David L. Williams (film director)
Encyclopedia
David L Williams is a dual national British
and American
film director
, writer
and producer
living in London
. An active film campaigner in Rwanda (Genocide) and Liberia (Deforestation) his commercial work with UK production house Shooting Pictures has led to collaborations with many of the UK's leading comedians including Dom Joly
, Russell Brand
, and Alistair McGowan
. His debut cinema feature, the arctic comedy Beyond the Pole
, was his first attempt to fuse comedy with his campaigning work and was supported by Friends of the Earth
, with the director of the organisation, Andy Atkins, making a guest appearance on the DVD extras. In November 2010 David collaborated with members of The Fast Show
team to campaign for the Sustainable Livestock Bill, legislation designed to protect the Amazonian rainforest and support more local, planet friendly farming.
, Leicester Haymarket and Glasgow Citizens Theatre where he met his partner, Helen Baxendale
. Television and film roles included playing opposite Michael Elphick
, and Tom Hollander
in the BBC's "Harry", and a lead for two series in Russell T Davies BAFTA winning, "The Ward".
Moving behind the camera David founded Shooting Pictures in 2000 with his partner Helen Baxendale
, and has since led more than a 100 shoots across 5 continents. His television comedy, Flyfishing, starring Frances Barber
and Kate Ashfield
, has sold to over 30 countries and regularly plays in the UK on SKY.
In 2009 David directed, produced and co-wrote the multi-award winning arctic comedy, Beyond the Pole
, for Shooting Pictures. Premiering in the Best of British strand at the Glasgow International Film Festival, Beyond the Pole went on to win 9 awards on the festival circuit in America and Europe, before its UK cinema release. Its UK TV premiere made pick of the day in both The Times and The Guardian. Starring Stephen Mangan
(Green Wing
); Rhys Thomas
(Bellamy's People
); Mark Benton
; Rosie Cavaliero
; and Alexander Skarsgard
(True Blood
, Generation Kill) Beyond the Pole was shot on floating sea ice off the coast of Greenland and is the story of two friends who attempt to become the first Carbon Neutral, Vegetarian, Organic expedition to the North Pole. A comedy road movie, the boys soon find themselves up against a pair of cocky gay (Olympic) Norwegians in a deadly race to the Pole.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
living in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. An active film campaigner in Rwanda (Genocide) and Liberia (Deforestation) his commercial work with UK production house Shooting Pictures has led to collaborations with many of the UK's leading comedians including Dom Joly
Dom Joly
Dominic John Romulus "Dom" Joly is a British television comedian and journalist. He came to note as the star of Trigger Happy TV, a hidden camera show that was sold to over seventy countries worldwide...
, Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
, and Alistair McGowan
Alistair McGowan
Alistair McGowan is a British impressionist, stand-up comic, actor, singer and writer best known to British audiences for The Big Impression , which was, for four years, one of BBC1's top-rating comedy programmes - winning numerous awards, including a BAFTA in 2003...
. His debut cinema feature, the arctic comedy Beyond the Pole
Beyond the Pole
Beyond the Pole is a 2010 British mockumentary adapted from the cult BBC radio series of the same name. It received its UK cinema release in 2010. Directed and produced by David L...
, was his first attempt to fuse comedy with his campaigning work and was supported by Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
, with the director of the organisation, Andy Atkins, making a guest appearance on the DVD extras. In November 2010 David collaborated with members of The Fast Show
The Fast Show
The Fast Show, known as Brilliant in the US, was a BBC comedy sketch show programme that ran for three series from 1994 to 1997 with a special Last Fast Show Ever in 2000. The show's central performers were Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, Mark Williams, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and...
team to campaign for the Sustainable Livestock Bill, legislation designed to protect the Amazonian rainforest and support more local, planet friendly farming.
Career
David began his career as an actor, working regularly with theatre director Matthew Lloyd including acclaimed productions at the Almeida TheatreAlmeida Theatre
The Almeida Theatre, opened in 1980, is a 325 seat studio theatre with an international reputation which takes its name from the street in which it is located, off Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington. The theatre produces a diverse range of drama and holds an annual summer festival of...
, Leicester Haymarket and Glasgow Citizens Theatre where he met his partner, Helen Baxendale
Helen Baxendale
Helen Victoria Baxendale is an English actress of stage and television, possibly best-known for her roles in Cold Feet, Friends and Cardiac Arrest.-Early life:...
