Born in Chelmsford, England, John was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School where he joined the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) and Corps of Drums culminating in a year as Senior Army Cadet and a year as Drum Major.In 1996 John was Commissioned as an Officer in the British Army after attending The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He served as a Mechanised Infantry Platoon Commander (Warrior and AFV432) and subsequently as Battalion Training Officer (responsible for co-ordinating and running training exercises for over 600 personnel) with the Second Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment in the UK (including the Combined Arms Training Centre), Germany and Cyprus (during the 'T-1000 Missile Crisis').His military skills include: Weapons-Handling, Drill Instruction, Fieldcraft, Tactics, OBUA (Operations in Built-Up Areas), Combat First-Aid and CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation), NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Warfare), TESEX (Tactical Engagement Simulation Exercises), Command and Orders Techniques and MOI (Method of Instruction). He also completed the Progressive Fighting Technique Course with the Royal Marine Commandos; undertook a Parachute Regiment Familiarisation Course in Aldershot; spent time with the Royal Artillery learning Gunnery and Air Defence techniques; and has an extensive knowledge of military history.He is a 2nd Dan Black Belt in Judo and fully qualified Self-Defence and Unarmed Combat Instructor as well as CCPR (Central Council of Physical Recreation) and ASPT (Army School of Physical Training) qualified sports coach.John spent three years studying at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London, graduating with an Upper Second Class BA Honours Degree in English. During this time he helped train and develop potential young Army Officers as an instructor with the University of London Officer Training Corps.After working with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks on Band of Brothers (2001) for the duration of the whole shoot, John and several ex-military colleagues formed Universal Combat, the first UK based agency to specialise exclusively in providing military advice and support to the entertainment industry. The company went on to provide advice and personnel to numerous films, TV shows, video games, commercials and live events as well as forging strong links with film industry armourers and security companies.Having gained several years experience in the film industry, John diversified from military co-ordinating to assistant directing and script editing then ultimately to writing and producing.John has built a respectable body of work as a producer including running productions for overseas producers shooting in the UK, consulting to international sales agents and distributors and a long stint at Raw TV as a supervising producer across several high risk international reality television shows for Discovery Networks.In 2015 John founded the integrated finance, production, international sales and UK distribution company Evolutionary Films based at 3 Mills Studios in London, and in 2016 he directed for the first time on the feature film "Aux" starring John Rhys-Davies.In his spare time, John is a keen sportsman (having fenced sabre and foil to a high standard and often competing in martial arts events); and, as an accomplished Grade 8 musician, he regularly unwinds by playing piano and singing rhythm and blues gigs in live venues around England. Show less «