MIKE LEIGH Writer/Director
Mike Leigh, writer and film director, was born in 1943 in Salford, Lancashire
near the city of Manchester in England. He trained briefly at the Royal
Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) as an actor but after finding that experience
disappointing, moved on to South London's Camberwell Art School, the Central
School of Arts Crafts and the London Film School.
His first feature was BLEAK MOMENTS (1971), which won the Grande Prix at
the Chicago and Locarno Film Festivals. This was followed by the full-length
television films HARD LABOUR (1973), NUTS IN MAY (1975), THE KISS OF DEATH
(1976), ABIGAIL'S PARTY (1977), WHO'S WHO (1978), GROWN-UPS (1980), HOME
SWEET HOME (1982), MEANTIME (1983), and FOUR DAYS IN JULY (1984), which
was shot entirely on location in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His feature
films HIGH HOPES (1988), LIFE IS SWEET (1990) and NAKED (1992) have been
highly successful internationally, all winning numerous prestigious awards,
including Best Director and Best Actor (David Thewlis) for NAKED at the
1993 Cannes Film Festival. During this time, Leigh also made the highly-acclaimed
short films, THE SHORT AND CURLIES (1987) and A SENSE OF HISTORY (1992).
In May 1996, shortly after shooting CAREER GIRLS, Mike Leigh took SECRETS
& LIES to the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palme d'Or and
Best Actress for Brenda Blethyn. SECRETS & LIES went on to become Mike
Leigh's biggest commercial and boxoffice success, grossing $40 million theatrically
worldwide and winning numerous other awards in the past year, including
a Golden Globe for Brenda Blethyn, the LA Critics' Award for Best Film,
Director and Actress (Blethyn) and most recently three BAFTAs (British Academy
Awards). SECRETS & LIES was nominated for five Academy Awards including
Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress (Brenda Blethyn), Best Supporting
Actress (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) and Best Screenplay.
SIMON CHANNING-WILLIAMS Producer
Simon Channing-Williams' association with Mike Leigh began when he worked
as Leigh's first assistant director on the 1980 BBC film GROWN UPS. After
working with Mike Leigh again as co-producer on the BAFTA nominated short
film THE SHORT AND CURLIES and as producer on the feature film HIGH HOPES
they decided to form an ongoing partnership and set up Thin Man Films for
this purpose.
Their first project for Thin Man Films was the feature LIFE IS SWEET, which
gained critical honors and won new audiences for Leigh's work internationally.
They then collaborated on the 1992 short A SENSE OF HISTORY, named Best
Short Film at the Clermont Ferrand Film Festival, and the multi-award-winning
NAKED. Their last project prior to CAREER GIRLS was their biggest hit to
date - the Palme d'Or winning SECRETS & LIES.
Outside of his relationship with Mike Leigh and Thin Man Films, Simon ChanningWilliams
has produced several other projects, including PUCCINI for director Tony
Palmer, the feature film WHEN THE WHALES CAME and JACK AND SARAH, directed
by Tim Sullivan, which was an enormous hit at the UK box-office in 1995.
As Executive Producer, his credits have included the BAFTA nominated LITTLE
PIG ROBINSON (TVS), directed by Alan Bridges, and the short film THE PAN
LOAF, winner of a Silver Hugo at the Chicago Film Festival and Best Short
Film at the Cork Film Festival.
DICK POPE Director of Photography
Dick Pope has worked with Mike Leigh on the award-winning LIFE IS SWEET,
NAKED and SECRETS & LIES, and the short film A SENSE OF HISTORY. His
feature film credits include THE REFLECTING SKIN, and most recently, Beeban
Kidron's AMY FOSTER. In December '96, Pope won the Golden Medal at Cameraimage
96, the fourth International Festival of the Art of Cinematography for his
work on SECRETS & LIES. He also has extensive experience in documentary
fllmmaking.
EVE STEWART Production Designer
Eve Stewart has previously worked with Mike Leigh as art director on SECRETS
& LIES, NAKED and A SENSE OF HISTORY, as well as alongside him on a
number of stage plays as production and costume designer.
ROBIN SALES Editor
CAREER GIRLS marks Robin Sales' first work with Mike Leigh since the television
drama FOUR DAYS IN JULY. Previously they had worked on HOME SWEET HOME and
GROWN UPS. Sales' other credits include SWANN, and, for television "Sharpe,"
"A Woman at War" and "Silas Marner."
Copyright 1994-2008 Film Scouts LLC
Created, produced, and published by Film Scouts LLC
Film Scouts® is a registered trademark of Film Scouts LLC
All rights reserved.