James Hawes is a British television director, who has worked in British television drama since the mid 1990s, and also produced documentaries for British and American networks.
His work has ranged across high-end period pieces and prime-time adventure drama, including the re-launch of "Doctor Who", for which he has won awards.
Among his credits are The Chatterley Affair, "Fanny Hill", Miss Marie Lloyd - Queen of The Music Hall and "39 Steps", the BBC's ratings hit at Christmas 2008. Hawes began his television work in factual programming, working in the BBC's documentary and current affairs departments. In 1990 he directed HRH Prince Charles in the documentary The Earth In Balance. Other documentary work includes the investigative strand, Inside Story for the BBC, the Emmy Award-nominated Egypt's Golden Empire and the 2003 drama-documentary Lawrence of Arabia: The Battle for the Arab World, which he both wrote and directed.
After completing directing duties on the first block of episodes of series two of Doctor Who, in early 2006 Hawes directed an Andrew Davies-scripted 90-minute television drama based around the Lady Chatterley's Lover obscenity trial of 1960, The Chatterley Affair. This one-off drama for digital television channel BBC Four features Doctor Who star David Tennant as Richard Hoggart.
Hawes was also announced in late 2005 as the producer and lead director of the forthcoming Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood — however, in early 2006 it was confirmed that he would not in fact be producing the series. According to Doctor Who and Torchwood executive producer Russell T Davies in Doctor Who Magazine issue 366 (dated March 1, 2006), Hawes' direction of the Chatterley piece and his decision to back down from producing Torchwood were related. "James Hawes has been having such a good time... that he's decided directing is his greatest passion, and as a result, he's stepped down."
Hawes' work on the BAFTA winning Doctor Who has been particularly well received. "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form in 2006,[1] and "School Reunion" has been nominated for the 2007 ceremony. Hawes was awarded the BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Drama Director for his work on "The Christmas Invasion".[2] The Chatterley Affair also won Best Single Drama in the same awards.
In 2007 he directed an adaptation of the 18th century novel Fanny Hill, for Sally Head Productions and BBC Four. [3]
In 2008, Hawes was appointed lead director on the BBC fantasy series Merlin, which began broadcasting in September 2008.[4] "Merlin" has been picked up by NBC in the US where it is set to premiere in summer 2009. As such, it is the first UK-produced show to make the switch to a US network in 30 years.
Later in 2008 he also directed a new version of The 39 Steps, again for BBC One.[5]
Hawes began 2009 directing Helena Bonham-Carter in a BBC TV film about the celebrated children's author Enid Blyton. Scripted by Lyndsay Shapero, the film co-stars Matthew MacFadeyn.
Hawes is rumoured to have been attached to a BBC movie, working title "Lawrence After Arabia", with a script by Howard Brenton.
References
- ^ "Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus Online. 2006-08-26. http://www.locusmag.com/2006/News/08_HugoCampbellWinners.html. Retrieved 2006-08-27.
- ^ Price, Karen (2006-04-23). "Doctor Who dominates Welsh Baftas". The Western Mail. http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0900entertainment/0050artsnews/tm_objectid=16875977&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=doctor-who-dominates-welsh-baftas-name_page.html. Retrieved 2006-04-23.
- ^ "BBC Four gets turned on to Andrew Davies' steamy adaptation of Fanny Hill". bbc.co.uk. 2007-07-13. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/07_july/13/fanny.shtml. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
- ^ "Richard Wilson and Anthony Head lead cast in Merlin, a fantasy drama for BBC One". bbc.co.uk. 2008-03-17. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/03_march/17/merlin.shtml. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "The 39 Steps". bbc.co.uk. 2008-08-21. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/08_august/21/39steps.shtml. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
External links
- James Hawes at the Internet Movie Database.
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