James Burstall Explained

James Burstall
Birth Name:James Christopher St Etienne Burstall
Birth Date:20 May 1965
Occupation:Founder of Argonon
Years Active:2001–present
Parents:Christopher Burstall

James Burstall is a British film and television producer[1] [2] and Chief Executive Officer of the international group Argonon which he founded in 2011. Argonon has many companies within the group located in London, Los Angeles, New York City, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Burstall’s broadcast career credits span many genres and international territories. They range from reality series Mormon Love on Facebook Watch, TV shows Cash in the Attic and House Hunters International to feature-length drama An Englishman In New York. Argonon, through some acquisitions and joint ventures, produces entertainment shows such as The Masked Singer[3] (ITV), dramas such as Worzel Gummidge (BBC One) and documentaries such as Dispatches (Channel 4)[4] and Mysteries of the Abandoned (Discovery Science).

Education

Burstall studied modern languages at the University of Bristol,[5] studied leadership at the Said Business School, University of Oxford (2011) and Leading Changing at the Graduate School of Business, University of Stanford, California (2013).

Career

Before his television career, Burstall was a journalist, working as a writer and editor in Paris, London and New York for Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveler, and The Evening Standard.

Burstall was CEO of Leopard Films which he founded in 2001. Before Leopard Films, Burstall worked as an executive producer and producer-director for broadcasters worldwide. Notable projects include Secret History of Hacking (Channel 4/TLC), Cutting Edge (Channel 4) and ITV’s weekly investigative series The Big Story. He also was a founding producer for London’s Planet 24 (The Big Breakfast for Channel 4) and was an on-screen reporter and producer for the BBC.

He then created Leopard USA, a New-York based production company, in 2003,[6] then Leopard Drama and Leopard International, a distribution and rights business, in 2004.[7]

Burstall was a finalist in the 2009 IoD London and the South East Director of the Year Awards for 'Institute of Directors of the Year' (over £5,000,000 category).[8]

Burstall created Argonon in 2011, bringing Leopard Films, Leopard Drama and Leopard USA together, renaming Leopard International as Argonon International and acquiring Remedy Productions, specialists in entertainment, music and live events.[9]

In 2012, Burstall confirmed the launch of Remedy Canada, with significant investment from Argonon, followed by the acquisition of Transparent TV,[10] producers of lifestyle and documentary programming in the UK, in 2013. Subsequently, that same year, he launched Argonon’s first joint venture BriteSpark Films in 2013, bringing documentarian Nick Godwin into the group. He made further acquisitions, including the multi-award-winning Windfall Films.[11] He took his original production, Cash in the Attic, into the digital world in 2013 with the launch of CashInTheAttic.com, a joint venture providing an online portal for fans of antiques, collectables and vintage.[12] [13]

In 2014, Burstall launched further joint ventures, Blacklisted Films, a new drama startup, and The Bridge, a conduit bridging English-speaking TV producers with their counterparts in Asia. The Bridge is co-producing projects in Korea.[14]

Burstall's Argonon group, which includes eight companies, saw a turnover of more than £55m in 2020.[15] Argonon is listed in the London Stock Exchange "1000 Companies To Inspire Britain 2016" report as well as the 2017 report.[16] Argonon is listed in the 2016 Sunday Times HSBC Track 200.[17] In 2019, Argonon won the National Winner Award (UK) at the European Awards.[18]

In 2017, Argonon acquired non-scripted producer Like A Shot Entertainment.[19] Burstall's group also invested in a joint venture: Bandicoot, in partnership with Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton.

In late 2020, Argonon acquired branded video agency, Nemorin Film & Video.[20] In 2021, Argonon launched a factual formats-focused production company, Studio Leo, with Claire Collinson-Jones becoming the Chief Creative Officer of the firm.[21]

Argonon Group companies and productions

Argonon is made up of eight companies: Bandicoot Scotland (a joint venture with Bandicoot co-founders Derek McLean and Daniel Nettleton);[22] [23] Leopard Pictures (Worzel Gummidge, BBC One); BriteSpark East/BriteSpark Films (known for Channel 4's Dispatches); Leopard USA (House Hunters International, HGTV); Windfall Films (Unearthed, Discovery); Like A Shot (Abandoned Engineering, UKTV's Yesterday); Studio Leo (Inside Tesco 24/7, Channel 5) and Nemorin Film & Video.[24]

