John Bryan Evans

Last updated

John Evans
Born
John Bryan Casey

(1980-05-05) 5 May 1980 (age 44)
Wrexham, Wales, UK
NationalityWelsh
Alma materBangor University
Occupation(s) Film director, TV producer, Screenwriter, Film producer
Spouse(m.2007-????)
Children3
Military career
AllegianceFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Service/branchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Years of service1996–2005
Unit Royal Engineers
Battles/wars Operation Banner War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Iraq War

John Evans (born John Bryan Casey on 5 May 1980) [1] is a Welsh film and television director, producer, writer and illustrator. He also works as an artist using the name JB Evans. [2] He is a former soldier. He works in the medium of both English and Welsh and produces both factual and fiction productions.

Contents

Early and Pre-career Life

Born in Wrexham, North Wales on 5 May 1980, Evans grew up in Bangor, Gwynedd. [1] He went to local schools Ysgol Cae Top and Ysgol Friars. His headmaster at Ysgol Cae Top was John McBryde, father of former Wales international rugby union player Robin McBryde. [3] In 1996 Evans joined the British Army, serving as a Royal Engineer and saw service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq [4] After leaving the armed forces Evans attended Bangor University and studied Film. He was awarded a First Class BA(Hons) and later received a Distinction in a Film making MA.

Career

Although his undergraduate degree was predominately academic, Evans began making short films while studying at University. He won the 2012 Welsh Royal Television Society Best Fiction award for his graduation film Long I Stood There. His short Welsh Language film NOT was also recognised by the RTS. His step-daughter Ceri and daughter Annabel played the two young children in the film about domestic abuse, which made an allegorical reference to the Welsh Not, with the former winning a number of Best Actress awards. [5] [6] [7] In 2013 he made the documentary Curtains which featured on BBC Three Fresh. It focused on a Women's Aid refuge, the staff and women that had escaped domestic abuse. Evans grew up watching his mother abused by his father. After the break-up of his parents he and his siblings took their mother's surname.

For a BBC interview about the film he stated "I grew up having to watch my mum beaten and bullied by my abusive father. The film as a result became a very personal journey. With Curtains, I think I became as much as a participant as the women and support workers. With some reflexive reverting, perhaps I provided the child's point of view, the only view I have." [8] Evans placed the dedication "For my mum" at the end of the film. [9] In 2014 his short drama Jam Man was nominated at the Celtic Media Festival for Best Short Drama. [10] Evans and the film where then nominated by the Royal Television Society for Best Drama. [11] The Welsh language drama was first broadcast on Sky Arts. He then went on to produce and direct Cysgod Rhyfel (The Shadow of War) which was broadcast on S4C. [12] The film focused on soldiers with Posttraumatic stress disorder and used the talking head accounts of war veterans who had served in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, along with highly stylised dramatic sequences written by Evans . During the film Maldwyn Jones, a Falklands veteran contributing to the film discussed the suicide of L/Sgt Dan Collins, who had struggled with PTSD after serving in Afghanistan. The film showed the video message Dan left his mother Deana who had contributed to the film. [13] [14] During an interview with Jason Mohammad about the film Evans stated 'The sad thing is, all too often something happens and it goes too far. Dan couldn't cope any more and felt he needed to take his own life. These almost cataclysmic events will raise the subject, but it's just really sad that something like that had to happen first'. [15] Evans went on to make a documentary film for S4C in Afghanistan with former Royal Marine officer and Conspicuous Gallantry Cross recipient Owen Davis. [4]

After this Evans went on to direct on the S4C series Ward Plant and the BBC One series Flint Des Res. His diverse range continued when Evans began directing episodes of the CBS crime drama Elementary , while going on to create the children S4C series Antur Natur Cyw.

Evans is also the writer and illustrated of the Catrin & Abi book series.

Personal life

Evans lives on Anglesey with his family. He has three children Annabel, Jack and Scarlet. He also has a stepdaughter, Ceri. Despite working and having written in the Welsh language, he does not consider himself a fluent Welsh speaker.


