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Director

With over 30 years in the creative industry, I’ve built an incredible career through innovative work with world-renowned artists and icons. My portfolio spans collaborations with superstars like Eminem, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Ian Wright, David Beckham, Amy Winehouse, and Chuck D to name a few.

 

A pivotal contributor to the UK garage scene, I directed iconic music videos for The Architects 'Body Groove, Lonyo’s 'Garage Girls', and MOBO Award-winning act Luck & Neat’s 'A Little Bit of Luck'. 

 

My creative journey began with a love for art, encouraged by my mother and a secondary school art teacher who pushed me to attend university. Graduating in 1989 with a BA (Hons) in Design, I started out as a runner, supporting myself financially with dancing roles in iconic ’90s music videos like Suzanne Vega’s ‘Tom’s Diner’ and Chad Jackson’s ‘Hear the Drummer Get Wicked’. 

 

Dancing allowed me to take on runner’s jobs, immersing myself in production. From ferrying film reels to assisting on shoots, I soaked up every aspect of filmmaking. During this time, the seeds of my directing career were planted. Armed with passion, I transitioned from behind the scenes to behind the camera, developing a unique style that fuses movement, rhythm, and storytelling.

 

With camera skills honed at university, I soon filmed VT segments for Dance Energy on BBC, hosted by broadcaster, photographer and DJ, Normski. My big break came while filming a Channel 4 pilot, Fereala, with UK jungle, drum and bass music legend Goldie. When the main camera failed on a shoot at Sean Stussy’s Kauai home, the majority of my footage made the final cut, leading me to independent directing roles and small-team collaborations, paving the way for a career in television, music video and brand storytelling.

 

My work has been featured on major networks, including MTV, Channel 4, and the BBC, showcasing a range of styles and versatility. Including series such as G-Girls about the team at Glamour magazine to multi-camera studio directing T4 during the Vernon Kaye and June Sarpong era. 

 

In 2007, I joined a small independent agency, Lux Monkey, as a freelance director. Over 13 years, I was part of a small, experienced team, working with global brands like Chanel. My TV and music video experience brought a unique quality to these projects, forming lasting relationships with clients such as Nike.

 

When long time collaborator Jaimie D’Cruz (Acme TV) asked me to come on board as Director of Photography for BBC4 documentaries The Last Pirates (2017) and Hip Hop World News (2016),  I was able to work on two shows about subject’s that I was passionate about as they formed an integral part of my creative journey - Hip Hop and Pirate Radio. 

 

In August 2021, I took on the role of Studio Director for BBC2’s ‘A Musical Family Christmas With The Kanneh-Masons’. My creative vision and collaboration with Director of Photography Frank Madone brought ‘a contemporary touch to classical music’, and the show received an RTS Factual & Specialist Factual Award. I also directed performances for the BRITs Rising Star featuring Grif, Rina Sawayama, Bree Runway and Holly Humberstone.   

 

Transitioning between television, music, and brand content, my career has been defined by a passion for movement, rhythm, storytelling and commitment to excellence. 

 

Now, as a Film and Television Teacher at the London Screen Academy—a free sixth-form academy for young people aspiring to careers in film and television, founded by industry giants like Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson (James Bond), David Heyman (Harry Potter, Barbie), Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan (Working Title), and The Last King of Scotland producer Lisa Bryer—I’m deeply committed to empowering the next generation of creatives, inspired by the mentorship I was fortunate to receive in my early career.

Anthony Richard Thomas looking through the eye-piece of a ArriFlex Super 16mm film camera.
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