Stephen James Thompson is a graduate of film studies from the University of Reading. He began his career as a reader and script editor working for Marc Forstater, Carlton Television, Alibi and other production companies before joining Epic, the leading information technology company at the time. Serving as writer/creator of interactive and online learning projects, including the Foreign Office's award winning Planet Britain, Stephen was at the creative heart of new millennium innovations such as streaming, multicasting and video hosting.

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Returning to theatrical films, Stephen later joined Magic Hour as Creative Director, a post he continued at Luminaire. In 2015 he became head of development at Pebble Beach Screen Partners working on projects with directors such as Mike Hodges, Vadim Jean, Walter Hill and Waris Hussain.

 

Now a highly regarded 'script doctor', Steve is regularly hired to improve scripts in development, pre-production, and even provide a final polish pass to a project on eve of principle photography. He has also sold a number of screenplays and received commissions, importantly Lone Mountain, produced by Liam Badger & International Film Partners, (with Roger Donaldson directing); and a Nat King Cole/Natalie Cole biopic. entitled Unforgettable for Arclight Films' Gary Hamilton. A racing film is in development with Black Bear Films with Oscar nominated Michaël R. Roskam directing. All three are due to begin production shortly.

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As Barney Kessler, meanwhile, he has recently finished writing Sugar  Me, the first in a series of crime novels set in 70’s Mayfair and featuring Welsh detective, Elisud Jones.