Books as writer and illustrator

TitleISBNNotes
My very special dog ISBN   978-1-7392961-0-0 Catrin & Abi series
Ready to race ISBN   978-1-7392961-1-7 Catrin & Abi series
The mystery of the missing shoe ISBN   978-1-7392961-8-6 Catrin & Abi series
I need paint ISBN   978-1-7392961-5-5 Catrin & Abi series
So many people know me ISBN   978-1-7392961-7-9 Catrin & Abi series
There is a dinosaur in the garden ISBN   978-1-7392961-9-3 Catrin & Abi series
Pirates of the Menai Straits ISBN   978-1-7392961-4-8 Catrin & Abi series
My best friends’s birthday ISBN   978-1-7392961-3-1 Catrin & Abi series
Moving to the zoo ISBN   978-1-7392961-6-2 Catrin & Abi series
Trip to the moon ISBN   978-1-7392961-2-4 Catrin & Abi series
Fy Nghi Arbennig Iawn ISBN   978-1-7395201-0-6 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Barod i rasio ISBN   978-1-7395201-1-3 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Dirgelwch yr esgid goll ISBN   978-1-7395201-2-0 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Dwi angen paent ISBN   978-1-7395201-3-7 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Mae cymaint o bobl yn fy nabod i ISBN   978-1-7395201-4-4 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Mae deinosor yn yr ardd ISBN   978-1-7395201-5-1 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Môr-ladron Y Fenai ISBN   978-1-7395201-6-8 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Penblwydd fy ffrindiau gorau ISBN   978-1-7395201-7-5 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Symud ir sŵ ISBN   978-1-7395201-8-2 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi
Taith ir Lleuad ISBN   978-1-7395201-9-9 Cyfres Catrin ac Abi

Filmography

YearTitleRoleDescriptionBroadcastNotes
DirectorWriterProducer
2011When Saturday ComesYesYesShort Documentary Film
2012LuckYesYesShort Documentary Film
NOTYesYesYesShort FilmNominated Best Fiction Royal Television Society Wales
Long I Stood ThereYesYesYesShort FilmWinner Best Fiction Royal Television Society Wales
2013CurtainsYesYesShort Documentary FilmBBC Three
AmomynusYesYesShort Documentary Film
2014 Cysgod Ryfel (The Shadow of War) YesYes Dramatic SequencesYesDocumentary FilmS4C
Gohebwyr: Owen Davis- Yn ol i Afganistan (Owen Davis-Back to Afghanistan)YesDocumentary FilmS4C BAFTA Cymru Nominated
2015Jam ManYesYesYesDramaSky ArtsNominated Best Short Drama Celtic Media Festival

Nominated Best Drama Royal Television Society Wales

Flint Des ResYesDocumentary SeriesBBC OneTwo part series
2015–PresentWard PlantYesDocumentary seriesS4C
2015–Present Elementary YesDrama series CBS
2015-2017Ysbyty Cyw BachYesYesYesSeriesS4CUNESCO Prix Jeunesse [16] Nominated
2017Antur natur CywYesYesYesSeriesS4CCreator of Series

Related Research Articles

<i>Pobol y Cwm</i> Welsh-language television soap opera

Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language soap opera produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Cymru and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it opened in November 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangor, Gwynedd</span> City and community in Wales

Bangor is a cathedral city and community in Gwynedd, North Wales. It is the oldest city in Wales. Historically part of Caernarfonshire, it had a population of 15,100 at the 2021 census. Landmarks include Bangor Cathedral, Bangor University and Garth Pier. The Britannia and Menai Suspension bridges connect the city to the Isle of Anglesey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ioan Gruffudd</span> Welsh actor (born 1973)

Ioan Gruffudd is a Welsh actor. He is known for his roles in film and television series in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.

