A writer/director whose work is currently on NETFLIX and DISNEY+                   Years of experience mentoring students who have gone on to win international prizes for their short films and progres

Find out more about Neil

• 1) When did you start your personal development? What motivated this choice?

  I've always been keen on personal development. Part of the thrill when I first became interested in filmmaking, was the enormous scope for building upon and developing any knowledge that I acquired in the field. Particularly when it comes to art, there's really no limit to the amount of personal development that one can undertake. There are always new skills to acquire, always more areas that you can refine, and a major part of the enjoyment is through development and experimentation. By its very nature, this process helps you to become a better filmmaker.

• 2) Describe your own understanding of "personal development" and what can it bring in the short and long-term?

  For me, personal development is all about the journey. Obviously there's a strong desire for self improvement and to really refine and hone your skills. However, I think it's imperative that the journey itself be enjoyable and fulfilling, as it's such a huge portion of the time that you spend doing what you're passionate about. Whether it's theory, practical or technical skills, or even experimentation and pushing yourself a little out of your comfort zone. Personal development is not only about improving your skills, but also about enjoying the process itself. This is part of the reason why I like to surround myself with people who have a similar passion. Either people who I can help to develop, or who in turn can help to develop me.

• 3) What are some practical tips to help improve self-confidence?

  It would be very easy for me to say that we should all believe in ourselves. This is of course true, but it's easier said than done. For me, the greatest aid in building self-confidence has always been through the passion to learn and develop my interests. Regardless of whatever it is that you feel passionate about, the more you immerse yourself in those areas and the more that you develop your own voice or personality, the more self-confidence will come. Part of the journey is about discovering your own voice and your own particular approach to whatever it is that you feel most passionate about doing. I think one of the most vital things is to stay true to yourself in whatever it is that you choose to do. Particularly within art, people having an uncanny ability to sense when somebody's voice is inauthentic, therefore truly following the path that appeals most to you is always imperative.

• 4) Do you think a teacher can learn from his students? Is there a lesson where you have experienced this?

  Absolutely. Part of the reason that I love teaching and mentoring is that it's a two-way street. I have a real passion to impart the things that I've learnt over many years, but as with so many things in life you are always learning. I've been fortunate to have such a fascinating range of mentees and students, all with different interests, passions and talents, that I've been fortunate to learn a huge amount from them over the years. I think one of the other things that you learn from your students is just how passionate you feel about your chosen subject. Imparting knowledge and sharing the wisdom that you've worked hard to accrue over the years it's not only a lovely thing to pass on, but also can leave you with a great sense of satisfaction when you see your students succeeded and move forward as they develop their own voices.

• 5) What personalities do you admire; who represents personal and professional success in your opinion?

  In my own field of storytelling and film, I think one of my biggest admirations would go to David Lynch. He's an artist that has always been true to his own voice, even sometimes perhaps at the expense of greater accessibility to a wider audience. He has nevertheless carved out a huge cult following and a niche for himself, but I think most importantly, there's an authenticity to the work that he produces which makes it tremendously powerful. Whether he's working in film, television, art or music, the level of integrity he always brought to his work is a real inspiration.

• 6) What are your hobbies and what benefits do they have on your motivation?

  I'm in the fortunate position of having a hobby which is also my profession. I love film making I love taking photos. I love the process of editing and writing and playing with lenses. It's something I do in my spare time as well as when I'm getting paid for it. That said, I also just love the process of being creative. I love music theatre art and travelling. Being a filmmaker it's very fortunate because you're in a unique position where really any type of experience can be integrated into your storytelling and the work that you do. One of the benefits from this is that you're in a position where you can really absorb and enjoy the process of everyday life whilst also finding a way for it to feed in to your own creativity.

• 7) Who are your classes for, specifically? Is this domain open to all?

  My classes are really for anyone with a passion and interest to learn more about a variety of areas in filmmaking. Due to my passion for the craft, I've been fortunate enough to professionally develop my skills in a multitude of areas. The advantage to this is that it means I'm well equipped to impart
  my knowledge and offer classes on a wide variety of skills. Writing and Directing are my main areas of professional interest, but I'm also a skilled cinematographer, editor, producer, and sound designer. I'm fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to share this knowledge with a variety of students over the years, whether it be at one of the world class film schools that I've been privileged to teach at, or through my own one-to-one mentoring. Some of the people that come to my classes are considering career transitions, others are interested in learning more about filmmaking, and some just want guidance and learning in either a particular skill set or to help them step up to the next level of their career. It doesn't really matter what your level of previous skill or experience are, I enjoy and cater to people at all levels.

• 8) Being a Superprof requires some adaptability. Tell us about your methods in adapting to different individuals.

  I think being adaptable is absolutely essential for teaching in general. Personally I love the variety of being able to work with people at many different levels of experience, and with different areas that they want to focus on. This variety is one of the things that keeps the work fresh and really interesting. As a result, I think the adaptability is one of the things that makes mentoring really fun and rewarding, far more than a challenge. It's enjoyable to adapt.