Andrew Mark Sewell

About

Andrew Mark Sewell is a former BBC Creative Director / Head of Content and now multi-award-winning audio drama producer/director (Best Drama & Fiction Producer at the Audio Production Awards 2022), publisher and indie filmmaker. Co-founder of UK indie B7 Media and new audio drama platform Audioteria.com, Sewell is also on the NYF Radio Advisory Board. Sewell is best known for the audio drama re-imagining of comic-strip space hero Dan Dare and cult BBC television series Blake’s 7. Other dramas for BBC Radio 4 include Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles, Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot, legal drama Barred and the much-praised retelling of the poem ‘Mahabharata’ set in modern Mumbai, Mahabharata Now. He was lead UK producer on the Wondery+ WW2 series Unsinkable featuring Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Brian Cox and John Malkovich, co-created and directed the radio soap opera Greenborne and most recently directed Theatre of the Damned featuring Amir El-Masry, Sam Crane and Kelly Burke, inspired by the true story of the legendary theatre in Paris, The Grand Guignol. Film credits include Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont and a four-film collaboration with Canadian director Paul Andrew Kimball; The Cuckoo in the Clock, Roundabout, Exit Thread and The Colour of Spring. Sewell is currently in pre-production of crime horror film Kill Everything with Ed Polgardy, who produced the hit horror film The Wretched. Skills: Ability to build and develop teams. Experience of managing all stages of a production’s lifecycle. Proven success in managing logistically complex projects. Good motivational skills, compassion and understanding. An inventive problem solver Fosters and encourages innovation and creativity. Persuasive and informed platform speaker

Experience

• Publisher at B7 Comics
  Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 11 mos

  Blending classic comic storytelling with a modern style, and also looking to spotlight comic gems from around the globe both past and present, B7 Comics looks to offer a range of series spanning science fiction, action-adventure, spy-fi, steampunk, fantasy and gothic horror.   B7 Comics is the graphic novel and publishing arm of UK indie B7 Media, the acclaimed audio drama producers of the Dan Dare Audio Adventures, Blake's 7, The Martian Chronicles and countless other recognisable sci-fi properties.   Titles include the recently announced revival of the classic British sci-fi adventure series Dan Dare in a trilogy of graphic novels written by bestselling author Alex de Campi (Duncan Jones’ Madi: Once Upon A Time in the Future) with art by Marc Laming (James Bond, Star Wars); John Freeman’s (Doctor Who) sci-fi thriller mini series Pilgrim: Secrets & Lies with art by Neil Edwards (Fantastic Four); Keith Page and Stephen Walsh’s acclaimed biographical graphic novel Hancock: The Lad Himself - charting the rise and fall of legendary comic, Tony Hancock; and Iqbal Ali’s paranormal mystery Mr Jones’s Smoking Bones with art by Priscilla Grippa.

• B7 MEDIA LIMITED (23 yrs 8 mos)
  • Creative Director
    2005 – Present

    Multi-award-winning Audio Drama Director (‘Best Drama & Fiction Producer’ Audio Production Awards 2022 and nominee 2015, 2017) and Indie Filmmaker. Exit Thread (25 awards, 5 nominations); Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont (3 awards; 2 nominations); The Colour of Spring.

  • Radio Drama Producer/Director
    2004 – Present

    BBC Radio 4 dramas include, Mahabharata Now (2021-25); Unsinkable (2024); Barred (2021); Greenborne (2022-); Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot (Best Director and Best Drama Special, NYC International Radio Program Awards 2017 / BBC Audio Drama Awards (2017) nominee); Ray Bradbury’s seminal sci-fi novel The Martian Chronicles (Best Drama Special, NYC International Radio Program Awards 2015); Dan Dare (Best Online Drama, NYC International Radio Program Awards 2018) and The Boy from Aleppo Who Painted the War. For Audible Originals was Series Director for docudrama The Space Race (2019) and psychological thriller, The Effect (2021).