Notable productions from the various companies under the Argonon Group include Bandicoot Scotland's The Masked Singer,[22] [25] [26] [27] a singing competition featuring Jonathan Ross, Davina McCall, Mo Gilligan and Rita Ora as panellists.[28] The Masked Singer won a Royal Television Society Programme Award 2021 in the Entertainment category[29] and was nominated for an International Emmy Award 2021 in the Non-Scripted Entertainment category.[30] Other notable productions include Netflix's Hard Cell starring Catherine Tate and Channel 5's World’s Most Scenic River Journeys, a documentary narrated by Bill Nighy, which has been co-produced with Blue Ant Media in Canada.[31] [32] [33] [34]

Argonon has won 120 awards and received over 180 nominations. These include Emmys, BAFTAs and RTS Awards.[35]

Productions

Executive Producer[37] – Leopard Films

Executive Producer - Leopard USA

Executive Producer - Leopard Drama

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: James Burstall. https://web.archive.org/web/20120724163218/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2bafb78bd8. dead. 2012-07-24. BFI. 2015-10-28.
  2. Web site: James Burstall @ARTISTdirect. ARTISTdirect. 2015-10-29. 2016-12-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20161230231301/http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/principal/0,,4807100,00.html. live.
  3. Web site: Tilley . Joanna . Inside The Masked Singer | Behind The Scenes | Broadcast . Broadcastnow.co.uk . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220220133812/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/inside-the-masked-singer/5145908.article . live .
  4. Web site: Success Stories – Realscreen Summit. 2022-01-05. summit.realscreen.com. 2022-01-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20220105094014/https://summit.realscreen.com/2022/success_stories/. live.
  5. Web site: Bristol University Alumni and friends 2011: James Burstall (BA 1987) launches new creative powerhouse. Bristol University. 2015-10-12. en-GB. University of. Bristol. 2016-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20160205041634/http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alumni/news/2011/296.html. live.
  6. Web site: Leopard Films USA hires Richard Cook. ATVtoday.co.uk. 2016-02-07. 2017-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510085344/http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/74313-leopardfilms/. live.
  7. Web site: Danny La Rue Tales Being Groomed for Big Screen. The Hollywood Reporter. 10 July 2012 . 2016-02-07. 2015-05-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518124917/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/danny-la-rue-big-screen-346972. live.
  8. Web site: Finalists announced for the 2009 IoD London and the South East Director of the Year Awards . Iod.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084105/https://www.iod.com/MainWebsite/Resources/Document/ws_newsletter_spring10.pdf . 2016-03-04 .
  9. Web site: The new super groups: Argonon. Tbivision.com. 2015-08-20. 2022-02-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20220223144939/https://tbivision.com/2013/04/18/the-new-super-groups-argonon/65901/. live.
  10. Web site: Argonon acquires Transparent Television. Realscreen.com. 2016-02-07. 2016-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424053104/http://realscreen.com/2013/04/18/argonon-acquires-transparent-television/. live.
  11. Web site: Argonon acquires Windfall Films. Televisual.com. 2015-10-28. 2016-03-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065601/http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/Argonon-acquires-Windfall-Films_nid-3917.html. live.
  12. Web site: Global television show becomes interactive as Argonon launches CashInTheAttic.com. The Drum. 2016-02-07. 2016-12-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20161230230646/http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/04/08/global-television-show-becomes-interactive-argonon-launches-cashintheatticcom. live.
  13. Web site: Lowde moves into Argonon's Attic. C21Media. 2016-02-07. 2016-02-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20160205041633/http://www.c21media.net/argonon%E2%80%99s-attic/. live.
  14. Web site: Homegrown drama Eve gets CBBC second season commission. Kidscreen.com. 2016-02-07. 2016-09-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20160920030655/http://kidscreen.com/2015/03/12/homegrown-drama-eve-gets-cbbc-second-season-commission/. live.
  15. Web site: ARGONON LTD filing history – Find and update company information – GOV.UK. 2021-10-01. find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. en. 2021-10-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20211001154731/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07519138/filing-history. live.
  16. News: Argonon. London Stock Exchange Group. 2017-09-13. en. 2017-07-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20170702173407/http://www.lseg.com/resources/1000-companies-inspire/2017-report-1000-companies-uk/creative-industries/argonon. live.
  17. Web site: UK Indies. 2021-10-11. ukindies.co.uk. 2021-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011105452/https://ukindies.co.uk/companies/argonon. live.
