Crew

Michael Apted was born in England in 1941 and studied law and history at Cambridge University. Apted began his career as a researcher at Granada Television, and within a few years, became established as a television director and investigative reporter on the news series World in Action, and subsequently began directing episodes of Britain’s long-running series Coronation Street.

Two of his television series won British Academy awards: The Lovers for Best Comedy Series, and Folly Foot for Best Children’s Series. Apted himself won Best Dramatic Director for Another Sunday, Sweet F.A., and Kisses At Fifty.  His other sixty-plus television credits include works by such leading English writers as Colin Welland, Jack Rosenthal and Arthur Hopcraft.

In 1972, Apted made his directorial feature film debut with the tense war era drama Triple Echo, starring Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed. Next, Apted’s great love for rock and roll made him a natural to direct 1975’s acclaimed Stardust, a journey into the dark underside of the music world produced by David Puttnam and featuring David Essex and Adam Faith. The Squeeze, a thriller with Stacy Keach followed in 1977, and two years later, Apted again teamed up with producer Puttnam to direct Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave in Agatha.

Shot in the Appalachian mountains Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), marked Apted’s first directing project in America. The movie garnered 7 nominations including Best Picture and won an Oscar for Sissy Spacek’s moving portrayal of country-western singer Loretta Lynn. Next, he went to Chicago and the Rocky Mountains to direct John Belushi and Blair Brown in the comedy Continental Divide (1981). He went to Helsinki, Finland for Gorky Park (1983) with William Hurt, Lee Marvin and Joanna Pakula, and later that same year returned to England to shoot Kipperbang, a project which garnered him a British Academy Award nomination. First Born (1984) was shot in America. Bring on the Night (1985) which won him a Grammy award, chronicled the creation of rock star Sting’s Dream of the Blue Turtles album and its subsequent concert tour. Critical Condition (1987) starring Richard Pryor was filmed in the United States.

In 1988, Apted traveled to the mountains of Rwanda and Kenya where he filmed Gorillas in the Mist; Sigourney Weaver’s performance as the doomed conservationist earned her an Academy Award nomination along with four other nominations for the film. In 1989, Apted traveled to the Soviet Union for the filming of The Long Way Home, a documentary about rock star Boris Brebenshikov, Russia’s answer to Bruce Springsteen. Reaching back to his roots in law, in 1990 he directed Class Action, depicting Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as father and daughter attorneys who find themselves on opposite sides of a heated legal battle.

1992 marked the release of three Apted directed films – 35 Up, Incident At Oglala and Thuderheart. 35 Up is an effort which film critic Roger Ebert calls the “most engrossing long-distance documentary project in the history of film.” Beginning with a group of 14 British schoolchildren in 1963, Apted has since revisited this same group every seven years, following them through the twists and turns of life. Both 35 Up and 28 Up won the British Academy Award and the International Emmy, as well as the International Documentary award.

The feature thriller Thunderheart, shot on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, was released to wide acclaim and stars Val Kilmer and Sam Shepard as two F.B.I. agents sent to investigate a murder on a reservation, dramatically portraying events which unfold when Kilmer’s character becomes involved in Native American ways and discovers evidence of a government cover-up.

Coincidentally, Apted’s documentary Incident at Oglala produced by Robert Redford examines similar events which actually took place on the South Dakota reservation in the 1970’s, as it chronicles the plight of imprisoned Native American activist Leonard Peltier.

In 1993, New Line Cinema released Apted’s Blink, a thriller filmed in Chicago which stars Madeleine Stowe as a once blind violinist who witnesses a brutal murder and Aidan Quinn as the street-smart cop who falls for her.

The 1994 Human Rights Watch International Film Festival premiered Apted’s documentary, Moving the Mountain, which tells the story of the Tiananmen Square massacre through the eyes of five student dissident leaders. The doc won the grand prize at the Heartland Film Festival and an IDA award and was distributed by October Films.

Also in 1994, Fox and Polygram released Nell which stars Jodie Foster as an unintelligible woman raised in isolation in the Smoky Mountains. The film also starred Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson. The film garnered over $100 million in worldwide box office and Jodie Foster received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Nell.

In 1996, Apted’s work on a feature and documentary brought him to several locations around the country and around the world. In New York and Toronto, Apted teamed with actors Hugh Grant, Gene Hackman and Sarah Jessica Parker to film the medical ethics thriller Extreme Measures for Castle Rock Entertainment.

