Philip Jackson, born in Canada, developed an early fascination with filmmaking. At the tender age of 17, he created his first short film, a 7-minute comedy about a golf game gone awry, on a modest budget of $200 and a borrowed camera. This initial endeavor, shot with high school friends Phil Hallet and Dave Lorriman, was later acquired by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Philip's passion for film led him to pursue a honors BA in film at York University, where he concurrently produced documentaries and experimental movies. During his university days, he had to choose between his love of film and science, ultimately deciding to focus on the former, although he has always maintained a connection to science documentaries.
After graduating, Philip began writing for CBC TV's beloved national children's show, Mr. Dressup. He fondly recalls this period as his "best time in the business." Throughout the 1980s, he wrote and directed low-budget art features and documentaries. His first feature, The Music of the Spheres, shot on super 16 and a budget of $60,000, received praise from the Los Angeles Times and Variety, and he was also named Most Promising New Director at the Atlantic Film Festival in 1982. He went on to write, direct, and co-produce the critically acclaimed Strange Horizons, his first 35mm film, on a budget of $250,000.
Philip co-founded Producer's Network Associates with Daniel D'or, David McQuire, and Mark Terry in 1983. He directed their first commercial film, RepliKator, on a budget of $1,200,000, which premiered on the Sci-Fi channel in the USA and solidified his reputation as a sci-fi director. Subsequent films by PNA, such as Carver's Gate, The Deadly Wake, The Cusp, Shepherd, Future Fear, and many others, further cemented his status as "the sci-fi guy."
In addition to his work in commercial films, Philip has also produced, showran, and sometimes directed the Starhunter series, as well as its sequels, Starhunter 2300, and Starhunter REDUX. He has also worked on a variety of documentaries, including MELTDOWN on the ICE PLANET, Alien Life, Protest Media and Democracy, and others.
Currently, Philip is collaborating with Peter I Horton and James Mou on a trilogy of sci-fi productions and is developing TV series and securing financing for three of them.
