Stephen "Steve" Asquith was a crew member of the Thomas & Friends television series from the first to the twelfth series. He, David Eves and Terence Permane hold the record for working the longest on the series, with a total of 24 years. He was the director of the series from the eighth to twelfth series. He left after 2008 when the series converted to CGI animation.
Career
When David Mitton held the director position, Stephen (Steve) held a number of different positions on the show. These positions consisted of Second Unit Director (first series), First Assistant Director (second series), Production Supervisor (third series), Models Supervisor (fourth series and Thomas and the Magic Railroad), Assistant Director (fifth series), Associate Producer (sixth series), Programme Consultant (seventh series), Full Time Director (eighth-twelfth series) and Head Writer (ninth-eleventh series).
Asquith directed the sixth series episodes Jack Jumps In and A Friend in Need, and the Jack and the Sodor Construction Company spin-off series. He then became the show's main director after David Mitton's retirement and remained in that role until 2008 when production moved to Nitrogen Studios. After which, Greg Tiernan took the director's position.
His final production on the show was the twelfth series episode, Best Friends.
In an interview with SiF, Asquith mentioned that after his work on Thomas ended, he applied for a job as a letter sorter. In 2008, he also enrolled for a Masters in Printmaking.
Director
Series
- Series 1 (second unit director)
- Series 2 (first assistant director)
- Series 5 (assistant director)
- Series 6 (two episodes)
- Jack and the Sodor Construction Company
- Series 8
- Series 9
- Series 10
- Series 11
- Series 12
Specials
Production Supervisor
Series
Modeling Supervisor
Series
Movie
Producer
Series
- Series 6 (associate producer)
Programme Consultant
Series
Head Writer
Series
Trivia
- He, Simon Spencer, Laura Beaumont, Paul Larson, Ed Welch, Marc Seal, Jocelyn Stevenson and Ross Hastings have all worked on Jim Henson's Construction Site.
- He was credited as "Stephen Asquith" in Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
- His favourite Thomas characters are what he calls; "Awdry's Magnificent 7 - Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby".
- Asquith was not involved with Tugs by David Mitton and Robert D. Cardona, he was trying to become a commercials director with a company called FilmFair.
- The Great Discovery and Percy and the Magic Carpet are both his favourite projects during his position as director.
Gallery
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