About Jonathan Priest
I have been working in video production, PR and marketing communications for over 25 years. I take a professional approach to my work and deliver a fast and efficient service. Some of my clients have been with me for over 15 years. Click here to download my CV. To find out about my Approach, click here
A little background: I studied zoology, my childhood passion, and taught natural sciences for several years. I was eager to do something more creative and took a part-time course in animation at the Central School of Art and Design. This enabled me to get a job with a production company that specialised in animation for medical films. I helped with research and story boards but quickly found my niche as a scriptwriter. I was made redundant after a year but knew I had found my niche.
A slow start: I trawled round production companies for a year and was eventually commissioned to write a script, ‘Diabetes, the diagnostic clues.’ By great good fortune it won a Gold Award from the British Medical Association and things picked up. Following a stint as a staff writer at the COI, I got a job with another medical production company. After six years and over 100 productions I had acquired the basics of film making and turned freelance.
A diverse career: My focus today is on corporate communication and training though medicine remains an important speciality. I write both drama and documentary programmes and have a stake in 46 international awards. The disciplines of scriptwriting apply to all forms of communication and has enabled me to diversify into content for websites as well as copy writing and speech writing.
A good all rounder: While I wouldn’t class myself as a director, I often get involved in the whole production process from setting up the shoot and conducting off-camera interviews. I can also conduct these in French as was the case for the video I directed in Paris for the European Climate Foundation. However, anything that requires cranes, tracks, dollys or actors I leave strictly to the professionals!First novel: The zoologist in me is biting back and I have just completed the first draft of a novel for children based around the extinction of the dinosaurs. Family: I work from home in Wandsworth Common in South London. My wife Amanda and I have three sons; Nicholas (26) who is a marketing manager and twins (24) Laurie, who is an animator working in special effects and Hamish, an advertising planner.
Receiving my IVCA Fellowship at the House of Lords in 2005 alongside Lord Puttnam, Anna Ford and Dame Joan Bakewell. I feel just a little out of place!
I am a member of the International Visual Communication Association (IVCA) which is the trade body for the corporate communications sector and was the first freelancer to serve on the Board. In 2005, I was made a Fellow when I received the IVCA Career in Industry Award ‘for an outstanding contribution to corporate communication.’
