simon kentish

simon kentish / film director

Born in London, raised in a bohemian family that lived and breathed only for the "Theatre", I created a scandal by selling my soul to the advertising profession.

Fascinated by the manipulation of ideas and images, I studied photography and graphic design, and on graduating, started my infamous career as an art director at J Walter Thompson. After winning the necessary clutch of "Lions", I was further tempted by an astronomical salary to become a Creative Director.

I headed two agencies in London: Crawfords and Kirkwoods, and in those four "all expenses paid" years, finally realised that the business side of the business had led me away from all that had interested me at the beginning.

So in my early 30's, I decided to start afresh.
Leaving the comfortable "life at the top" in London, I moved to Paris to fufil a dream, as an artist in a garret room overlooking Sacre-Coeur.

I was to either live from photography or directing films, in any case, roll up my sleeves and get back to the manual process of creating, to the precarious thrill of each new commission.

Now in France, I had no excuses. I was in the country that had spawned the Impressionist movement in painting, the Nouvelle Vague in film, important influences that had formed my eye.

Fate decided that I would live from directing commercials, so that I could experiment in music videos and continue my personal projects in photography.

My agency background means I understand the client's and the agency's communication objectives, the importance of serving a central concept. And my new found artistic freedom helps me to make films that excite the eye, stimulate the mind and, more importantly, that touch the heart.
Perhaps even the soul.

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