Stephen Ashwell
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Sound Department
- Director
Stephen Ashwell is an English director born in Poole, Dorset, with a particular interest in action, comedy, and non-linear storytelling.
Best know for his debut short film Wedlock (2020), an action comedy about a wedding that goes wrong and results in a car chase. Wedlock was nominated for 'Best Drama Short' at the International Motor Film Awards (2020).
Stephen discovered a passion for filmmaking when he began creating short action films with his father's MiniDV camcorder in the early 2000s. These films were mostly comedic pastiches of popular action films of the time such as The Matrix (1999) and The Bourne Identity (2002).
Stephen studied at the Northern Film School where he specialised in directing and editing. His final year film, a commercial for the clothing retailer 'New Look', won 'Best in Brief' at the Kodak Commercial Awards (2013).
Upon graduating, he secured a job at ITV Yorkshire, working as a camera assistant on the continuing drama Emmerdale. Whilst working on Emmerdale Stephen gained experience working with large crews both on location and in the studio, However, Stephen's most influential experiences were filming car action sequences alongside stunt teams from Bickers Action. Although Stephen worked in the camera department, he spent the majority of his time learning from the directors.
Consequently, in late 2013 Stephen left ITV and started working as in-house director at the London based production company Connected Pictures. Where he directed, shot, and edited, branded content and documentary style campaigns for brands such as, Molton Brown, easyJet, John Lewis, Barclaycard, Land Rover, and British Airways.
In 2017 Stephen launched as a freelance director in order to grow his experience, and to give him the time to write and direct his own action short film for film festivals. Stephen wrote the script for Wedlock over late 2018 and production began on the film in June 2019. Wedlock began entering film festivals in September 2020 and will likely be in the festival circuit until late 2021.
Best know for his debut short film Wedlock (2020), an action comedy about a wedding that goes wrong and results in a car chase. Wedlock was nominated for 'Best Drama Short' at the International Motor Film Awards (2020).
Stephen discovered a passion for filmmaking when he began creating short action films with his father's MiniDV camcorder in the early 2000s. These films were mostly comedic pastiches of popular action films of the time such as The Matrix (1999) and The Bourne Identity (2002).
Stephen studied at the Northern Film School where he specialised in directing and editing. His final year film, a commercial for the clothing retailer 'New Look', won 'Best in Brief' at the Kodak Commercial Awards (2013).
Upon graduating, he secured a job at ITV Yorkshire, working as a camera assistant on the continuing drama Emmerdale. Whilst working on Emmerdale Stephen gained experience working with large crews both on location and in the studio, However, Stephen's most influential experiences were filming car action sequences alongside stunt teams from Bickers Action. Although Stephen worked in the camera department, he spent the majority of his time learning from the directors.
Consequently, in late 2013 Stephen left ITV and started working as in-house director at the London based production company Connected Pictures. Where he directed, shot, and edited, branded content and documentary style campaigns for brands such as, Molton Brown, easyJet, John Lewis, Barclaycard, Land Rover, and British Airways.
In 2017 Stephen launched as a freelance director in order to grow his experience, and to give him the time to write and direct his own action short film for film festivals. Stephen wrote the script for Wedlock over late 2018 and production began on the film in June 2019. Wedlock began entering film festivals in September 2020 and will likely be in the festival circuit until late 2021.