METIN HSEYIN - Director Metin Huseyin graduated from the National Film and Television School, following a Fine Art Degree. His graduation film Tight Trousers, which he wrote and directed, received a BAFTA nomination in the Short Film category and was chosen as the British entry to the Student Film Oscars. His television directing credits include the six part youth drama series, Teenage Health Freak, for Channel Four; Harry Enfield Christmas Show 1992; and the All New Alexi Sayle series, which won the Bronze Rose at 1994 Montreux Television Festival. The television drama series Common As Muck, which Huseyin directed, was the winner of 1995 Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama, and was nominated for a BAFTA Award. Huseyin directed a major six hour drama adaptation of Henry Fieldings Tom Jones, for BBC and Arts and Entertainment, starring Max Beesley, Samantha Morton and Kathy Burke. In 2001, he directed his first feature film, It Was an Accident, starring Thandie Newton, Max Beesley and Hugh Quarshie. PAUL RAPHAEL - Producer British Producer Paul Raphael began his career in the film industry in 1978, as an assistant director on John Schlesingers Yanks. During the following years he worked in a variety of capacities, on films including Nijinsky, A Christmas Carol and Sid and Nancy. In 1986, he was line producer on Alex Coxs anarchic Spanish Western Straight to Hell, and went on to co-produce Pascalis Island, directed by James Dearden; The Rachel Papers, directed by Damien Harris and Mara, directed by Mike Figgis. In 1996 Paul Raphael produced The Leading Man, directed by John Duigan and starring Jon Bon Jovi and Thandie Newton. In 1998 he produced Rogue Trader, starring Ewan McGregor and Anna Friel, again directed by James Dearden, based on the true story of Nick Leeson and the infamous downfall of Barings Bank. In 2001 he produced Gypsy Woman, staring Jack Davenport, directed by Sheree Folkson, for Sky Pictures. Paul Raphael is developing several feature films through his own production company, Starfield Productions, and recently executive produced television documentaries For Gods Sake, and The Spice Girls US Tour, both for Channel 4. MEERA SYAL - writer, co-producer While studying at Manchester University for a degree in English and Drama, Meera Syal wrote a play One of Us, which won the National Studio Drama Award, and earned her an equity card. She has appeared in numerous British television series and films, including Absolutely Fabulous, Sammie and Rosie Get Laid and the comedy series The Kumars at No 42, which was written by and co-stars Sanjeev Bhasker. In spring 2002, she will co-star with Jasper Carrott in a television sitcom, about a racially mixed marriage. With Sanjeev Bhasker, Meera Syal is one of the team who writes and stars in the ground breaking Asian comedy series Goodness Gracious Me, which ran for three series on radio, and three series on television, winning many awards around the world. Anita and Me, Meera Syals first novel, won the Betty Trask Fiction Award, and was nominated for the Guardian Fiction Award, and has sold a million copies to date. Her second novel Life Is Not All Ha Ha Hee Hee was published to acclaim in 1999 and has been optioned for adaptation to the screen. Her first screenplay, Bhaji on the Beach, was directed by Gurinder Chadha in 1993. Meera Syal has written the book for the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bombay Dreams, inspired by Bollywood. |