Tessa Watts
Encyclopedia
Tessa Watts is an English music video and music film producer. She has worked with artists including Michael Jackson
, Lionel Richie
, Paul McCartney
, Madonna
, Phil Collins
, Beyoncé, INXS
, and George Michael
. She is best known for her work at Virgin Records
, and with MTV
International.
Watts' career started at Virgin Records, where she was Press Officer for bands including the Sex Pistols
. Her work with the band plunged the record company into the mainstream of the punk rock era. Soon promoted to Director of Production at Virgin Records, she commissioned over 1,500 music videos, including Peter Gabriel
's "Sledgehammer
" video. "Sledgehammer" (1987) is the most awarded music video of all time, and won Best Video Awards in the UK, Europe (including at Cannes) and the USA. In 1999, it ranked at number four on MTV
's 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made, and has also been declared to be MTV's number one animated video of all time. MTV later announced that it is the most played music video in the history of the station. The video was partly animated by Academy Award winner Nick Park
(of Wallace and Gromit
fame); the video was Park's first job at Aardman Animations
.
In 1986, Watts set up the programming department for the European launch of MTV. Three years later, she received a Grammy Nomination for producing Mike + The Mechanics' acclaimed music video for "The Living Years
".
In 1989, Watts was named Managing Director of Propaganda Films
(Adaptation
, Being John Malkovich
) in London, working with directors including David Fincher
and Michael Bay
. In 2002, she began working with Sanctuary Records Group as the director of production. She was recruited by Metropolis Group
in 2006 as an Executive Producer
for the company's broadcast production division.
Watts is divorced from renowned rock journalist Michael Watts, formerly of music magazine Melody Maker
, with whom she has two children.
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, Beyoncé, INXS
INXS
INXS are an Australian rock band, formed as The Farriss Brothers in 1977 in Sydney, New South Wales. Mainstays are Garry Gary Beers on bass guitar, Andrew Farriss on guitar/keyboards, Jon Farriss on drums, Tim Farriss on lead guitar and Kirk Pengilly on guitar/sax...
, and George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
. She is best known for her work at Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
, and with MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
International.
Watts' career started at Virgin Records, where she was Press Officer for bands including the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
. Her work with the band plunged the record company into the mainstream of the punk rock era. Soon promoted to Director of Production at Virgin Records, she commissioned over 1,500 music videos, including Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's "Sledgehammer
Sledgehammer
A sledgehammer is a tool consisting of a large, flat head attached to a lever . The head is typically made of metal. The sledgehammer can apply more impulse than other hammers, due to its large size. Along with the mallet, it shares the ability to distribute force over a wide area...
" video. "Sledgehammer" (1987) is the most awarded music video of all time, and won Best Video Awards in the UK, Europe (including at Cannes) and the USA. In 1999, it ranked at number four on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made, and has also been declared to be MTV's number one animated video of all time. MTV later announced that it is the most played music video in the history of the station. The video was partly animated by Academy Award winner Nick Park
Nick Park
Nicholas Wulstan "Nick" Park, CBE is an English filmmaker of stop motion animation best known as the creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep....
(of Wallace and Gromit
Wallace and Gromit
Wallace and Gromit are the main characters in a series consisting of four British animated short films and a feature-length film by Nick Park of Aardman Animations...
fame); the video was Park's first job at Aardman Animations
Aardman Animations
Aardman Animations, Ltd., also known as Aardman Studios, or simply as Aardman, is a British animation studio based in Bristol, United Kingdom. The studio is known for films made using stop-motion clay animation techniques, particularly those featuring Plasticine characters Wallace and Gromit...
.
In 1986, Watts set up the programming department for the European launch of MTV. Three years later, she received a Grammy Nomination for producing Mike + The Mechanics' acclaimed music video for "The Living Years
The Living Years
Living Years is the second album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1988. The album reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.- History :...
".
In 1989, Watts was named Managing Director of Propaganda Films
Propaganda Films
Propaganda Films was a prolific and successful music video and film production company founded in 1983 by producers Steve Golin and Sigurjón Sighvatsson and directors David Fincher, Nigel Dick, Greg Gold and Dominic Sena...
(Adaptation
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
, Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich
Being John Malkovich is a 1999 American black comedy-fantasy film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. It stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich, who plays a fictional version of himself...
) in London, working with directors including David Fincher
David Fincher
David Andrew Leo Fincher is an American film and music video director. Known for his dark and stylish thrillers, such as Seven , The Game , Fight Club , Panic Room , and Zodiac , Fincher received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for his 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and...
and Michael Bay
Michael Bay
Michael Benjamin Bay is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing high-budget action films characterized by their fast edits, stylistic visuals and substantial practical special effects...
. In 2002, she began working with Sanctuary Records Group as the director of production. She was recruited by Metropolis Group
Metropolis Group
Metropolis Group is a music production and entertainment industry company established in 1989 by Gary Langan, Carey Taylor and Karin Clayton. It is located in The Power House, a Grade II listed building, at 70 Chiswick High Road in Chiswick, London, England. Metropolis Group is considered one of...
in 2006 as an Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
for the company's broadcast production division.
Watts is divorced from renowned rock journalist Michael Watts, formerly of music magazine Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
, with whom she has two children.