Stephen has produced over 100 short films and two features. He has produced corporate video work for a wide variety of clients ranging from computer game giants (Bethesda), technology giants (Nokia Siemens Networks) and sporting giants (Jonny Wilkinson) but sadly no actual giants. He’s shot people in love, in the air, on the beach and on fire (although not at the same time) across over a dozen different countries in locations ranging from the Circle Line to the Arctic Circle.
Stephen has taught at major film schools, normal business schools and minor primary schools. His lessons range established topics from Producing at MA and BA level, online video and the business of film producing to more adventurous topics such as measuring the unmeasurable, advanced creative thinking and the psychology of film producing. He has taught at the National Film and Television School (NFTS), Met Film School, NYU, Filmbase, and on behalf of the BFI, the BBC and the British Council.
Stephen is an established data researcher in the film industry whose work has been featured in the New York Times, The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Evening Standard, Newsweek, The News Statesman, AV Club and Indiewire. He acted as industry consultant and guest on the BBC Radio 4 series The Business of Film, which was topped the iTunes podcast chart, and has consulted for a wide variety of clients, including the Smithsonian in Washington.
Stephen’s scriptwriting has won Virgin Media Shorts, the Reed Film Competition and IVCA awards; has been nominated at the British Independent Film Awards, Viral Video Awards, LA Movie Awards and long-listed for a BAFTA; and has been championed by Mike Newell, James King, Stephen Fry, the Daily Telegraph and Le Monde.
When he has time he drinks tea in the office of his production company, Catsnake, in Ealing Studios. Catsnake is a leading online video agency where Stephen is the Creative Director. They specialise in brand-funded short films and their work has been seen by over 30 million people.
Unique traits: data research, tea drinking
Flawless
(
Film (short)
by Tito Sacchi (Drama)
Producer Flawless is a psychological drama, the simple story of a man trying to deal with a minor glitch in his apparently perfect life. The story uses a real-life trivial anecdote to set the plot and create the problem for the protagonist to overcome. A deceptively easy solution becomes soon impossible to achieve, while the narrative slowly takes an unexpected turn and reveals our character's deep and very private struggle. The story explores the concepts of fear, frustration and disillusionment that are often associated with a violent and abusive domestic environment. The story follows a mainly linear structure, although there is some fragmentation of the narrative and a number of flashbacks that result in a stream of consciousness type of narrative. The almost casual surfacing of flashbacks slowly reveals the main character's motivations and gives the whole story a sense of fate and inevitability. The progression of the narrative is initially comfortable and steady, but soon the pace speeds... Written by Tito Sacchi
The Grind
(
Film
by Rishi Opel (Crime and Thriller)
Producer The Grind is a modern urban drama, set in world of sex, drug dealers, dance nightclubs and loan sharks... See full synopsis »
Parkour Tour
(
Television
Producer, Director
The Bright Forever
(
Film (short)
by Lee Arnold (Sci-Fi)
Producer
A Love Story... In Milk
(
Film (short)
by Danann Breathnach (Romance)
Producer, Writer The most romantic film you'll ever see with two milk cartons.
Join My Band
(
Film (short)
by Naomi Wright (Comedy, Music and Romance)
Producer JOIN MY BAND is a short romantic comedy about a teenage boy who starts a band to meet a girl. Set in inner city London, with an electric score written by singer/songwriter Lucinda Belle, the film shows how something chaotic but beautiful can emerge from the clash of opposites. STEVE is a nerdy school boy who instantly falls for the new girl - rebellious, rock-chick STELLA. Too shy to ask her out directly, Steve instead transforms his image to match hers and forms a punk rock band with his friends. However, despite appearances, it turns out that Stella isn't quite what she seems... Written by Anonymous
Chloe and Will's Hot Date Night
(
Film (short)
by Edward Dick (Comedy)
Producer, Writer
Sign Language
(
Film (short)
by Oscar Sharp (Comedy and Drama)
Writer Meet Ben - he holds a sign for a living, and he loves his job more than almost anything. But today is his last day.
