Paul Atherton
Paul Atherton, FRSA (born 20 March 1968) is a British producer and director, known for being the first person to screen a film on the Coca-Cola billboard at Piccadilly Circus, The Ballet of Change: Piccadilly Circus.[1] His video diary was taken into the permanent collection of the Museum of London.[2]
Early life[edit]
Atherton was three months old when he was abandoned in a tent at a disused airport in Cardiff but placed with a white foster family shortly after.[3]
He grew up in the village of Ystrad Mynach in South Wales[4] attending Lewis School Pengam until the age of 16.[5]
He left home at 15, when he spent time in children's homes[6] and completed his "O" Levels. At 16 he set up home on his own against the wishes of Social Services and started work on a Youth Training Scheme in Howells (department store).[7]
He was appointed the Welsh Young Conservatives Press Officer later that year and focused on addressing the issues of homelessness with a programme working with Sixth Forms in schools in Cardiff.[8]
At the age of 21, Atherton was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.[9]
He attended Cardiff Business School and obtained a BSc Honours Degree in Business Administration in 1994.[10]
While studying he set up a gift delivery company specialising in silk lingerie called "A Touch of Silk" in 1994 and became Vogue Magazine's Valentine gift of choice the following year.[11][12]
Career[edit]
His television career began at Prospect Pictures, working on their live five-day-a-week cookery programme Good Food Live[13] before setting up his production companies in 2004.[14]
In 2005 his first production Silent Voices, a docudrama about domestic violence, premiered on British television based on the real-life accounts of children who had witnessed their parents being beaten.
In 2007 Atherton was the first producer-director to have had his work shown on the Piccadilly Circus Coca-Cola billboard with The Ballet of Change, a ballet of film and music telling the histories of four of London's landmarks.[1]
In February 2009 he worked with Wil Johnson and Robert Cavanah on a short film entitled Colour Blind to bring attention to the dangers of seeing racism everywhere. He made up his White lead in Golliwog (black face) make-up to make the point.[15]
In 2012 he was invited to make a documentary about the founding of a Free school (England) by head teacher Katharine Birbalsingh in the borough of Lambeth in London. Though this school never came into being, he was invited back in 2015 when the Michaela Community School in Wembley eventually opened.[16]
Atherton began work on The Feminist Car Commercial, a campaigning film designed to be a springboard for public debate about the objectification of women in advertising and marketing. He managed to raise a £1M in support from suppliers, crew and cast. Shooting was completed in July 2013.[17][18]
Our London Lives opened in The Museum of London on 8 January 2016 and closed on 11 February 2016. Atherton's recorded visits of his estranged son's visits to London over 16 years (1999 - 2015) was shown as part of Recording A Life exhibition in the Show Space gallery and subsequently became the first video diary taken into the museum's permanent collection[19] [2]
On 21 October 2016 Atherton began living in a car in London's Zone 1 to prompt a media campaign to address the failings of the DWP in the UK. In conjunction with Ken Loach's film I, Daniel Blake, he entitled the project #LivingInACar and in conjunction with #WeAreAllDanielBlake Twitter hashtag shared his Bi-Weekly Vlogs over YouTube and latterly London Live.[2] [20]
In January 2017 he was appointed a judge at the inaugural Muybridge Short Film Festival,[21] which was screened in the Rose Theatre, Kingston.
