Steve Barron

Steven Barron
Barron in 2011
Born	(1956-05-04) 4 May 1956 Dublin, Ireland
Occupation(s)	Film director, film producer, music video director
Years active	1979–present

Steven "Steve" Barron (born 4 May 1956) is an Irish film director, film producer and music video director. He is best known for directing the films Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Coneheads (1993) and the innovative music videos for a-ha's "Take on Me" and Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".

Biography

He was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of filmmaker Zelda Barron (1929–2006). He attended St. Marylebone Grammar School. He made his music video directorial debut in 1979 and directed many of the 1980s' most memorable music videos, including "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, and "Take on Me" by a-ha. Barron only made eight music videos in the early 90s and made his last music video in 1993 for David Bowie's "As the World Falls Down".

In 1984, he directed the science fiction comedy Electric Dreams, and then went on to direct several episodes of the television series The Storyteller before returning to film, directing the films Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990, The Adventures of Pinocchio in 1996, Rat in 2000 and Mike Bassett: England Manager in 2001.

Barron has also directed several award winning miniseries, such as Merlin (1998), Arabian Nights (2000) and Dreamkeeper (2003) for Hallmark Entertainment.

In July 2010 it was revealed that Barron would make a return to music videos, directing the final video of a-ha, "Butterfly, Butterfly".

In late 2011, Barron's two-part production of Treasure Island was shown on British Sky television. The cast included Eddie Izzard as Long John Silver and Elijah Wood as Ben Gunn.

Barron's son, Oliver Barron, has appeared in three of his films.

Music videos

Some of the notable music videos Barron directed include:

• A-ha – "Take on Me" (1985), "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." (1985), "Hunting High and Low" (1986), "Cry Wolf" (1986), "Manhattan Skyline" (1987), "The Living Daylights" (1987), "Crying in the Rain" (1990), "Butterfly, Butterfly" (2010)
• Adam and the Ants – "Antmusic" (1980)
• Bryan Adams – "Cuts Like a Knife" (1983), "Heaven" (1985), "Summer of '69" (1985) 'Run To You' (1985)
• Culture Club – "God Thank You Woman" (1986)
• David Bowie – "As the World Falls Down" (1987) "Underground" (1987)
• Def Leppard – "Let's Get Rocked" (1992)
• Dire Straits – "Money for Nothing" (1985) "Calling Elvis" (1990) "Heavy Fuel" (1991)
• Dolly Parton – "Potential New Boyfriend" (1983)
• Eddy Grant – "Electric Avenue" (1982)"I Don't Wanna Dance" (1982)"Living on the Front Line" (1983)
• Fleetwood Mac – "Hold Me" (1982)
• Fun Boy Three – "It Ain't What You Do...." (1982)
• Heaven 17 – ", "Penthouse and Pavement" (1981), "Let Me Go" (1982)
• The Human League – "Don't You Want Me" (1981), "Love Action" (1981), "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" (1983)
• The Jam – "Strangetown" (1978) "When You're Young" (1979) – "Going Underground" (1979) "Dreams of Children" (1979)
• Joe Jackson – "Steppin' Out" (1982), "Real Men" (1982) 'Breaking Us in Two' (1982)
• Madonna – "Burning Up" (1983)
• Michael Jackson – "Billie Jean" (1983)
• Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – "Maid of Orleans" (1982)
• Paul McCartney – "Pretty Little Head" (1986)
• Secret Affair – "Time for Action" (1979), "My World" (1980), "Sound of Confusion" (1980)
• Sheena Easton – "Telephone" (1984)
• The Skids -"Iona"(1981)
• Styx – "Haven't We Been Here Before" (1983)
• Tears for Fears – "Pale Shelter" (1983)
• Toto – "Africa" (1982), "Rosanna" (1982)
• ZZ Top – "Rough Boy" (1986) "Sleeping Bag" (1986)

Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole "Unforgettable" (1991)

External links

• Steve Barron at IMDb
• Steve Barron at the Music Video Database
• eFilmCritic.com interview with Steve Barron on Choking Man