1/ So Simon, what do you do?
I suppose you could say I’m the brains behind the operation! I’m the founder/owner/managing director and award-winning film director. I try to be involved in every single production that passes through STANDBY as director, camera operator or editor (sometimes all the above!).
2/ You’re on a long haul flight and can only watch one film on repeat, what would you choose?
Anchorman (the first one obviously) – because you know what they say; “when in Rome”.
3/ You’re on a Road Trip down Route 66 and can only listen to one artist, who would it be?
This is a tricky one… It all depends what mood I’m in, maybe Ben Howard to keep things relaxed, but then the Drive soundtrack if I wanted to get there quicker?!
4/ You’re on death row and can have any meal you want, what would this be and what would you wash it down with?
Like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle I would choose pizza, I can’t get enough pizza – ever! With lots of meat on it. I would then have a good bartender make me an Old Fashioned and all would be right with the world…. until they switch the electricity on obviously!
5/ Favourite ‘retro’ item you’d bring back from retirement?
I think it would be the Sony VX1000 camcorder, I would have done almost anything back when I was 18 to have one of these cameras when I filmed skateboard videos… although I never owned one when I really wanted one (when I was 18yrs old), I recently saw one in as Cash Converters shop and had to buy it for our vintage camera collection. I wish I could use it back when it was in its prime! It’s not quite the same now!
6/ Best place you’ve ever travelled to?
Tough one…. erm…. Byron Bay in Australia I think, but it probably wouldn’t be the same as when I went 10 years ago. It was such a cool, chilled out place with beautiful beaches, surf and good nightlife. I think if I went back there I might feel old though, as most of my time there was fuelled on boxes of white wine (or Goon as it was known in Oz)! Other than that Fiji is incredible – The people there are just amazing and it’s just paradise.
7/ Person who you’d most like to host at a dinner party?
I think it would have to be Sir David Attenborough, the man is a bit of a hero of mine and he would have some of the most amazing stories. Wildlife filming is a passion of mine, so to speak to the master of that genre would be awesome.
8/ When you were young what career did you see yourself doing?
I suppose I always dreamed of playing for Man City, but you have to be quite good at football to do that – mind you in the 90’s I probably could have got in the team?! ha. Other than that as soon as I started filming things I think I knew where my career would take me… and I’m very happy that I have a job that is also a hobby!