Filming on Inspirations brought Apted to Seattle, Santa Fe, New York, Vancouver, London, Tel Aviv, and Osaka. The documentary focuses on seven artists — musician David Bowie, painter Roy Lichtenstein, sculptor Nora Narajo-Morse, architect Tadao Ando, glass blower Dale Chihuly, choreographer Eduoard Lock of La La La Human steps, and dancer Louise Lecavalier — who speak on the images, memories, ideas, other artists’ work – the inspiration — that has nurtured their creative process. Inspirations premiered at the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival and was financed by Paul Allen’s Clear Blue Sky Productions.

In 1998, Apted directed his first Los Angeles location film, Always Outnumbered, for HBO NYC productions and Palomar Pictures. Written by acclaimed novelist Walter Mosley Always Outnumbered is an urban fable about an ex-con who in his attempt to survive the trials of Los Angeles street life develops his own code of honor and becomes a neighborhood hero. The film reunites Apted with actor Laurence Fishburne and also stars Bill Cobbs, Natalie Cole, Bill Nunn, Brigid Coulter, and Cicely Tyson.

In November 1999, First Run Features released the latest installment of Apted’s life long work, the much anticipated documentary, 42 Up.

Also in 1999, Apted directed the latest installment in the James Bond serial The World Is Not Enough. One of the most successful Bond films to date, the film has garnered over $350 million in worldwide box office. The all star cast includes Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards, Robbie Coltrane, Dame Judi Dench, Desmond Llewelyn and Maria Grazia Cucinotta.

Another Clear Blue Sky production, Me and Isaac Newton a companion piece to Inspirations is a look at creativity in the world of science. Having premiered at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival. The documentary was released by First Look Features in the United States.

Enigma a period WWII love story set in the world of codebreaking. Financed by Intermedia Films, the script is written by Sir Tom Stoppard and stars Dougray Scott, Kate Winslet and Saffron Burroughs.

In 2002, Columbia Picture’s released Enough starring Jennifer Lopez and Billy Campbell. The story revolves around a woman who seems to have it all, a great family, husband, home, until she discovers her husband’s abusive ways. She determines that the only way she can get away from his tendencies is to fight back.

His documentary project for A&E Network, Married in America, premiered in June 2002. It is planned as a decade-long examination of nine marriages in Mr. Apted’s adopted homeland (he moved to the U.S. in 1980). The first episode explores the world of the couples in the often stressful days and weeks leading up to, and concluding with, their weddings.

Also in 2002, Mr. Apted filmed a documentary on the Rolling Stones for their Forty Licks tour. The documentary focused on the preparations that go into putting on a tour, as well as a look back at the band’s forty years of success. The documentary ends with the first set of concerts in Boston.

In 2003, he shot a pilot for HBO and Steven Bochco Productions titled Marriage. The show took an intimate look at a professional couple that has been married for approximately six years and will explore their daily lives.

On June 28, 2003, Mr. Apted was elected President of the Directors Guild of America after having served as a member of the National Board and as the Fifth Vice President. Mr. Apted also served on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in the documentary branch and was on the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute.

In 2004, Apted filmed the first three episodes of a new series for HBO titled Rome. The show follows two soldiers from Julius Caesar’s army as the Republic collapses and the Empire is born. The show premiered in August of 2005. Mr. Apted won the 2006 Directors Guild Award for Television Drama for his direction of the pilot episode The Stolen Eagle.

The Directors Guild of America re-elected Mr. Apted as its President in September 2005.

Mr. Apted completed filming on the latest installment of the longitudinal 49 Up which was one the central programmes for ITV’s 50th Anniversary in 2005. It was released in the US in the fall of 2006.

Also in 2005, Apted commenced filming on The Power of The Game, a documentary following soccer and it’s global influence leading up to the World Cup 2006 with a forward look to the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2007. He also filmed 6 spots for Nike’s ID campaign.

Mr. Apted completed the documentary Married in America 2 in 2006. It is the second film in a longitudinal documentary series. Apted revisited each of the nine couples he filmed in 2002, 3 years since they took their vows, to see where married life has taken them. It premiered in May of 2007 on the Hallmark Channel.

Mr. Apted also directed The Official Film of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was released in the winter of 2006.

Mr. Apted completed the historical drama, Amazing Grace for Walden Media. The film, starring Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Ciaran Hinds and Romola Garai follows the life and political struggles of William Wilberforce. After 18 years of trying, Wilberforce finally succeeded in passing the first anti-slave trade bill through Parliament. The film was released in February 2007 in conjunction with the bill’s 200th anniversary.

The Directors Guild of America re-elected Mr. Apted to a third term as President in June 2007. On January 17, 2008, the Directors Guild successfully negotiated a new three year contract with the AMPTP. Mr. Apted stepped down from the Presidency on July 25, 2009, having served 3 terms in office.