He appeared as a pundit in the first two premiere episodes of Meet The Critics on Colourful Radio in June 2017. The shows were subsequently available online and presented by British Urban Film Festival founder Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe.[22][23] He returned as a regular pundit for all ten episodes of the second season that began with a live audience event on 16 February 2018 to mark the premiere of the Marvel/Disney Studios film Black Panther[24][25]
Atherton made his theatre debut as a director in the European premiere of Samantha Garman's selection of short plays entitled Human Mating Dance at the Old Red Lion Theatre in Angel, Islington, London, on 16 July 2017. He directed the short entitled "Coffee Shop Real Estate" and starred in another of the collection "Thou Shalt Not Covet".[26]
Personal life[edit]
Atherton appeared as a voluntary performer in the London 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony, dancing in both the Rush Hour and Street Party sections.[27][28][29]
His experiences of childhood abandonment helped inspire the character of Eric Parkhill in Wendy Perriam's novel Broken Places (2011)[30] and his interaction with a Renault car dealership was retold as one of the negotiation case studies in Clive Rich's The Yes Book (2013).[31]
As a mixed-race child of White foster parents, he also commented publicly on the issues of race and adoption on television and in the press.[32][33][34]
He has been involved in many campaigns to prevent historic buildings from demolition,[35][36][37] including attempting to occupy the Art Deco Odeon Cinema in Kensington with fellow film-maker Paul Wiffen in September 2015[38]
Starting in 1997 he hosted four parties a year across various London locations whose entertainers have included the cast of the London Musical Chicago, Guinness World Record Holder Fire Eater & Burlesque Champions having made claim to opening the first parties at Dandelyan, Radio Bar, Disrepute & The Yacht London.[39] [40]
He played a speaking role in the final theatrical production run of You Me Bum Bum Train an immersive theatre performance based in a disused book shop on Charing Cross Road from 25 February 2016 to 29 April 2016.[41]
He won a lyric competition run by former Australian Idol winner Natalie Gauci and received the prize of seeing the song performed by her at Tedx London in the Science Museum London on 17 June 2016.[42]
He assisted Guardian journalist Michelle Mcgagh in her Year of No Spending project, showing her how to get free theatre tickets in Central London, as well as access to free film screenings and comedy. He was later cited in her book published on the subject under his Twitter account handle @LondonersLondon.[43]
He performed in the 50th Notting Hill Carnival in 2016 playing steel pans with Britain's first Steel Band, Nostalgia on both 28 and 29 August 2016[44]
In January 2017 he became one of the founding contributors to the UK launch of Jolabokaflod recommending David Liss's book a Conspiracy of Paper.[45]
Atherton delivered his inaugural speech in the Palace of Westminster on 28 March 2017 as part of a debate into Bob Blackman (politician)'s Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016-17. He described his experiences of homelessness as a guest of Molly Samuel and Nic Careem's Blue Sky Network initiative.[46]
In October 2017 he became a Film Captain for American journalist Jennifer Brea's documentary about the condition they both suffer Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Unrest (2017 film) assisting with marketing and making an appearance at the British Film Institute Preview screening as part of the Woman with a Movie Camera strand.[47]
Later that month he also began contributing to the online publication the Londonist; his first article tackled the differences between millennials and the older generations in the city.[48]
In December 2017 Atherton was one of three winners (out of seven) to complete the four-day marathon of the entire screening of HBO's Game of Thrones Television Series from season 1 to 7 held in the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square; he had never seen the show before.[49][50]
In September 2018 he conjoined with the Museum of Homelessness as part of their catalyst programme to aid in changing societal opinion about homeless people, especially in London.[51] Using art, museum objects and campaigning tactics members of the programme will produce a variety of installations around the capital to challenge perceptions to those who find themselves sleeping on buses, in doorways and sofa-surfing.[52]
Atherton was announced as a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in December 2018.[53]
In May 2019 he delivered a Video Diary Workshop at the Museum of London as part of the London citywide project to encourage reading and library use CityRead [54]
He has one son, Charles Sebastian Atherton-Laurie.[55]
Works[edit]
Awards and honours[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Elliott Haworth, City AM (16 January 2017). "Goodbye Piccadilly: A short history of the Piccadilly Circus advertising billboards".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 LondonLive (2016). "News interview with Paul Atherton about Our London Lives at the Museum of London".
- ↑ South Wales Echo Newspaper (14 September 2012). "How a Rookie Social Worker Turned My Life Around".
- ↑ Channel 4: 4thought.tv (2011). "Should White Parents adopt Non-White Children". Archived from the original on 27 July 2011.
- ↑ The Big Issue Magazine (2008). "TV Calling".
- ↑ Observer Magazine (10 September 1987), Youth Training Schemes The Good & The Bad
- ↑ South Wales Echo (23 February 1989), New Press Officer for Welsh Young Conservatives
- ↑ "What About ME?" (Trailer). United Kingdom: Double D Productions. 2010. Event occurs at 3:57. Archived from the original on 4 April 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
- ↑ Cardiff University Magazine (2008). "A Capital Achievement".
- ↑ Sun Newspaper (1994), Charles Props Up Naughty Knickers
- ↑ Vogue Magazine (1995), The Perfect Valentines Gift
- ↑ Industry News (31 May 2002). "Skillset Arrange a "Lucky Break" at Production Show".
- ↑ Broadcast Magazine (2007). "Capital Shouldn't Cause Offense".
- ↑ Colourful Radio (26 March 2009). "The Breakfast Show".
- ↑ The Guardian Newspaper (2016). "Why it's right for a head to demand lunch money - and high standards".
