Simon Hilton

Simon Hilton
Born	1967 (age 48–49) Bournemouth, England
Occupation	Music video director
Years active	1992 - present

Simon Hilton (born 1967 near Bournemouth) is an English music video, concert and documentary director and editor and multimedia creative based in London.

Early life and career

Hilton grew up fascinated by science and the theatre (his father a nuclear scientist and director of the Adelphi Theatre in London), and absorbed in music (studying classical music & theory from age 7).

In 1980, he was awarded a classical music scholarship to Canford School^[1] (studying clarinet, piano and guitar) where he took Maths, Physics and Biology A Levels and maintained strong interest and involvements in the areas of music, photography, film, art and the then nascent computer sciences.

After working in London and graduating with honours from Ravensbourne College in 1989, Hilton apprenticed his editing skills at London post-production houses 625 and Rushes.

In 1992 he began a freelance editing career, specialising in music-based content and has to date edited over 300 music videos.

Between 1992 & 1999, his directing career also flourished at Red Star Films and at The Artists Company, directing a number of videos for Robbie Williams^[2] and other prominent EMI and Polydor artists.^[3]

He has directed videos featuring, amongst others John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, The Beatles, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Supergrass, Delakota. William Orbit and Ether.^[3]

Editing credits include David Bowie, The Chemical Brothers, Nick Cave, Oasis, Led Zeppelin, Depeche Mode and Supergrass.^[3]

Current projects include music videos & documentaries, live concerts, concert projections, art films, website design, internet multimedia and archive restoration & development.^[4]

Directing credits

Music videos: Directing credits

• Ed Harcourt: ‘Black Feathers’
• Ed Harcourt: ‘Russian Roulette’
• Supergrass: ‘Diamond Hoo Ha Man’ (co-director)
• The Beatles: ‘Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows’
• Paul McCartney: 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard' DVD, including:
  • Paul McCartney: 'Between Chaos and Creation' (30 min documentary)
  • Paul McCartney: 'Fine Line'
  • Paul McCartney: 'Jenny Wren'
  • Paul McCartney: 'Promise To You Girl'
  • Paul McCartney: 'How Kind Of You'
  • Paul McCartney: 'Friends To Go'
  • Paul McCartney: 'English Tea'
  • Paul McCartney: 'Too Much Rain'
• Supergrass: 'Supergrass is 10' DVD, including:
  • Supergrass: 'A Home Movie': feature length documentary
  • Supergrass: ‘Seen The Light’ (2003 CAD Nomination – Best Editing in a Video)
• John Lennon: 'Lennon Legend' DVD, including:
  • John Lennon: ‘Mother’ (new version)
  • John Lennon: ‘Working Class Hero’ (new version)
  • John Lennon: ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ (new version)
  • John Lennon: ‘Mind Games’ (new version)
  • John Lennon: ‘Cold Turkey’ (new version)
• Relish: ‘Rainbow Zephyr’
• Dum Dums: ‘Army Of Two’
• Robbie Williams & Kylie Minogue: ‘Kids’ (2002 Brit Award nomination - Best Video)
• David Holmes: ‘69 Police’
• Alice Cooper: ‘Gimme’
• Robbie Williams: ‘Dance With The Devil’ (1st ever multichannel DVD promo)
• Precious: ‘Stand Up’
• Stephen Gately: ‘A New Beginning’
• Robbie Williams: ‘It’s Only Us’ (2000 LEAF Best Music Video nomination)
• Medal: ‘Porno Song’
• Robbie Williams: ‘Angels’ live at Manchester Arena
• Robbie Williams: ‘Millennium’ live at Manchester Arena
• Robbie Williams: ‘Strong’
• Medal: ‘Up Here For Hours’
• Delakota: ‘555’
• Delakota: ‘C’mon Cincinnati’
• Ether: ‘Best Friend’
• Satellite Beach: ‘Psycho’
• Ether: ‘She Could Fly’
• Iron Maiden: ‘The Angel & The Gambler’
• Radiator: ‘I Am’
• Ether: ‘If You If Really Want To Know’
• Naimee Coleman: ‘Care About You’
• Grass~Show: ‘1962’
• Eternal: ‘Secrets’
• Planet Claire: ‘Say’
• Planet Claire: ‘21’
• Iron Maiden: ‘Man On The Edge’ (Live In Israel)
• Morrissey: ‘Hold Onto Your Friends’
• William Orbit: 'Strange Cargo III' longform, including:
  • William Orbit: 'Gringatcho Demento'
  • William Orbit: 'Water From A Vine Leaf'
  • William Orbit: 'Time To Get Wize'
  • William Orbit: 'Into The Paradise'
  • William Orbit: 'Harry Flowers'
  • William Orbit: 'A Touch Of The Night'