  18. Web site: The European Business Awards. businessawardseurope.com. 27 January 2020. 27 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200127180839/https://www.businessawardseurope.com/otw/entry/28271. live.
  19. Web site: Televisual NEWS & COMMENTS. www.televisual.com. 18 January 2018 . 2019-01-24. 2019-01-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20190124203931/http://www.televisual.com/news-detail/Argonon-buys-Like-a-Shot-and-hires-US-COO_nid-6926.html. live.
  20. Web site: Ramachandran. Naman. 2020-12-07. Argonon Expands Into Branded Content With Acquisition of Video Agency Nemorin. 2021-10-11. Variety. en-US. 2021-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011105450/https://variety.com/2020/tv/global/argonon-branded-content-nemorin-1234847505/. live.
  21. Web site: 2021-02-15. Argonon expands with Hat Trick's ex-head of factual for new indie Studio Leo. 2021-10-11. TBI Vision. en-US. 2021-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011105451/https://tbivision.com/2021/02/15/argonon-expands-with-hat-tricks-ex-head-of-factual-for-new-indie-studio-leo/. live.
  22. Web site: bandicoot . News – Bandicoot . Bandicoot.tv . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215143359/https://bandicoot.tv/news/ . live .
  23. Web site: People – Bandicoot . Bandicoot.tv . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215175130/https://bandicoot.tv/people/ . live .
  24. Web site: televisual.com. 2021-07-09. Argonon bolsters development, makes new hires. 2021-10-11. Televisual. 2021-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011105451/https://www.televisual.com/news/argonon-bolsters-development-makes-new-hires/. live.
  25. Web site: The Masked Singer recommissioned for further two series . Itv.com . 2022-02-14 . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220218211247/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/masked-singer-recommissioned-further-two-series . live .
  26. Web site: Bennett . Harry . The Masked Singer will return for another two series | Royal Television Society . Rts.org.uk . 2022-02-14 . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216045252/https://rts.org.uk/article/masked-singer-will-return-another-two-series . live .
  27. Web site: Naman Ramachandran . 'The Masked Singer U.K.' Commissioned for Two More Seasons at ITV . Variety . 2022-02-14 . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220214191353/https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/the-masked-singer-uk-recommission-itv-1235180931/ . live .
  28. Web site: ITV announces host and panel for new ITV show The Masked Singer . ITV Press Centre . 18 October 2019 . en . 9 September 2019 . 18 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191018221829/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-announces-host-and-panel-new-itv-show-masked-singer . live .
  29. Web site: 2021-03-16. Winners of the RTS Programme Awards 2021 announced. 2021-10-11. Royal Television Society. en. 2021-03-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210319155340/https://rts.org.uk/article/winners-rts-programme-awards-2021-announced. live.
  30. Web site: "Toxic Beauty," "Masked Singer UK" grab International Emmy noms. 2021-10-11. 2021-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011105452/https://realscreen.com/2021/09/24/toxic-beauty-masked-singer-uk-grab-international-emmy-noms/. live.
  31. Web site: Blue Ant Media orders first originals for BBC First, BBC Earth in Canada | News | C21Media . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215142316/https://www.c21media.net/news/blue-ant-media-orders-first-originals-for-bbc-first-bbc-earth-in-canada/ . live .
  32. Web site: My5 . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215142315/https://www.channel5.com/show/world-s-most-scenic-river-journeys/season-1/shannon-river . live .
  33. Web site: My5 . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215142314/https://www.channel5.com/show/world-s-most-scenic-river-journeys/season-2/episode-1 . live .
  34. Web site: World's Most Scenic River Journeys (TV Series) . Radio Times . 2022-02-23 . 2022-02-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220215175130/https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-ux73ee/worlds-most-scenic-river-journeys/ . live .
  35. Web site: Like A Shot secures investment from UKTV to chart the trail-blazing US tank unit whose fight went beyond the battlefield in Black Panthers of WW2 News UKTV Corporate Site. 2021-10-11. corporate.uktv.co.uk. en. 2021-10-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211011105451/https://corporate.uktv.co.uk/news/article/shot-secures-investment-uktv-chart-trail-blazing-us-tank-unit-whose-fight-went-beyond-battlefield-black-panthers-ww2/. live.
  36. Web site: French Express[07/06/98] (1998)]. BFI. en. 2019-02-04. 2019-02-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20190204231535/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8158cccc. dead.
  37. Web site: Production Beast. 2015-10-12. 2016-03-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305143954/https://productionbeast.com/76370-james-burstall. live.

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