- ↑ Soho Rushes Short, Dana knight (August 2013). "How to Shoot a £1m Car Commercial on a Zero Budget".
- ↑ IDEA, Dana knight (August 2013). "How to Shoot a £1m Car Commercial on a Zero Budget".
- ↑ Paul Atherton, Q&D Productions (January 2016). "Our London Lives".
- ↑ Paul Atherton, Q&D Productions (November 2016). "Living In A Car".
- ↑ Paul Hughes (January 2017). "Muybridge Short Film Festival".
- ↑ Colourful Radio (May 2017). "The new film host on Colourful Radio is Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe".
- ↑ Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe (May 2017). "The Line Up for Friday's Debut of Meet The Critics".
- ↑ Colourful Radio (January 2018). "Meet The Critics' - live in the studio - for the Black Panther special".
- ↑ Emmanuel Anyiam-Osigwe (January 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Meet The Critics' - live in the studio - for the Black Panther..."
- ↑ Savina Sedghi (June 2017). "Paul Atherton's inauguration as a Theatre Director".[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Atherton, Paul (13 August 2012). "'What is the Olympic Legacy:A View from a Closing Ceremony Volunteer". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ↑ "Inside a Truck in the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games" (Trailer). United Kingdom: Simple Productions. 2012. Event occurs at 0:09. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ↑ LOCOG (2012). "A Symphony of British Music, London 2012 Closing Ceremony 12 August 2012 Programme" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Wendy Perriam (2011). "Broken Places". Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
- ↑ Clive Rich (2013). "The Yes Book".
- ↑ Paul Atherton (4 May 2012). "Evening Standard: The Barriers to Adoption". Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ↑ Channel 4 (5 August 2006). "Channel 4: The Great British Black Invasion". Retrieved 8 August 2006.
- ↑ BBC (9 October 2011). "BBC: Sunday Morning Live". Retrieved 11 October 2011.
- ↑ Paul Atherton (27 March 2012). "I Object to the Application 12/01433/LBC". Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ↑ Paul Atherton (18 January 2013). "Don't Worry Royal Institution - We the Public Won't Let this Happen". Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ↑ Paul Atherton (29 January 2014). "London Vs The Rest of UK - Who wins?: Comments". Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ↑ Mark Blunden (4 September 2015). "Evening Standard: Campaigners in last-ditch bid to save historic Odeon cinema".
- ↑ Suzanne Noble (8 August 2017). "Advantages of Age". Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ↑ Brea Carter (22 January 2016). "Event Magazine".
- ↑ David Hutchinson (4 September 2015). "The Stage: BECTU Launches Probe Into Exploitative Bum Bun Train Internships".
- ↑ Paul Atherton (17 June 2016). "Thanks to Winning Natalie Gauci's Lyric Competition".
- ↑ Michelle McGagh (2016). "The No Spending Year: How You Can Spend Less & Live More".
- ↑ Paul Atherton (28 August 2016). Notting Hill Carnival 2016 Aug 28th Steel Band jamming "Classic Lord Kitch" on the Road. Notting Hill: Nostalgia Steel Band. Event occurs at 0:17. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
- ↑ Jolablokafod (20 January 2017). "Acknowledgements".
- ↑ "Paul Atherton Speaking at House of Commons on issue of Homelessness" (film). United Kingdom: Q&D Productions (Not-For-Profit). 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ↑ Paul Atherton (18 October 2017). "Monday Preview Unrest Film got Standing Ovation. Don't miss this brilliant Documentary".
- ↑ Paul Atherton (17 October 2017). "The Londonist, My 50-something Friends Are Far More Interesting Than Boring Old Millennials".
- ↑ Paul Atherton (28 November 2017). Could You Watch All Of Game of Thrones in One Go? These Fans Are... Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square: Time Out London Magazine. Event occurs at 1:11. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
- ↑ Paul Atherton (28 November 2017). The Long Winter:'Game of Thrones' Fans in four-day Viewing marathon. Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square: Reuters News Agency. Event occurs at 1:11. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
- ↑ Paul Atherton (30 September 2018). "Museum of Homelessness Blog: Streetfest, A Review".
- ↑ Lucas Cumiskey (11 September 2018). "Islington Gazette".
- ↑ RSA (21 December 2018). "RSA Fellow Paul Atherton".
- ↑ City Read (7 February 2019). "Recording A Life".
- ↑ "Our London Lives" (film). United Kingdom: Q&D Productions (Not-For-Profit). 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
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