Philip John - Biography

Born Newport, South Wales. Played bass with DIY punk band Reptile Ranch, and co founded Z Block Records. Dumped music business following ill-fated busking-trip to Paris with The Skeleteens, a nine-piece kazoo outfit performing Motown numbers. Hitched around Europe. Worked as stills photographer. Went to Newport Film School and graduated with award-winning 16mm shorts. The BAFTA nominated and award-winning short, Suckerfish, was chosen for the First Film Foundation's Y2K New Directions director's showcase in New York and Los Angeles. Now MD of production company Orange River Ltd. Long time collaborator with Dean Cavanagh and Irvine Welsh. Directed, co produced and co financed rock n roll satire and web phenomenon, Svengali, written by Dean Cavanagh - not to be confused with the movie of the same name.