Music Longforms / Concerts / DVD content: directing credits

• Diamond Hoo Ha Men: 'Glange Fever' Rockumentary (30 mins) (co-director)
• Diamond Hoo Ha Men: 'Glange Fever' Reflux - The Outtakes (Parts One to Fore!) (co-director)
• Diamond Hoo Ha Men: 'Glange Fever' The Tour (9 Tracks) (co-director)
• Paul McCartney: 'Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road' (60 min concert)
• Paul McCartney: 'Creating Chaos at Abbey Road' (30 min making-of)
• Paul McCartney: 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard' DVD
• Yoko Ono: 'Live at All Tomorrows Parties', Camber Sands
• Supergrass: 'Supergrass is 10' DVD
• John Lennon: 'Lennon Legend' DVD (20 videos & 5 extra features)
• Robbie Williams: 2 x versions of ‘Rock, DJ’ for website
• Robbie Williams: 19 x ‘ROB TV’ inserts for Slaine DVD
• Robbie Williams: ‘Angels’ DVD, including:
  • Robbie Williams: ‘Hello Sir’
  • Robbie Williams: ‘Thankyou For Letting Me Be Me’
  • Robbie Williams: ‘Naked At An Awards Ceremony’
  • Robbie Williams: ‘Man Machine’
• Robbie Williams: ‘Karma Killer’ – Stage projections for World Tour
• Robbie Williams: ‘Kids’– Stage projections for World Tour
• William Orbit: ‘Strange Cargo 3’ longform (6 x videos)
• Ashley Maher: ‘Pomegranate’ longform (5 x videos)

Films & documentaries: Directing credits

• Yoko Ono: 'IMAGINE PEACE TOWER' documentary
• Yoko Ono: 'Passages For Light' documentary
• Yoko Ono: 'Yoko Ono in Moscow/Odyssey of A Cockroach' documentary
• Diamond Hoo Ha Men: 'Glange Fever' Rockumentary (30 mins)
• John Lennon & Yoko Ono: 'War Is Over! (If You Want It)' (10 mins)
• Paul McCartney: 'Between Chaos and Creation' (30 mins)
• Paul McCartney: 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard' (30 min TV – VH1 & CH4)
• Paul McCartney: 'Paul McCartney at Live 8: Onstage & Backstage'
• Yoko Ono: 'Onochord' documentary
• Yoko Ono: 'The Tate Gallery Lecture' (100 mins)
• Supergrass: ‘A Home Movie’ (feature length)
• Keith Urban: ‘Days Go By’
• Pink Floyd: ‘The Making of The Dark Side Of The Moon’ SACD 30th Anniversary
• Robbie Williams: ‘Life Thru A Lens’
• 'Gumball 3000': documentary of 1999 European Classic Car rally/race.