In early 2009, Mr. Apted did the short film, Party Guest for Liberty Mutual and Independent Media. The film is a look at morality starring Dan Futterman and Sarah Chalke.

Mr. Apted directed The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader for Twentieth Century Fox and Walden Media, the third installment of the C.S. Lewis Narnia series. Filming commenced in the summer of 2009 on the Gold Coast of Australia. The film had a Royal Premiere in London on November 30, 2010, which was attended by HRH Queen Elizabeth II. It was released globally on December 10, 2010 and has grossed over $415 million in world-wide box office.

In 2011, Mr. Apted directed the TV pilot Hallelujah for ABC Studios and Cherry-Wind productions.

Also in 2011, Mr. Apted continued the acclaimed Up film series, directing 56 Up, for ITV, which aired in 3 one hour installments in May 2012. The film was theatrically released in the US by First Run Features in early 2013.

Mr. Apted stepped in to complete filming and post-production on the Walden Media / Twentieth Century Fox film, Chasing Mavericks. The film, starring Gerard Butler and Jonny Weston, is the true story of Jay Moriarity, the youngest person ever to surf legendary California big wave surf spot, Mavericks. The film was released in October 2012.

In the first half of 2013, Mr. Apted directed two episodes of the new Showtime series Masters of Sex. The series is based on the work of Masters and Johnson and their pioneering study of human sexology. The series stars Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as Masters and Johnson, and premiered in September 2013. Mr. Apted also directed the season finale for another new Showtime series, Ray Donovan, starring Liev Schrieber and Jon Voight, which debuted in June 2013. Apted also directed an episode of the new CBS series Reckless which debuted in the summer of 2014.

In the fall of 2013, Mr. Apted directed the documentary Bending the Light for Saville Productions. The film takes an intimate look at the artisans who craft lenses and ties them to the artists that use the lenses in the world. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Traverse City Film Festival.

In 2014 Mr. Apted directed the first three episodes of the second season of Masters of Sex for Showtime, as well as the 8th episode. He also directed an episode of the CBS show Reckless. Mr. Apted returned to Masters of Sex to direct the third season finale in the fall of 2015.

In 2016, Mr. Apted directed two episodes of Masters of Sex, including the series finale, as well as the 3rd episode for season 4 of Ray Donovan.

Mr. Apted started 2017 by directing episode 7 of the 3rd and final season of Bloodline for Netflix.

Mr. Apted’s latest feature film, the spy thriller Unlocked, stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Douglas, Orlando Bloom, Toni Collette, and John Malkovich. The film was released in 2017.

In 2018, Mr. Apted filmed the 9th installment of the acclaimed Up film, 63 UP, for ITV. In England, the series aired in 3 one hour installments in June 2019 to much fanfare and strong ratings. A US theatrical release is being considered for late 2019.

Mr. Apted stepped down as Secretary – Treasurer of the Directors Guild of America at the Biennial Convention in 2019, having served since 2011.

AWARDS

In addition to his Grammy, Directors Guild Award and British Academy Awards, Apted has been nominated two additional times for the Directors Guild of America award: for the PBS production of Harold Pinter’s The Collection, starring Sir Laurence Olivier, Alan Bates and Malcolm MacDowell, and for Coal Miner’s Daughter.

In October 1999, Mr. Apted received the International Documentary Associations’ highest honor, the IDA Career Achievement Award.

OTHER INFO

Under the defunct Osiris Films banner, a production company Apted started with producer Robert O’Connor, Apted executive produced: Criminal Justice, made for HBO Showcase and starring Forest Whitaker and Anthony La Paglia; Dracula directed by Francis Ford Coppola; and Strapped which marked the directorial debut of Forest Whitaker.

Apted has executive produced the documentaries 14 Up in America

and Age 14 in Russia which have along with 42 Up premiered on BBC in 1998.

 

Claire’s background is newspaper journalism, radio, then TV experience at Granada TV becoming a reporter and News Editor of Granada Reports. She then made documentaries for Granada including the multi- award winning 7 Up series with director Michael Apted which she still produces. (28 Up, 35 Up, 42 Up, 49 Up and 56 Up & 63 UP). She set up the award-winning Soviet (now Russian +republics) 7 Up in 1991.

She produced/directed Brass Tacks (BBC2) for BBC North and Executive Produced It’s My City! for BBC1 in the late 80’s/early 90’s. After a spell in BBC Senior management running post production facilities at BBC North, she became Commissioning Executive at ITV Meridian. She spent 9 years producing arts films and documentaries plus a whole range of factual programmes initially working with a range of independent companies then in-house after the Granada takeover.

