About Jonathan Priest
I have been working in video production, PR and marketing communications for over 25 years and am still going strong. I take a very 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.
A little background: I studied zoology, which was my childhood passion, and then taught natural sciences for several years during which time I became interested in the idea of making educational films. I took a part-time course in animation at the Central School of Art and Design and eventually got a job with an animation company that specialised in medical films. I helped with research and story boards but quickly found my niche as a scriptwriter. Then after a year, I was made redundant.
Off to a slow start: After trawling round production companies for a year I was eventually commissioned to write a script about diabetes which by great good fortune won a Gold Award from the British Medical Association. After that, things picked up and following a stint as a staff writer at the COI, I got a job with another medical animation company, Dragon Productions. 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 style programmes and have a stake in 45 international awards. The disciplines of scriptwriting apply to all forms of communication and has enabled me to diversify into websites as well as creative writing for a wide variety of marketing projects.
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 also do these in French when required as was the case above on a shoot 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 (24) who is a marketing manager and twins (22) Laurie, an animator 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.’