  • Managing Director/Executive Producer
    Apr 2003 - Present · 23 yrs 8 mos

    B7 Media is an indie producer with an international track record in packaging and producing content for radio, television, film and theatre (Almeida Theatre, SKY, BBC, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 4 Extra, Audible/Amazon, UKTV, SPACE, Eastlink TV, Tara Theatre and the Syfy Channel).

• BBC Studios (6 yrs 4 mos)
  • Creative Director
    Jan 2001 - Apr 2003 · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • London Area, United Kingdom
    My role was to recognise, develop, supplement (via external commission or in-house production) and commercially exploit digital content associated with key BBC programme brands, particularly in relation to the development of programme support websites for syndication, local and regional brands, e.g., www.bbcamerica.com, and specifically in the genre of Kids, Factual and Entertainment. Key Responsibilities: • Manage international versioning and syndication of programme support websites, e.g., “Spooks,” “Walking with Cavemen,” “Ace Lightning,” “Fimbles” and “Coupling.” • Develop bespoke content for Broadband and Mobile applications, e.g., Real One Player (“Top Gear” & “The Old Grey Whistle Test”). • New Media representative on BBCW Joint Investment Groups. • Divisional representative on various BBC genre editorial boards, e.g., Children’s. • Ensure all sales agents and regions have the necessary support information tools required including: content sales document; rights clearances; contractual framework; business plan parameters; legal briefs; license agreements. • Nurture and develop partner opportunities and other market opportunities for BBC Online content, e.g., ProSieben, ABC, Discovery, Alliance Atlantis, NTT. • Work closely with BBC Production to advise, collaborate and guide editorial propositions with a view to optimising international potential for investment and exploitation. • Work across BBC Worldwide delivering strategic support for international Digital initiatives. In particular develop opportunities with Music, Kids and Learning.

  • Head of Content & Syndication, Int Business Development Global Media and Brand Development
    2000 – 2001

  • London Area, United Kingdom
    Defined and implemented BBC Worldwide’s content, business and commercial strategy for exploiting and distributing BBC digital content globally to third party broadcasters, local portals and local/regional brands, e.g., www.bbc.com. Key programme brands included; 'Walking with Dinosaurs,' 'Blue Planet,' 'Spooks' and 'Tweenies'. Also produced the UK Horizons/BBC Prime/BBC America simulcast event, Haunted. Broadcast from the Tower of London in October 2001 'Ghostwatch Live' is credited as the first live paranormal investigation on television. Divisional representative on BBC genre editorial boards. Commissioned digital content working closely with BBC Online, BBC News, BBCW Regions, IP [specifically Factual and Children’s], using style guides, clear brand briefs and ensuring consistency across platforms. This all contributed to extending the value of the BBC’s landmark brands online, adding value to programme sales and driving commercial revenues. Worked closely with BBC Production to advise, collaborate and guide editorial propositions to optimise international potential for investment and exploitation. Nurtured and developed partner opportunities and other market opportunities for BBC digital content, e.g.: ProSieben, ABC, Discovery, Alliance Atlantis, NTT.

  • Producer
    1997 – 2000

    Responsible for online development, editorial and commercial strategy across the genres of Science, Natural History, History and Cult TV. Produced live streamed events: Tomorrow’s World Live (from Earls Court), Dream House and Dig Egypt (‘exclusive’ coverage of the search for the lost tomb of Queen Nefertiti). • Produced “BBC Chat & Forums” boasting a range of live celebrity chats from the world of music, comedy, drama and entertainment. • Conceived and Produced “Tomorrow’s World+” a challenging, informative and entertaining take on the world of science, natural science and science fiction. • Produced various live on-line events: “Tomorrow’s World Live” (from Earls Court), “Dream House” and “Dig Egypt” (‘exclusive’ coverage of the search for the lost tomb of Nefertiti). • Programme support webzines produced include: “X-Creatures,” “Doctor Who,” “Invasion Earth” and “X-Files.”