In 2002 she went to the BBC in London to executive produce Trouble at the Top for BBC2 and documentaries for the new BBC4. After that followed Imagine (BBC1) series 1 as the first Executive Producer and Jimmy’s Farm (BBC2) also as Executive Producer.

In 2004 she went freelance and set up her own production company. She initiated and produced her first feature film funded by Bollywood, The Truck of Dreams, which won the world cinema award at the Washington Film Festival in 2006. At the same time she was Associate Producer on feature documentary Black Gold and then in 2005 producer of 49 Up for ITV Granada.

Her first commission for Calm Productions, her independent company, was Sea Police for BBC1 which led directly to The End of the Line with Charles Clover. She initiated and produced the award- winning feature length documentary, The End of the Line, which world premiered at Sundance in January 2009. It has since been translated into 12 languages and has been shown all over the world and in 2011 the film won the first ever PUMA Impact Award for a film that has changed the world.

2012 saw her produce 56 Up with Michael Apted which was followed by working with Wall to Wall for ITV on an adoption documentary series, Wanted A Family of My Own, as series producer. (2013/14) This involved setting up from scratch, access with prospective parents and Local Authorities to provide 8 adoption stories for ITV peak time which followed both the parents and children through the Adoption process.

2015 saw her successfully help The Gate Films produce and direct the Lewisham NHS Choir to its No1 Xmas hit- along with its award- winning social media campaign.

Last month saw the latest episode in the 7 Up series 63 UP for ITV1.This was screened at peak time over 3 nights to great acclaim.

Cort Kristensen graduated from Pepperdine University and has been working in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He has worked on commercials, episodic television, documentaries, independent films, and blockbusters. His most recent films are the independent spy thriller, Unlocked, released in 2017, and 63 UP which will be released in 2019.

His other credits include: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Amazing Grace, Enough, Bending the Light, 49 Up, 56 Up, The Power of the Game, as well as episodes of Rome, Ray Donovan, Bloodline and Masters of Sex. He has produced and directed two short films, and is currently producing and co-directing a feature documentary. Cort joined the Producers Guild of America in 2018.

George Jesse Turner started work in 1963 as camera assistant for Mancunian films who provided a film unit to Granada Television in Manchester, England, filming local news stories for the daily regional program.

In 1966, he joined Granada Television to work as a camera assistant on the World in Action weekly current affairs program.

By 1968, he had become a camera operator on some early drama productions shot on film and directed by Michael Apted – he used black and white film and Éclair cameras.

In 1969, he was promoted to Cameraman on the World in Action series, which had started transmitting in 1963. The first 7 Up program was one of the early productions.

George Jesse Turner’s involvement in the Up film series started in 1977 with 21 Up– shot on 16mm cameras and 400ft color rolls of film, each lasting 10 minutes duration.

Over the last 42 years and seven series 21 Up to 63 UP, the changes from 16mm film, to video tape, to memory cards and cameras resembling computers, has been a very satisfying and a great journey.

George Jesse Turner’s credits include not only 30 years on World in Action but also Stones in the Park (1969), The Christians with Bamber Gascoigne in 1977, Spanish Civil War in 1983 and End of Empire in 1985 and especially the Up film series from 1977 to 2019.

Awards include a BAFTA for 42 Up; A Fellowship from the Royal Television Society for a “Significant Contribution to Television.”

The book Troubleshooter was published in 2000, based on Life Behind the Camera.

On his experiences with the series, he remarks, “Little did I think as a 12 year old, watching my father editing films he’d shot in the late 50s, six decades later my career as a cinematographer has taken me to so many various places and subjects with the Up film series being top of the list. The tag line ‘Show me the Boy and I will show you the Man’ could sum up my 50 years behind the camera lens.”

After studying at the Polytechnic of Central London (now University of Westminster) School of Film & Photography Nick joined Granada Television in 1973. He worked on a variety of factual and drama productions as a sound assistant and boom operator including 21 Up in 1977.

Since becoming a sound recordist in 1979 he has been recordist on all of the remaining Up film series. His other work has been predominantly in drama including three series of Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren for which he received a Royal Television Society Best Sound (Drama) award and a BAFTA nomination. Other award winning drama series included Cold Feet, Moll Flanders, Life on Mars and Who Bombed Birmingham. He is currently working on the 3rd season of The A Word for the BBC. Born and brought up in Cornwall he now lives in Cheshire.