EPKs & miscellaneous: Directing credits

• Paul McCartney “Good Evening New York City" Press Launch
• Paul McCartney / The Fireman “Electric Arguments" Press Launch
• EMI/Capitol/Virgin: Conference 2008
• EMI/Capitol/Virgin: Conference 2007
• EMI/Capitol/Virgin: Dublin Conference 2006
• Paul McCartney “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard USA EPK
• Paul McCartney “Chaos and Creation in the Backyard UK EPK
• EMI/Capitol/Virgin: New York Conference 2005
• Keith Urban “Days Go By” European EPK
• EMI/Capitol/Virgin: Global Marketing Conference Toronto 2004
• EMI/Capitol/Virgin: Global Marketing Conference Barcelona 2003
• Filippa Giordano: ‘Il Rosso Amore’ EPK
• Pink Floyd: ‘Echoes’ EPK
• Manic Street Preachers: Reading 2001 Back Projections
• EMI:Chrysalis Records: UK Retail Conference 2001
• EMI:Chrysalis Records: Barcelona Conference 2000
• Precious: Debut Album EPK
• Manic Street Preachers: V99 Stage walk-on tape
• The Beatles: Yellow Submarine EPK
• EMI International Records UK: South East Asia Conference 1999
• EMI Chrysalis: June Conference 98
• Chrysalis Records: EMI 100 Conference presentation & I.D.

Stage Screens: Directing/Editing eredits (films made to accompany live performances)

• Paul McCartney: 'Eleanor Rigby'
• Paul McCartney: 'I Want To Come Home'
• Paul McCartney: 'Sgt. Pepper'
• Paul McCartney: 'Back In The USSR'
• Yoko Ono: 'at the Bluecoat' - April 2008 performance
• Paul McCartney: 'Live And Let Die' & 'Get Back' - Brits 2008 performances
• Live Earth concert: 7 July 2007 - films specifically created for:
  • S.O.S. All-Star Drummers: Wembley Intro film
  • Genesis: 'Behind The Lines'
  • Genesis: 'Land Of Confusion'
  • Razorlight: 'America'
  • Snow Patrol: 'Chasing Cars'
  • Damien Rice: 'Cannonball'
  • Damien Rice & David Gray: 'Que Sera Sera'
  • Kasabian: 'Empire'
  • Paolo Nutini: 'Wonderful World'
  • John Legend: 'Ordinary People'
  • Duran Duran: 'Ordinary World'
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers: 'Emit Remmus'
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers: 'So Much I'
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers: 'Snow'
  • Bloc Party: 'So Here We Are'
  • Corinne Bailey Rae & John Legend: 'Mercy Mercy Me'
  • Terra Naomi: 'Say It's Possible'
  • Keane: 'Somewhere Only We Know'
  • Metallica: 'Nothing Else Matters'
  • James Blunt: 'High'
  • James Blunt: 'Wisemen'
  • Beastie Boys: 'Sabotage'
  • Pussycat Dolls: 'Feeling Good'
  • Foo Fighters: 'All My Life'
  • Foo Fighters: 'Times Like These'
  • The Police: 'Message In A Bottle'
  • The Global Warming Survival Handbook animation loop

