Robin Jacob(I)
- Director
- Producer
- Editor
Robin Jacob had no interest in acting or the movies, other than
watching them until his last year at Bell Lane Junior School when his
English teacher Anna Scher cast him in the lead of the school play 'The
Mayflower.' From then on Robin knew what he wanted to do. Anna was
confident in Robin's talent that she agreed to try and get him in RADA
but his mother would not let him try. At the age of 14 after saving for
a year he bought his first Super 8 movie camera and started from
scratch to teach himself how to shoot, edit, sync up sound, etc. He
worked weekends, holidays in a local sports shop to save up for the
cost of the film, developing and the editing equipment. During one
summer holidays he spent several weeks picking fruit which he described
as the most back breaking work he had ever done. In two successive
CO-OP Young People's Film Festivals he had his first two movies
exhibited and won an award for them both. His second movie made just
after he passed his driving test involved doing a spoof on his
favourite movies; James Bond and he nearly wrote off his Austin 1100
and nearly rolled his friends VW Kombi! At Hendon County Grammar School
he seldom excelled in the academic side of things unless there was a
teacher of exceptional talent and communication skills. He did however,
excel in drama and sports. Playing for the 1st 11 in cricket, athletics
(long distance & triple jump), basketball and badminton. He still to
this day plays badminton whenever he has the chance. At the age of 16
he was given the chance to attend the London Film School but again his
mother refused to let him go. On finishing Grammar School he was a
freelance photographer as well as doing many other part-time jobs. He
had the good fortune to meet Steve Previn AIP (Pinewood) who had
several meetings with Robin helping him develop some ideas he had for
movies. Robin has never forgotten that kindness shown to him. Robin
moved to the Philippines in 1983 and spent most of his time in Asia
producing/directing TV shows, documentaries and Pop Videos. He has
produced more than fifty music albums including several Gold Discs and
the Multi-platinum Kumusta Ka for Freddie Aguilar. He was in Manila
1986 during the EDSA Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos. He also
experienced several Coup attempts during the Aquino administration and
in 1991 the Aquino Administration tried to ban his pop Video 'Paraiso'
for the top selling international Philippine band Smoky Mountain
because it featured the real life Smoky Mountain rubbish tip in the
centre of Manila. The record company BMG and the band management
refused to comply with the governments request... in the light of the
'EDSA Revolution' to allow Free Speech. Robin married his girlfriend
Monette De Vera in 2004.