Yimou, Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Joss Whedon, Tim Burton, Neil Gaiman, Tina Turner.
Who I'd like to meet: Just in case they're reading and have 30 mins for a quick coffee: Oprah Winfrey, Aaron Sorkin, Ang Lee, Stephen Chow, Denzel Washington, Luc Besson, Tim Burton, Angelina Jolie, Hilary Swank, Charlize Theron, Johnny Depp, Joss Whedon, Billy Bob Thornton, Jack Black.
Below are a few screenshots from my new film, MONKEY NUT TALES starring Charlotte Nguyen (Tombraider II), Pik-Sen Lim (The Lost Empire) and Claire Perkins (Secrets & Lies).
A young girls carefully crafted magical world shatters when her mother is hospitalised and her estranged Grandma comes to stay. The only way Grandma can communicate with Mai is via the fantastical stories she tells her. As they battle each other over their new roles in the house, they come to terms with their grief.
Monkey Nut Tales is live action mixed with animation/cgi and will utilise my art background, as I will be pushing the visual boundaries to create a Chinese fairy tale set in a British house.
ISOLATION 9, short film synopsis
Amy is sick with a disease that keeps her in hospital isolation. While on his daily cigarette break, a janitor spots her. The two end up forming a tenuous friendship, one which occurs from different sides of the glass and only ever lasts as long as it takes for Ben's cigarette to burn down.
Below are some stills from my short film, ISOLATION 9 starring Junior Laniyan (28 Days Later) and Jennifer Lim (Hostel).
Met with Jo Cadoret @ Film London - he gave me DVD of Pulse films 2007 so I was ecstatic about being able to see 'Monkey Nut Tales' at last (I've been out of the loop for a while), and he told me about your latest gig. Just want to say CONGRATULATIONS...YOU'RE BRILLIANT!
Hey Monkey! Good luck next week at LFF Screening. What you've posted on your site is amazing, I really wish I could see the end product - unfortunately must work. Grrr.... Ta, ~misty
Love the new profile pic! It's very directorial. LOL Sorry I didn't get a chance to see you last time I was in town. Next time for sure. Let me know how things are going when you get a chance! xoxo
Hahaha! Gekke Chinees! Ik ben niet bang voor jou! Ik heb de camera beelden uit het hotel. Jij weten toch...jij en de kroonprins, een tas met paddestoelen en die konijnen ;-)
Nou, zit ik dan eindelijk op je webplek. Dat wordt wel erg gezellig zo.:-) Zal ik eens even kijken wat je allemaal voor gekke vrienden hebt en of ik nog iets over je kan vinden wat ik tegen je kan gebruiken...hehehe ;-)
Hello. where do I get more information on Blood Lines? Personally I always thought of myself as better off in a comedy than a supernatural thriller but you know what, as I'm looking for a part as an extra, somewhere walking around in the background and unlikely to even be able to point myself out on screen, I really couldn't give a monkey nut. :D
I would absolutely love it if that was my job for life! Had a brilliant experience and I really beieve your film is gonna turn out incredible. So many lovely people to work with not to mention the lake, the food, the bikes, the boats, the films (I could go on). Been on myspace for a while now but, I must confess I am rather more addicted to facebook. Totally understand you not going to breakfast - I really don't know how I managed it seeing as I went to bed at 5:30am and then realised I hadn't packed. Was druuunk...but not half as bad as those 2 irish lads! Stay in touch hun xx
Hey Jo...Long time no touch base. I'm in BABYFATHER, the online soap. Give it a look on www.colourtelly.tv Finally, here is a link to my spotlight page, I've been meaning to send it to you for ages. www.spotlightcd.com/interactive/cv/7613-0198-8962. Enjoy the rest of the week. Hear from you soon.
Hey Wonder Woman,
Only one more sleep before I awake to an ocean of remorse due to my ensuing absence from your monumental event.
Please understand my regretful predicament, and know that I will be there in spirit; proud, excited, nervous and in awe.
Here come the fruits of all your bare-boned labour...
Can't wait to hear all about it!
Big up Jo, have a wonderful day- you bloody deserve it!
Johnny-Lee x
Tonight, for one night only, I will hang up my cape, settle into my cinema chair, and be treated to something that promises to be even better than the football!
Lips are sealed! Mums the word! Zippit! Mmmmhhmmmm mmm hh mmmmfffmmmmm! (he hums whilst gesturing the throwing away of a key)
BOX OFFICE PREMIERE!!!
Hello.... So, I just turned 30 *bluergh* but on the plus side, my friends got me a day at a London Recording Studio, which rocks top socks. I think once I get what will presumably be a very high quality recording of some music (even if the music is rubuish) I'd like to make some music videos... Which naturally I thought you should direct.
Cali was incredible...saw good friends, ate great food, and partied like crazy. i def will make a return trip. Next up for me, Chicago in May, Puerto Rico in Aug, and paris/italy in Oct...need to work more overtimes..hahaha
Hey...long time No Jo. Glad u had fun in LA. Sorry to hear about your house tho...I just finished editing my last play, and while i was in my CAli trip...started some notes on a new one. Hope to hear from you soon. -ur biggest fan in Jersey.