Editing credits

Music videos: Editing credits

• Mark Ronson: The Bike Song (dir: Warren Fu)
• Robyn: Hang With Me (dir: Max Vitali)
• Ed Harcourt: The Girl With The One Track Mind (dir: Ed Harcourt)
• Jamie Cullum: Everlasting Love (dir: Toby Tremlett)
• Busted: 3 a.m. (dir: Eugene O’Connor)
• Busted: Thunderbirds Are Go! (dir: Jonathan Frakes)
• Supergrass: Lose It (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Supergrass: Richard III (Multi-angle DVD version) (dir: Dom & Nic)
• John Lennon: ‘#9 Dream’ (new version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• John Lennon: ‘Stand By Me’ (new version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• John Lennon: ‘Watching The Wheels’ (new version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• John Lennon: ‘Nobody Told Me’ (new version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• John Lennon: ‘Borrowed Time’ (new version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• John Lennon: ‘Give Peace A Chance’ (revised version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• John Lennon: ‘Jealous Guy’ (new version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• John Lennon: ‘Love’ (new version) (dir: Lennon / Ono)
• Robbie Williams: ‘Something Beautiful’ (dir: James Tonkin)
• Busted: ‘Sleeping With The Light On’ (dir: Sven Harding)
• Haven: ‘Tell Me’ (dir: Adam Berg)
• George Harrison: ‘Any Road’ (with Pamela Esterson)
• Pink Floyd: ‘Money’ (30th Anniversary Re-master) (dir: Storm Thorgerson)
• Busted: ‘You Said No (Crash And Burn)’ (dir: Simon & Jon)
• Jamelia: ‘Bout’ (dir: Cameron Casey)
• Mis-teeq: ‘Scandalous’ (dir: Jake Nava)
• The Polyphonic Spree: ‘Light And Day’ (from live footage)
• Rhianna: ‘I Love Everything About You’ (dir: Jan Gleie)
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: ‘Bring It On’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Manic Street Preachers: ‘There By The Grace Of God’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• The Cranberries: ‘Stars’ (dir: Jake Nava)
• The Alice Band: ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’ (dir: Rob Dickens)
• Liberty X: ‘Got To Have Your Love’ (dir: Alex & Shay)
• 4 Strings: ‘Diving’
• Appleton: ‘Fantasy’ (dir: Jason Smith)
• Elisa: ‘Come Speak To Me’ (dir: Phillipe André)
• Robert Plant: ‘Darkness, Darkness’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Robert Plant: ‘Morning Dew’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Coldplay: ‘In My Place’ (Director’s Cut) (dir: Sophie Muller)
• Gemma Hayes: ‘Hanging Around’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Slipknot: ‘My Plague’ (dir: Simon Hilton & Matthew Amos)
• The Chemical Brothers: ‘The Test’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• The Charlatans: ‘You’re So Pretty, We’re So Pretty’ (from live footage)
• Beverley Knight: ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’
• Jamiroquai: ‘Love Foolosophy’ (dir: Jason Smith)
• Starsailor: ‘Lullaby’ (dir: Nick Gordon)
• Lost Prophets: ‘Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja’ (dir: Mike Pescitillo)
• Susheela Raman: ‘Ganapati’ (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• HIM: ‘In Joy And Sorrow’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Stina Nordstram: ‘Sharon & Hope’
• Depeche Mode: ‘Freelove’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Wyclef & Brian Harvey: ‘Loving You’ (dir: Andy Morahan)
• Anastacia: ‘Made For Loving You’ (from live footage)
• Texas: ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ (2001 remix) (dir: Dick Carruthers)
• Depeche Mode: ‘I Feel Loved’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• One Giant Leap: ‘Braided Hair’ (dir: One Giant Leap)
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: ‘15 Feet of Pure White Snow’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: ‘As I Sat’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Embrace: ‘You’re Not Alone’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• David Bowie: ‘All The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Supergrass: ‘MovIng’ (dir: Nick Gordon)
• Mel G: ‘Word Up’ (dir: Wiz)
• Ronan Keating: ‘When You Say Nothing at All’ (dir: Kevin Godley)
• Boyzone: ‘When The Going Gets Tough’ (dir: Kevin Godley)
• The Black Crowes: ‘By Your Side’ (dir: Kevin Godley)
• Elcka: ‘Pleasure’ (dir: Tony Vanden Ende)
• The Moffats: ‘Crazy’
• Charlotte: ‘Someday’
• Lodger: ‘Small Change’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Embrace: ‘All You Good Good People’ (US version) (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Lighthouse Family: ‘Question Of Faith’ (dir: Norman Watson)
