User:Oobeejay/Brian Jackson (actor)

BRIAN JACKSON GENERAL BIOGRAPHY

Brian Jackson was educated at Thornleigh College in the North of England, and later studied Photography at Manchester University College of Technology. While on a full time course at the Royal Naval School of Photography he achieved a high rating. He served at the time of the Korean conflict as a photographer and cameraman in the Fleet Air Arm. In his Royal Navy service he did cinematographic work and public relations photography for the Admiralty before returning to civilian life as a commercial photographer. After his RN service he continued a career in photography for some years before choosing to become an actor, commentator and presenter on British television which in turn led him to establishing photographic and recording studios, and film production and distribution companies. Amongst many specialist films with which Brian has been involved in various ways, some have won awards, most with emphasis on selling techniques resulting in him making personal appearances and giving talks on the subject of sales psychology. During the 1960s to 1980s he brought many campaigns and television commercial projects to his team of top photographers at Hampden Gurney Studios, the largest privately owned complex in Britain at the time. Brian Jackson is particularly proud of the fact that Vangelis, a resident for ten years at Hampden Gurney Studios, was awarded an ‘Oscar’ by the American Film Academy for the music of CHARIOTS OF FIRE; the internationally acclaimed music was written, recorded and produced at his studios. Other successes out of Hampden Gurney by Vangelis, include the music for MISSING, the Jack Lemmon film which was a joint winner of the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival; also the music for Ridley Scott’s iconic cult film, BLADE-RUNNER. Brian Jackson is a well-known voice for over two hundred TV commercials on British television. He has presented several dozen documentary films, including his own series of programmes for BBC TV, HARDY HEATING INTERNATIONAL, for which he was the Presenting Chairman. Brian has either directed or acted in many other film and photo shoots for the Admiralty, Air Ministry and the War Office: plus some fifty or so short films for commercial sponsors such as Ford Motors; DTI; BMW Konica; ICI. All of the foregoing took place contemporaneously with a triple career as a jobbing actor, developing his studio and production businesses, investing voice over income and international earnings as THE MAN FROM DEL MONTE in theatre and film projects while at the same time getting to know the worldwide television markets. In later years, Brian became more involved with the acquisition of film and television rights of foreign productions and became something of an East-West film broker, attending most major international TV markets and festivals. Well before and after ‘glasnost,’ he successfully negotiated with most of the East European television and film authorities including the USSR to represent their products in the ‘West’ with a special emphasis on animation; educational and classic Russian programmes. Hampden Gurney Studios, converted from a large Victorian school into a multi-complex of studios and situated at Marble Arch, London was profitably sold for redevelopment and is now a block of apartments in Hampden Gurney Street, London. After the sale of his studios Brian accepted an executive post as consultant producer to Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational Corporation. In this role he successfully introduced new educational systems and techniques into several east European countries. Brian is an active athlete, enjoying running, scuba diving, swimming, tennis and cricket and has various trophies for these pursuits. In his early days he boxed for the Fleet Air Arm. He has played charity cricket for the Lord’s Taverners and SPARKS. His favoured charity is The Smile Train. His five children have in their turn produced eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Brian is married and lives in central London and has now retired from several companies but continues as CEO of Brian Jackson Films Limited. He pursues his acting career having recently completed a long UK theatre tour of DAD’S ARMY. He is an active member of the Royal Naval Photographer’s Association and writes articles and short stories for its News Letter.

Words and images, in one way or another, have played a major part in the Life of Brian Jackson.