Intro
Jays Nest Films was founded in 2018 by Simon Jessop to realise and oversee new film-making opportunities as an extension to an already rich and varied theatre portfolio as a director, writer and actor. Often working in collaboration with his brother, Executive Producer Ben Jessop, they strive to develop and produce 'out of the ordinary' films. The company is located in the Covent Garden/Soho area of London's West End.
Their current project is '8IGHT PAGES', written and directed by Simon Jessop. The film is an original take on a sensitive subject which affects so many people. Told from within the mind of an Alzheimer’s sufferer it is a poetic, musically-led and uplifting film, even given the subject matter – one that is personal to the Jessop Brothers whose mother has advanced stages of the disease.
The score is being penned by Colin Towns, one of Europe's leading film score composers.
Simon Jessop
Following an education at Witham Hall and Stamford Boys School he went to University in Edinburgh and read Drama at Queen Margaret College. Whilst there he was hugely influenced by The Citizens Theatre of Glasgow, which was then under the triumvirate directorship of Giles Havergal, Philip Prowse and Robert David McDonald. The theatre was run as a temple of Dionysian excess. Spontaneous, passionate, intuitive. Dangerous, naked and brave. Most British Theatre by contrast was Apollonian: rational and ordered. Upon graduation he moved to London and began working as an actor in television, film and theatre. In the early 90s he joined the company of the Olivier Award winning Return to the Forbidden Planet, written and directed by Bob Carlton.
Theatre work includes Caliban in The Tempest, Feste in Twelfth Night, Jaques in As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (both directed by Terry Hands O.B.E.) Hamlet with Jenny Seagrove, Giles Havergals Travels with my Aunt, Corpse directed by Robin Herford (Haymarket), La Parisienne (Lyric Hammersmith) and Sweeney Todd directed by its playwright Chris Bond.
Musicals include Return to the Forbidden Planet, (cast and cover director 1993-1996 Pola Jones/Andre Ptaszynski), Face, From a Jack to a King, The Rocky Horror Show, A Slice of Saturday Night and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Off West End Award).
He was appointed Associate Artist of The Queens Theatre, Hornchurch in 2010.
In television he has worked with BBC, LWT, MTV Global, ITV, Discovery, Channel 4 and Objective, including A Question Of Identity with Bernard Hill, The Josie Lawrence Show directed by Geoff Posner, Richard Hammond's Secret Service and Derren Browns Twisted Tales.
Having been Assistant Director to Bob Carlton on two productions he went on to co-direct Deathtrap, before directing his own adaptation of The Great Gatsby (Off West End Award).
He was appointed Associate Director of the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch in 2014.
He directed Deadly Murder starring Lucy Benjamin, the critically acclaimed Elephant Man and Don't Look Now, which received three Off West End Nominations.
At The Bridewell he directed Oz and the Pom, the new play by The Heather Brothers (Slice of Saturday Night) featuring Mark Little and Lucy Benjamin.
Associate Director for Qdos.
Director for U.K. Productions.
www.simon-jessop.co.uk
Ben Jessop
Ben has worked with some of the best known on-screen talent in the UK and has overseen shows for most major broadcasters.
He has worked in Factual Entertainment, Comedy, Magic, Entertainment and Documentary. Recently he worked with Gordon Ramsay on ITV's smash hit Road Trip; Clarkson, Hammond and May on 'The Grand Tour' for Amazon; and has taken Derren Brown to a new audience, overseeing his first Special for Netflix 'Sacrifice'.
Contact
Email: enquiries@jaysnestfilms.com