• Smashing Pumpkins: ‘Ava Adore’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
  • (1999 MVPA Nomination - Best Video)
• Ultra Nate: ‘Found A Cure’ (dir: Charles Stone III)
• Drugstore (with Thom Yorke): ‘El President’ (dir: Tony Vanden Ende)
• The Levellers: ‘Too Real’ (dir: Alex Cox)
• The Bluetones: ‘Solomon Bites The Worm’ (dir: John Hardwick)
• Lighthouse Family: ‘High’ (dir: Norman Watson)
• David Bowie & Trent Reznor: ‘I’m Afraid Of Americans’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
  • (1998 MVPA Award - Best Alternative video of the year) (1998 MTV Nomination - Best Male Video)
• Supergrass: ‘Late In The Day’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
  • (1998 Brit Award nomination - Best Video)
• Radiohead: ‘Let Down’ (dir: Straw Donkey)
• Oasis: ‘D’You Know What I Mean?’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
  • (1998 Brit Award nomination - Best Group Video)
• Smoke City: ‘Mr. Gorgeous’ (dir: Finn McGough)
• Naimee Coleman: ‘Ruthless Affection’ (dir: Dwight Clarke)
• Mansun: ‘Taxloss’ (dir: Roman Coppola)
• Howard New: ‘Straight To You’
• Embrace: ‘The Last Gas’ (dir: Mary Scanlon)
• Bush: ‘Personal Holloway’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• Supergrass: ‘Cheapskate’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Supergrass: ‘Sun Hits The Sky’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Supergrass: ‘Richard The Third’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Reef: ‘Come Back Brighter’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Belinda Carlisle: ‘California’
• Manic Street Preachers: ‘Australia’ (dir: John Hillcoat)
• The Chemical Brothers: ‘Setting Sun’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
  • (1997 MTV Award – Best Breakthrough video)
  • (1997 MVPA Award – Best Dance Video)
  • (1997 CADs Runner up – Best Editing Award)
• Octopus: ‘Saved’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• M.O.F.A.: ‘Auf und ab’ (dir: Gina Birch)
• Strangelove: ‘Beautiful Alone’ (dir: Dwight Clarke)
• Queen: ‘I Want To Live’ (dir: Bernard Rudden)
• The Raincoats: ‘Don’t Be Mean’ (dir: Gina Birch)
• Sleeper: ‘Sale Of The Century’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Lush: ‘500’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Olive: ‘Miracle’ (dir: Karen Lamond)
• Shakespears Sister: ‘I Can Drive’ (dir: Sophie Muller)
• Ash: ‘Goldfinger’ (dir: Mike Brady)
• The Cure: ‘The 13th’ (dir: Sophie Muller)
• Cecil: ‘My Neck’ (dir: Tim Royes)
• Supergrass: ‘Going Out’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Queen: ‘You Don’t Fool Me’
• The Mystics: ‘Lucy’s Factory’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Suggs: ‘The Tune’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• The Mystics: ‘Who’s That Girl’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Iron Maiden: ‘Man On The Edge’ (dir: Wing Ko)
• The Bluetones: ‘Bluetonic’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Supergrass: ‘Time’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Blur: ‘The Universal’ (Live) (from live footage)
• Supergrass: ‘Alright’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• EMF & Vic and Bob: ‘I’m A Believer’ (dir: Vic Reeves)
• Scalaland: ‘Sweet White Lies’ (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• EMF: ‘Bleeding You Dry’ (dir: David Slade)
• Supergrass: ‘Caught By The Fuzz’ (dir: Dom & Nic)
• Simple Minds: ‘Hypnotised’ (dir: Wiz)
• Scalaland: ‘Call Me’ (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• Radiohead: ‘High & Dry’ (dir: David Mould)
• EMF: ‘Perfect Day’ (dir: Kevin Westenberg)
• AC/DC: ‘Highway To Hell’ (Live at Donington) (dir: David Mallett)
• Joe Cocker: ‘Have A Little Faith in Me’ (dir: Greg Mazuak)
• Del Amitri: ‘Here & Now’ (dir: Wiz)
• Blur: ‘This Is A Low’ (from live footage)
• Oasis: ‘Whatever’ (dir: Mark Szaszy)
• The Black Crowes: ‘A Conspiracy’ (dir: Wiz)
  • (1996 MVPA Award - Best International video)
• Oasis: ‘Cigarettes & Alcohol’ (dir: Mark Szaszy)
• Francis Dunnery: ‘American Life in The Summertime’ (dir: Zanna)
• Oasis: ‘Supersonic’ (dir: Mark Szaszy)
• Blur: ‘Girls & Boys’ (dir: Kevin Godley)
• Gunshot: ‘Mind Of A Razor’ (dir: Mark Szaszy)
• Frank Sinatra & Bono: ‘Under My Skin’ (dir: Kevin Godley)
• Bryan Adams: ‘Please Forgive Me’ (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• Bryan Adams: ‘Straight from the Heart ‘(5 screen version) (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• Bryan Adams: ‘Summer of ‘69’ (Live) (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• Bryan Adams: ‘Run To You’ (Live) (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• The Levellers: ‘15 years’ (dir: David Barnard)