Caerdydd is a Welsh language television programme set in Cardiff made by Fiction Factory for Welsh public service television station S4C. The series is "a stylish, new drama about modern, urban Welsh-speakers living in a bilingual city" following "a group of modern urban twenty- and thirtysomethings" with "their complex friendships and relationships [set] against a backdrop of relentless socialising". First commissioned by S4C's drama editor Angharad Jones in 2005, as part of a drive by S4C to reach a younger audience, the third series of Caerdydd started its run on S4C on 30 March 2008. A fourth series was commissioned and went into production in Spring 2008. It started broadcasting on 14 June 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Ifans</span> Welsh actor (born 1967)

Rhys Owain Evans, better known as Rhys Ifans, is a Welsh actor. He is best known for his roles in Notting Hill (1999), Kevin & Perry Go Large (2000), and Enduring Love (2004) as well as his portrayals of Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010), Dr. Curt Connors / Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), and Grigori Rasputin in The King's Man (2021). Other roles include Hector DeJean in the Epix thriller series Berlin Station, Mycroft Holmes in the CBS series Elementary, and Ser Otto Hightower in the HBO fantasy series House of the Dragon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Rhys</span> Welsh actor (born 1974)

Matthew Rhys Evans is a Welsh actor. He gained recognition for playing Kevin Walker in the family drama series Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011) and Philip Jennings in the spy drama series The Americans (2013–2018), the latter of which earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018. He was Emmy-nominated for his guest role in Girls (2017) and for playing the title role in the period series Perry Mason (2020–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eve Myles</span> Welsh actress (born 1978)

Eve Myles is a Welsh actress. She is best known for her television roles portraying Ceri Lewis in the long-running BBC Wales drama series Belonging (2000–2009), Gwen Cooper in the BBC science-fiction series Torchwood (2006–2011), and Faith Howells in the bilingually produced BBC / S4C drama series Keeping Faith / Un Bore Mercher (2017–2020). She is also an accomplished theatre actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ieuan Rhys</span> Welsh actor

Ieuan Rhys is a Welsh actor. His television work has included thirteen years in the BBC Cymru soap opera Pobol y Cwm, Seargent Tom Swann in the last series of A Mind to Kill and six series of the Welsh-language version of Mr & Mrs – Sion a Sian for HTV. For the last four series he portrayed Eurig Bell, the "not to be messed with" Deputy Headmaster in S4C's Gwaith/Cartref.

<i>Rownd a Rownd</i> Welsh-language soap opera

Rownd a Rownd is a Welsh soap opera created by Rondo Media and shown on S4C since 11 September 1995. It was claimed to be the first Celtic-related language soap specifically directed at a youth audience. It is set in the fictional harbour town of Glanrafon in Anglesey.

Hywel Gwynfryn is a Welsh television and radio personality and lyricist. He started working for the BBC in 1964 and joined BBC Radio Cymru at its inception, being the first voice heard on the new station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aneirin Hughes</span> Welsh actor and singer

Aneirin Hughes is a Welsh actor and singer known for playing Chief Superintendent Brian Prosser in the BBC4 Welsh police drama Hinterland. He won a Best Actor BAFTA Cymru for his appearance as Delme in Cameleon (1997), a Welsh language film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ysgol y Strade</span> Secondary & sixth form school in Carmarthenshire, Wales

Ysgol Gyfun y Strade is a Welsh-medium comprehensive school and sixth form in the town of Llanelli, Wales. It opened in September 1977 as a mixed gender school. In 2022 there were 1,209 pupils enrolled at the school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Griffiths (director)</span>

Paul Griffiths is a Welsh writer, theatre critic and director. He won the Drama Medal at the National Urdd Gobaith Cymru Eisteddfod three times in succession between 1995 and 1997 – the only person ever to do this. Between March 2006 and December 2013 he contributed a controversial weekly theatre column to the National Paper of Wales Y Cymro. He is also a regular contributor on the Welsh language Television Channel S4C and BBC Radio Cymru.

Ceri Sherlock is a Welsh theatre, film and television director.