Chasing Cotards
(
Film (short)
by Edward L. Dark (Drama)
Producer Once a successful artist, Hart is now a shadow of his former self, his world torn apart by loss. He is consumed by a haunting portrait of his deceased wife and spends every moment studying her face, unable to forget. Knowing that she was taken away from him too soon, all he wishes is that she would return to breathe life into his world once more. Written by Olivia Wakeford
Baseline
(
Film
by Brendon O'Loughlin (Action, Crime and Drama)
Producer The Baseline is the centre of the East London grime club scene and the queue regularly stretches around the block. Danny works on the door - breaking up fights and managing drunk kids. However, when he rescues Terry, the club owner and local gang leader, from a hitman, Danny is suddenly plunged deep into an underworld he had tried so hard to avoid. Danny is promoted to manager, but only on the condition that he turns a blind eye to the shady goings on both on and off the dance-floor. Danny and his girlfriend Jessica dream of setting up their own club, but Danny is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice when he has to choose between loyalty, morality and his own dreams of escape. Written by Miranda Howard-Williams
Final Showing
(
Film (short)
by Oscar Sharp (Sci-Fi)
Producer, Writer
Hourglass
(
Film (short)
by Rory O'Donnell (Drama)
Producer The commission of a lifetime for clockmaker Harold Blake.
Image Break
(
Film (short)
by Scot Wakeley (Sci-Fi)
Producer A man tries to make sense of the strange phenomena he is experiencing through his television.
Daniel Ilabaca in Profile
(
Film (short)
by Brendon O'Loughlin (Documentary and Action)
Producer Profile of one of the UK's top Traceurs/Parkour Practitioners.
Traceurs of Durand
(
Film (short)
by Chris Lightwing (Sport)
Producer South London crew Traceurs Of Durand (a.k.a. T.O.D.) have been practicing Parkour for years. Their estate is well-known to those who have seen 'Jump Britain' and other Parkour videos on-line. In the summer of 2006 they were interviewed about Parkour and what it meant for them. Written by Anonymous
String
(
Film (short)
by Naomi Wright (Drama)
Producer, Thanks A comic and visually striking film about a man's journey following a piece of string which promises to lead him to happiness.
Space Chase
(
Film (short)
by Jonathan Pearson (Action, Comedy and Thriller)
Producer, Writer 'Space Chase' is a fast-paced short film from Catsnake Studios. Our hero and heroine become locked in a frantic race using elements of Parkour to reach their goal. Parkour, or 'Free-running', as seen on Channel 4's 'Jump London', is an increasingly popular pastime which involves using obstacles to perform jumps and acrobatics whilst continually running forwards An incredible team of film and television professionals have been brought together to work on this project, including those more used to working on large Hollywood blockbusters. Our team is further enhanced by the involvement of some of the world's best 'Free Runners'. Written by Anonymous
The War Against Terror: The Musical
(
Film (short)
by Chris Lightwing (Comedy and Music)
Producer, Writer, Soundtrack 'Mobilising the Troupes' charts the making of a new West End musical entitled 'The War Against Terror: The Musical'. The all-singing, all-dancing show has been put together by American theatre producer, Michael Panton, assisted by the musical's British director, Vadim Flanders. Together the pair prepare to unleash their production on an unsuspecting public. The show's lead actor is Raymond Burchill, a classically trained and celebrated Shakespearian actor, who is having trouble understanding the subtleties and nuances of his character, cast as he is in the role of President George W. Bush. With its combination of singing, dancing and good old xenophobia, how will the British public cope with 'The War Against Terror: The Musical'? Written by Stephen Follows
Life, Death and Plumbing
(
Film (short)
by Chris Lightwing (Documentary)
Producer, Self An in-depth look at the making of the independent Irish film, 'Crashing the Wake'.
Crashing the Wake
(
Film (short)
by Arnstein Dybvik (Comedy)
Producer, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Frank McCabe is dead. His son, George, has decided to hold an open wake where people can come and pay their respects. Among these people is Jerry, Frank's former employee, who knows a thing or two about George and Frank, which other people don't. Jerry has been cut out of the will and is determined to use any means necessary to get back at both George and Frank. Written by Stephen Follows
Handle with Care
(
Film (short)
by Ross Sarginson (Action)
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Jenny has just duped an unsuspecting convent of Nuns and is eager to escape the country with her new fortune. She pushes her car to the limit but soon finds herself broken down in the middle of nowhere with a plane to catch. Hitching a ride proves harder than she imagined... Written by Anonymous
Douglas
(
Film (short)
by Chris Lightwing (Comedy)
Producer, Writer, Self Douglas is a recovering amnesiac stroke victim, who finds himself at the center of a documentary following his search for his long lost niece. However, the unscrupulous filmmakers feel that their documentary is too boring, so they hire an actress to play Douglas' niece, newly returned from abroad... This dark satire illustrates what happens when documentary filmmakers go bad. Written by Anonymous
Breakfast
(
Film (short)
by Nikias Chryssos (Comedy)
Producer A little girl's ironic comment on her parents' relationship and adult everyday-life.
Long-listed BAFTA
(2012)
Winner Virgin Media Shorts
(2011)
Winner Reed Competition
(2011)
Nominated British Independent Film Award
(2011)