Steve Barron

Steven Barron
Barron in 2011
Born	4 May 1956 Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Film director, film producer, music video director
Years active	1979–present

Steven "Steve" Barron (born 4 May 1956) is an Irish-born British film director and producer, and music video director. He is best known for directing the films Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Coneheads (1993) and the innovative music videos for a-ha's "Take on Me" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".

Biography

Steve Barron was born in Dublin, Ireland, the younger child of filmmaker Zelda Ruth (née Solomons) Barron (1929–2006)^[1] and actor Ron Barron, who met in London. Zelda and Ron Barron married in 1953; the marriage was later dissolved. His mother was a Manchester-born filmmaker. He has an older sister, Siobhan.^[1] He attended St Marylebone Grammar School.

Barron made his music video directorial debut in 1979 and directed many of the 1980s' most memorable music videos, including "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, and "Take on Me" by a-ha. Barron only made eight music videos in the early 80s and made his temporarily last music video in 1986 for David Bowie's "As the World Falls Down".

In 1984, he directed the science fiction comedy Electric Dreams, and then went on to direct several episodes of the television series The Storyteller before returning to film, directing the films Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990, The Adventures of Pinocchio in 1996, Rat in 2000 and Mike Bassett: England Manager in 2001.

Barron directed several award winning miniseries, such as Merlin (1998), Arabian Nights (2000) and Dreamkeeper (2003) for Hallmark Entertainment. In July 2010 it was revealed that Barron would make a return to music videos, directing the final video of a-ha, "Butterfly, Butterfly".

In late 2011, Barron's two-part production of Treasure Island was shown on British Sky television. The cast included Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver and Elijah Wood as Ben Gunn.^[2]

In November 2014, he published his autobiography entitled Egg n Chips & Billie Jean: A Trip Through the Eighties.^[3]

Music videos

Some of the notable music videos Barron directed include:

• A-ha – "Take on Me" (1985), "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." (1985), "Hunting High and Low" (1986), "Cry Wolf" (1986), "Manhattan Skyline" (1987), "The Living Daylights" (1987), "Crying in the Rain" (1990), "Butterfly, Butterfly" (2010)
• Adam and the Ants – "Antmusic" (1980)
• Bryan Adams – "Cuts Like a Knife" (1983), "Run to You" (1984), "Heaven" (1985), "Summer of '69" (1985)
• Culture Club – "God Thank You Woman" (1986)
• David Bowie – "As the World Falls Down" (1986) "Underground" (1986)
• Def Leppard – "Let's Get Rocked" (1992)
• Dire Straits – "Money for Nothing" (1985), "Calling Elvis" (1990), "Heavy Fuel" (1991)
• Dolly Parton – "Potential New Boyfriend" (1983)
• Eddy Grant – "Electric Avenue" (1982), "I Don't Wanna Dance" (1982), "Living on the Front Line" (1983)
• Fleetwood Mac – "Hold Me" (1982)
• Fun Boy Three – "It Ain't What You Do...." (1982)
• Heaven 17 – "Penthouse and Pavement" (1981), "Let Me Go" (1982)
• The Human League – "Don't You Want Me" (1981), "Love Action" (1981), "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" (1983)
• The Jam – "Strangetown" (1978), "When You're Young" (1979), "Going Underground" (1979), "Dreams of Children" (1979)
• Joe Jackson – "Steppin' Out" (1982), "Real Men" (1982), "Breaking Us in Two" (1982)
• Madonna – "Burning Up" (1983)
• Michael Jackson – "Billie Jean" (1983)
• Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole – "Unforgettable" (1991)
• Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – "Maid of Orleans" (1982)
• Paul McCartney – "Pretty Little Head" (1986)
• Secret Affair – "Time for Action" (1979), "My World" (1980), "Sound of Confusion" (1980)
• Sheena Easton - "For Your Eyes Only" (1981)
• Sheena Easton – "Telephone" (1983)
• Simple Minds – "Promised You a Miracle" (1982)
• The Skids - "Iona" (1981)
• Styx – "Haven't We Been Here Before" (1983)
• Tears for Fears – "Pale Shelter" (1983)
• Toto – "Africa" (1982), "Rosanna" (1982)
• ZZ Top – "Rough Boy" (1986), "Sleeping Bag" (1986)

References

1. Simon Relph (12 September 2006). "Obituary: Zelda Barron". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
2. Rose, Steve, "Elijah Wood: 'I was thrilled to play Frodo Baggins in The Hobbit'", The Guardian, 22 December 2011; retrieved 25 December 2011.
3. Hawksley, R. "'Michael Jackson? I was more excited about The Human League!'", Telegraph.co.uk, 27 November 2014; retrieved 28 November 2014.

External links

• Steve Barron at the Internet Movie Database
• Profile, mvdbase.com
• Interview with Barron profile, efilmcritic.com