Stephen Bayly, B.A., M.C.P.
Director/Producer/Writer

Stephen Bayly was born in Baltimore, USA, and completed degrees in Drama and literature, as well as architecture and town planning (M.C.P. University of Pennsylvania) prior to being awarded a scholarship to study in England as a Thouron Fellow in 1967.  While working on his doctoral dissertation at University College London, he started writing a film script as a creative outlet which led him to an association with a budding young film-maker named Tony Scott, and a change of career.  Stephen produced Tony’s first film, Loving Memory, which was selected for the Critic’s Week at the Cannes Film Festival – a baptism of fire for a young producer and an auspicious start to a career in the Film and Television Industries.

 
Stephen formed Scott Free Enterprises with Tony and his brother Ridley Scott, through which Stephen produced several television films of quality, including The Author of Beltraffio, which Tony directed.  This was one in a series of Henry James stories – a ground-breaking European co-production, featuring high profile directors such as Claude Chabrol and Volker Schloendorf.  Stephen also initiated and developed The Duellist which ultimately became Ridley Scott’s first feature film.

 Stephen then enrolled in the director’s course at the UK’s National Film School (now the NFTS).

 Upon graduating in the early 1980’s, Stephen first directed commercials through Sid Roberson Productions, then - by a quirk of fate - started making films in the Welsh language for the newly formed Welsh channel, S4C.  Co-founding Red Rooster Film and Television with producer Linda James, their first production, Joni Jones became the flagship drama for S4C and was sold across the world, including to Miramax and Disney.   A chain of highly successful Welsh-language television films ensued, culminating in Coming Up Roses (1986) - the first ever feature film in Welsh, which was selected for, and became the “sleeper” hit of, the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.

In 1988 Stephen directed a family comedy feature, Just Ask for Diamond, adapted by Anthony Horowitz from his novel and starring Susannah York, Bill Paterson and Roy Kinnear.  The film was released by HBO/Kings Road in the US and Twentieth Century Fox in the UK, and also featured in a retrospective of Stephen’s directorial work at the Houston Film Festival in 1989. 

The early 1990’s were spent expanding Red Rooster, and producing a number of prestigious television films including In Patagonia, with director, Marc Evans.  Red Rooster was then acquired by the Chrysalis Group, and Stephen established its feature film division, Red Rooster Pictures, developing several screenplays.

In 1995 Stephen produced Richard III, directed by Richard Loncraine, and starring Sir Ian McKellen, Annette Bening and Robert Downey Jnr.  The film was nominated for 2 Oscars and won a Golden Bear in Berlin, as well as several BAFTAs and the Evening Standard Best Film Award in the UK.  In 1996 Stephen produced Mrs. Dalloway, directed by Marleen Gorris, based on Virginia Woolf’s novel, and starring Vanessa Redgrave.

In 1997 Stephen was approached to become Director and CEO of the National Film and Television School, where he spent 5 successful years.  During this time he made a number of radical changes, including validating the full-time programme as a Masters Degree course allied to the Royal College of Art.  Graduates from his tenure include director David Yates and producers Gayle Griffiths and Jonny Persey.

On leaving the NFTS in 2003, Stephen established Sly Fox Films with Linda James, his founding partner in Red Rooster, to again pursue their passion for relevant, well-scripted, well-crafted, engaging filmed entertainment.  Sly Fox Films has a number of feature films in development including Helen Oyeyemi’s The Icarus Girl which Stephen is currently adapting for the screen with backing from the European Media Fund.  Stephen and Linda also provide consultancy services to the Creative Industies.

As consultant, Stephen has helped establish the highly regarded Actors Temple in London, a training ground for actors specialising in the performance techniques of Sanford Meisner.  Fully engaging in the process, Stephen enrolled in an intensive course himself and enjoys an ongoing involvement in The Actor’s Temple work.  Stephen also undertakes teaching and project assessment work for various UK organisations.  In March 2007 he is guest lecturer at the Cuban International Film School, and in April 2007 he is guest lecturer at Harvard University in Boston.

See credits as film director below.

For further information, please contact: 

Sly Fox Films
The Far Barn,
Foxhole Lane,
CRANBROOK
Kent TN18 5NJ 

T:  (44) 1580 752839

 E:  info@slyfoxfilms.com                                                                    March 2007 

  FEATURE FILMS

(as director)

JUST ASK FOR DIAMOND  A Red Rooster Film for Coverstop Film Finances, The Children’s Film and TV Foundation and British Screen.  Starring Suzannah York and Patricia Hodge.  Director:  Stephen Bayly.  Producer:  Linda James.   Screenwriter:  Anthony Horowitz.   Theatric Release by Twentieth Century Fox. (UK) and Kings Road/HBO (USA).

Awards:  ‘Best Adventure Film’ Moscow Film Festival.

COMING UP ROSES  A Red Rooster Film for S4C.  Director:  Stephen Bayly.  Producer:  Linda James.  Screenwriter:  Ruth Carter.  UK Theatric Release by Mainline Pictures, US Theatric Release by Skouras Pictures, German release by Pandora.

Awards:  ‘Un Certain Regard’ Cannes Film Festival.  ‘‘Le Pierrot d’Or’ at the International Festival of Comedy, Switzerland;  and the ‘Special Jury Prize’ at the Chicago International  Film Festival.

TELEVISION  MOVIES

(as director)

THE WORKS 75 minute film for S4C/ Channel 4.  Starring Dyfydd Hywel.

Director:  Stephen Bayly.  Producer:  Linda James.  Writer:  Ruth Carter.

AND PIGS MIGHT FLY 75 minute film for S4C.

Director:  Stephen Bayly.   Producer:  Linda James.  Writer:  Ruth Carter.

Awards:  Celtic Film Festival ‘Spirit of the Festival’ prize. Inter Celtic Festival, Lorient ‘First Prize’.  International Film Festival for Children and Young People, Gijon, Spain. ‘Premio Pelayo’ at Chicago International Festival for Children and Young People.

TELEVISION  SERIES

(as director)

JONI JONES 5 x 30 minute children’s series for S4C.  Director: Stephen Bayly.  Writer:  Ruth Carter.  Producer: Linda James.  Re-versioned for Miramax and Disney as a 90 minute film.

Awards:  International Film Festival for Children and Young People, Gijon, Spain ‘Premio Pelayo’.  Chicago International Festival of Children’s Film ‘Best Children’s Television Production, Series’.