Iwan "Iwcs" Roberts is a Welsh actor, lyricist, singer, novelist, script writer and film producer of Dal y Mellt. He has worked on various films, including the BAFTA-winning productions Eldra and Y Lleill, and is well known for his portrayal of character Kevin Powell in the Welsh soap opera Pobol y Cwm. He has also had a successful career as a singer-songwriter, both as part of the duo Iwcs a Doyle and as a solo artist.

Pontypridd High School is an English-medium comprehensive school in the village of Cilfynydd near Pontypridd, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gai Toms</span> Musical artist

Gareth 'Gai' J Thomas 'Toms' is a Welsh singer-songwriter, musician, producer and actor. In 1992 he co-formed the popular Welsh ska-rock band Anweledig, which developed into one of Wales' top live party bands. From 1997 to 2007 he created an 'off the road' Welsh folk outfit Mim Twm Llai, releasing three albums on Recordiau Sain. Since 2008, he dropped the Mim Twm Llai pseudonym for his own lifelong nickname Gai Toms, performing solo on guitar or with his backing band. His latest album titled 'Orig', based on the life of Welsh wrestling legend Orig Williams, gave us Gai Toms a'r Banditos.

<i>Cysgod Rhyfel</i> British TV series or programme

Cysgod Rhyfel, also known as The Shadow of War, is a 2014 documentary film which explores the mental effects of conflict on former soldiers and their families. Predominantly in Welsh, the film was first broadcast on S4C on 18 May 2014. It was directed and produced by John Evans.

Hidden is a Welsh television drama serial, created by Mark Andrew and Ed Talfan. It was initially broadcast in Welsh on the Welsh-language channel S4C under its Welsh name Craith. The bilingual version of the series, under the English name Hidden, was broadcast on BBC One Wales and BBC Four. The Welsh-language versions of the first two series aired on S4C in 2018 and 2019, respectively, with the third and final series beginning on 10 October 2021. The English-language version of the third and final series aired in April 2022.

<i>Llan-ar-goll-en</i> British TV series or programme

Llan-ar-goll-en is a Welsh-language British live action/animated children's television show created by Siwan Jobbins for S4C, and produced by Twt Productions and Cwmni Da. The show follows the adventures of two detectives; human Prys ar Frys and Ceri the Dog-tective, who manage to solve many mysteries in the titular village. It ran for 2 series with 51 episodes from 23 December 2013 to 14 March 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 John Evans at the Internet Movie Database (Retrieved 14 May 2014)
  2. ↑ "John is a film and television director based on Ynys Môn. He was born and raised in North Wales and grew up in Bangor along the Menai Straits, surrounded by a mixture of urban and rural life" . Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Crump, Eryl (2007). "He showed me what life was like, I couldn't have ever wished for a better dad". Daily Post . Trinity Mirror . Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 Wightwick, Abbie (18 May 2014). "Flashbacks and nightmares: Former soldier investigates the effects of war on Welsh servicemen". Western Mail. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Father and stepdaughter win awards at Welsh film festival". accessdate=14 May 2014. Archived 21 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "And the winners are…" Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine . ffresh Festival website. (Retrieved 14 May 2014)
  7. ↑ "Two Film Wins and an Acting Gong!" Archived 15 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine . Adda Films web site.(Retrieved 14 May 2014)
  8. ↑ "BBC Fresh Profile: John Evans". BBC Three (Retrieved 14 May 2014)
  9. ↑ "Curtains". bbc.co.uk. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Celtic Media Festival: Jam Man". celticmediafestival.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bangor University students up for top film maker award". dailypost.co.uk. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  12. ↑ (Retrieved 19 May 2014)
  13. ↑ BBC News (14 July 2013). "UK soldier and veteran suicides 'outstrip Afghan deaths". BBC News. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Deana Collins". IMDb. (Retrieved 14 May 2014)
  15. ↑ Jason Mohammad Show (Retrieved 22 May 2014)
  16. ↑ S4C Press release (Retrieved 15 September 2017)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.