. Television and film roles included playing opposite Michael Elphick
Michael Elphick
Michael John Elphick was an English actor. Elphick was known in the UK for his trademark croaky voice and his work on British television, in particular his roles as the eponymous private investigator in the ITV series Boon and later Harry Slater in BBC's EastEnders.Robust and ruggedly good-looking...
, and Tom Hollander
Tom Hollander
Thomas Anthony "Tom" Hollander is a British actor who has appeared in productions such as Enigma, Gosford Park, Cambridge Spies, Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean, In the Loop, Valkyrie and Hanna.-Early life:Tom Hollander was born in Bristol and raised in Oxford, Oxfordshire, the son...
in the BBC's "Harry", and a lead for two series in Russell T Davies BAFTA winning, "The Ward".
Moving behind the camera David founded Shooting Pictures in 2000 with his partner Helen Baxendale
Helen Baxendale
Helen Victoria Baxendale is an English actress of stage and television, possibly best-known for her roles in Cold Feet, Friends and Cardiac Arrest.-Early life:...
, and has since led more than a 100 shoots across 5 continents. His television comedy, Flyfishing, starring Frances Barber
Frances Barber
Frances Barber is an Olivier Award-nominated English actress with a long and distinguished stage career. She has also appeared in numerous television productions...
and Kate Ashfield
Kate Ashfield
Kate Ashfield is a British actress, best known for her award-winning roles as Jody in the Anglo-German film Late Night Shopping, as Sadie MacGregor in the British film This Little Life and as Liz in the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead.-Biography:Ashfield was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England...
, has sold to over 30 countries and regularly plays in the UK on SKY.
In 2009 David directed, produced and co-wrote the multi-award winning arctic comedy, Beyond the Pole
Beyond the Pole
Beyond the Pole is a 2010 British mockumentary adapted from the cult BBC radio series of the same name. It received its UK cinema release in 2010. Directed and produced by David L...
, for Shooting Pictures. Premiering in the Best of British strand at the Glasgow International Film Festival, Beyond the Pole went on to win 9 awards on the festival circuit in America and Europe, before its UK cinema release. Its UK TV premiere made pick of the day in both The Times and The Guardian. Starring Stephen Mangan
Stephen Mangan
Stephen Mangan is an English actor, best known for his roles as Guy Secretan in the television series Green Wing, Dan Moody in I'm Alan Partridge and as Holistic Detective Dirk Gently in the 2010 BBC adaptation of Douglas Adams' book Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, as well as Sean Lincoln...
(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....
); Rhys Thomas
Rhys Thomas
Rhys Thomas may refer to:* Rhys M. Thomas , Wales rugby union international prop 2007* T. Rhys Thomas , Wales rugby union international hooker 2007* Rhys Thomas * Rhys Thomas...
(Bellamy's People
Bellamy's People
Bellamy's People, also known as Bellamy's People of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a British comedy show first broadcast on BBC 2 as an eight episode series. The show is a spin off from the BBC Radio 4 show Down the Line...
); Mark Benton
Mark Benton
Mark Benton is an English actor, perhaps most famous for his roles as Eddie in Early Doors and Howard in Northern Lights.-Life and career:Benton was born in Guisborough, in the North Riding of Yorkshire, England....
; Rosie Cavaliero
Rosie Cavaliero
Rosie Cavaliero is an English actress.She was trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.- Television and film work :* The Crimson Petal and the White - Jennifer Pierce * Jane Eyre - Grace Poole...
; and Alexander Skarsgard
Alexander Skarsgård
Alexander Johan Hjalmar Skarsgård is a Swedish actor. He is best known for his roles as vampire Eric Northman on the HBO series True Blood, Meekus in Zoolander and Brad Colbert in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.-Early life:...
(True Blood
True Blood
True Blood is an American television series created and produced by Alan Ball. It is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris, detailing the co-existence of vampires and humans in Bon Temps, a fictional, small town in the state of Louisiana...
, Generation Kill) Beyond the Pole was shot on floating sea ice off the coast of Greenland and is the story of two friends who attempt to become the first Carbon Neutral, Vegetarian, Organic expedition to the North Pole. A comedy road movie, the boys soon find themselves up against a pair of cocky gay (Olympic) Norwegians in a deadly race to the Pole.