Andrew Gunn
Encyclopedia
Andrew Gunn is a British television director. He was born in Staffordshire
and later grew up on Tyneside
before attending film school in Surrey
and Dorset
. He has written and directed several award-winning short films in addition to work in popular television drama.
His graduation film Mermaids starred a young Robson Green
and won the Young Film-maker award at the Tyneside International Film Festival 1987. Gunn returned to the North East after film school and continued to write and direct short films, most of which were produced and set in Newcastle upon Tyne
. Cafe au Lait won a regional Royal Television Society
commendation in 1994. Half a Shave, a black comedy based on the short story by Sid Chaplin
, starred Frances Tomelty
and premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 1996, going on to win a Certificate of Merit at the Chicago International Film Festival
. It also won a regional Royal Television Society commendation.
Andrew worked as a highly respected focus puller for many years while trying to achieve his ambition of Directing.
Gunn’s next film Insomnia starred Andy Serkis
and premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival. It was subsequently screened worldwide. Trigger Happy starred Ian Hart
and Christine Tremarco
and marked Gunn’s departure from making short films.
Following the success of these films Gunn went on to collaborate with Smack the Pony producer Victoria Pile on the pilot episode of the cult drama sit-com Green Wing
. Channel Four subsequently commissioned two series, the first of which received the Pioneer Audience Award at the BAFTA Television Awards
2005. Although uncredited, Gunn directed numerous scenes in the first episode (Caroline’s First Day) and co-created the visual and editorial style of the show.
In 2006 Gunn directed two of the most well received episodes in Season 2 of the cult drama-comedy Life On Mars
starring John Simm
and Philip Glenister
and went on to direct David Morrissey
and Lucy Cohu
in the climax to Cape Wrath
(Meadowlands US), the 2007 flagship high-concept thriller for Channel Four and Showtime.
Gunn also directed the feature-length adaptation of David Almond
’s Clay
for BBC 1, starring Oscar nominee and BAFTA award-winner Imelda Staunton
. In 2008 Gunn continued to direct high-concept-high-profile productions, most recently two of the opening episodes of Survivors
, the BBC’s eagerly anticipated re-make of the 1970s cult science fiction drama starring Julie Graham and Max Beesley.
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and later grew up on Tyneside
Tyneside
Tyneside is a conurbation in North East England, defined by the Office of National Statistics, which is home to over 80% of the population of Tyne and Wear. It includes the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Metropolitan Boroughs of Gateshead, North Tyneside and South Tyneside — all settlements on...
before attending film school in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. He has written and directed several award-winning short films in addition to work in popular television drama.
His graduation film Mermaids starred a young Robson Green
Robson Green
Robson Green is an English actor, singer–songwriter and presenter.-Biography:Robson Golightly Green was born in Hexham, Northumberland, and baptised in Bethel Chapel, , and named in Northeast tradition as first son after family surnames: Robson is his grandmother's maiden surname, while Golightly...
and won the Young Film-maker award at the Tyneside International Film Festival 1987. Gunn returned to the North East after film school and continued to write and direct short films, most of which were produced and set in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. Cafe au Lait won a regional Royal Television Society
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
commendation in 1994. Half a Shave, a black comedy based on the short story by Sid Chaplin
Sid Chaplin
Sid Chaplin was a writer whose works are mostly set in the North East England of the 1940s and '50s.- Tribute to Sid Chaplin :...
, starred Frances Tomelty
Frances Tomelty
Frances Tomelty is a Northern Irish actress and the first wife of Sting. She is the daughter of Belfast actor Joseph Tomelty ....
and premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 1996, going on to win a Certificate of Merit at the Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
. It also won a regional Royal Television Society commendation.
Andrew worked as a highly respected focus puller for many years while trying to achieve his ambition of Directing.
Gunn’s next film Insomnia starred Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis
Andrew Clement G. "Andy" Serkis is an English actor, director and author. He is popularly known for playing Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he earned several award nominations, including the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Two Towers...
and premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival. It was subsequently screened worldwide. Trigger Happy starred Ian Hart
Ian Hart
Ian Hart is an English stage, television and film actor.-Early life:Hart, the grandson of Irish immigrants, was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He is one of three siblings and was brought up in a Roman Catholic family...
and Christine Tremarco
Christine Tremarco
Christine Tremarco is a British television actress.Educated at St Cecilia's Infant School and then Holly Lodge Girls' College, she was spotted in a school play and invited to a new dance and drama school...
and marked Gunn’s departure from making short films.