Music Longforms / Concerts / DVD content: Editing credits

• Led Zeppelin: Live At Madison Sq Gardens 1974 (2002 re-edit for Led Zeppelin DVD) (dir: Dick Carruthers/Jimmy Page)
• The Foo Fighters: ‘Live In Atlanta’ (webcast) – Exec Producer/Editor (dir: Streamteam)
• Robbie Williams: ‘Heaven From Here’ (dir: Guy Chambers)
• Robbie Williams: ‘Grace’ (dir: Guy Chambers)
• Robbie Williams: ‘Live In Your Living Room’ live concert longform (dir: Done & Dusted)
• AC/DC: ‘No Bull’ Concert Live In Spain (4 tracks) (dir: David Mallett)
• Tina Turner: Live In San Francisco (dir: David Mallett)
• Erasure: The Tank, The Swan And The Balloon - Live! (dir: David Mallett)
• Paul McCartney: ‘Paul Is Live’ (3 tracks) (dir: Kevin Godley)
• Tina Turner: ‘What’s Love? Live’ Concert (Shared Credit) longform (dir: David Mallett)
• Bryan Adams: ‘When The Night Comes’ (Live) (dir: Andrew Catlin)
• Suede: ‘Love and Poison’ (Live Concert & Narrative) longform (dir: Wiz)
• The Levellers: ‘Live at the Barrowlands’ (Live Concert) longform (dir: David Barnard)
• AC/DC: Live In Donington concert (dir: David Mallett)
• Maria Callas: Tribute Concert in Rome, Italy longform (dir: David Mallett)
• Nirvana: Live Concert at the Paradiso, Amsterdam

Films & documentaries: Editing credits

• 'Dappers' 'Proper Job' (pilot episode): BBC comedy series written by Catherine Johnson
• Yoko Ono: Onochord film (dir: Yoko Ono)
• Yoko Ono: Cut Piece 2003 (dir: Yoko Ono)
• One Giant Leap: Longform Film; Cinema Version Assembly (dir: One Giant Leap)
• To Have And To Hold: Feature Film Trailer (dir: John Hillcoat)

EPKs & miscellaneous: Editing credits

• Yoko Ono: Stage projections & visual support materials/artworks (dir: Yoko Ono)
• The Chemical Brothers: ‘Come With Us’ EPK (dir: Si & Ad)
• Tina Turner: ‘Wildest Dreams’ documentary (dir: Nick Morris)

External links

• Simon Hilton at the Internet Movie Database
• Music Video Database
• MySpace page
• Chainsaw FIlms website

References

1. Canford School - Welcome
2. mvdbase.com - Robbie Williams
3. mvdbase.com - Simon Hilton Videography
4. - Chainsaw FIlms