Following the success of these films Gunn went on to collaborate with Smack the Pony producer Victoria Pile on the pilot episode of the cult drama sit-com Green Wing
Green Wing
Green Wing is a British sitcom set in the fictional East Hampton Hospital. It was created by the same team behind the sketch show Smack the Pony, led by Victoria Pile, and stars Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt....
. Channel Four subsequently commissioned two series, the first of which received the Pioneer Audience Award at the BAFTA Television Awards
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:...
2005. Although uncredited, Gunn directed numerous scenes in the first episode (Caroline’s First Day) and co-created the visual and editorial style of the show.
In 2006 Gunn directed two of the most well received episodes in Season 2 of the cult drama-comedy Life On Mars
Life on Mars (TV series)
Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
starring John Simm
John Simm
John Simm is an English stage and screen actor. In recent years he is best known for his roles as Sam Tyler in the detective drama Life on Mars and as The Master in the revival of the science fiction series Doctor Who, but he has also starred in many highly acclaimed award-winning television...
and Philip Glenister
Philip Glenister
Philip Haywood Glenister is an English actor, known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in British television series Life On Mars and its sequel Ashes To Ashes.-Television and films:...
and went on to direct David Morrissey
David Morrissey
David Mark Morrissey is an English actor and director. Morrissey grew up in the Kensington and Knotty Ash areas of Liverpool, and learned to act at the city's Everyman Youth Theatre. At the age of 18, he was cast in the television series One Summer , which won him recognition throughout the country...
and Lucy Cohu
Lucy Cohu
Lucy Cohu is an award-winning English stage and film actress, known for portraying Princess Margaret in The Queen's Sister, Evelyn Brogan in Cape Wrath and Alice Carter in Torchwood: Children of Earth.-Background:...
in the climax to Cape Wrath
Cape Wrath (TV series)
Cape Wrath is a British drama television series produced by Ecosse Films which focuses on a family trying to escape its past while confronting an even more uncertain future...
(Meadowlands US), the 2007 flagship high-concept thriller for Channel Four and Showtime.
Gunn also directed the feature-length adaptation of David Almond
David Almond
David Almond is a British children's writer who has written several novels, each one to critical acclaim.-Early life:Almond was born and raised in Felling and Newcastle in post-industrial North East England and educated at the University of East Anglia, he was born in 1951...
’s Clay
Clay (novel)
Clay is a children's/young adult novel by David Almond, published in 2005. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and longlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.It was adapted for television in 2008, and aired on BBC One on March 30 2008....
for BBC 1, starring Oscar nominee and BAFTA award-winner Imelda Staunton
Imelda Staunton
Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton, OBE is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the British comedy television series Up the Garden Path, the Harry Potter film series and Vera Drake...
. In 2008 Gunn continued to direct high-concept-high-profile productions, most recently two of the opening episodes of Survivors
Survivors (2008 TV Series)
Survivors is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC. It depicts the lives of a group of people who survived a virulent strain of heretofore unknown influenza which has wiped out most of the human race...
, the BBC’s eagerly anticipated re-make of the 1970s cult science fiction drama starring Julie Graham and Max Beesley.
Filmography
- Green WingGreen WingGreen Wing is a British sitcom set in the fictional East Hampton Hospital. It was created by the same team behind the sketch show Smack the Pony, led by Victoria Pile, and stars Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt....
(2004) - Cape WrathCape Wrath (TV series)Cape Wrath is a British drama television series produced by Ecosse Films which focuses on a family trying to escape its past while confronting an even more uncertain future...
(2007) - Life On MarsLife on Mars (TV series)Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
(2007) - SurvivorsSurvivors (2008 TV Series)Survivors is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC. It depicts the lives of a group of people who survived a virulent strain of heretofore unknown influenza which has wiped out most of the human race...
(2008) - ClayClay (2008 film)Clay is a 2008 British TV film drama directed by Andrew Gunn and starring Harry McEntire and Ben Davies .The screenplay by Peter Tabern is based on the 1998 novel of the same name by David Almond.-Plot:...
(2008) - PrimevalPrimevalPrimeval or primæval may refer to:* Primeval, a British science fiction television series.* Primeval , a 2007 film* Primeval , a score of music from the BBC TV series Doctor Who...
(2008) - Doctor WhoDoctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
(2010)
External links
- Life on Mars episode five at Digital SpyDigital SpyDigital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
- Life on Mars episode six at Digital SpyDigital SpyDigital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
- Cape Wrath at Channel4.com
- Meadowlands at Showtime
- Trigger Happy at the BBC Film Network