BIOGRAPHIES

THE DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER – MARK NEALE

The Director is the key to the film’s success. Experience behind the camera, strong management skills, and an innate grasp of character and storytelling are integral to quality documentary filmmaking. Mark Neale’s track record as an innovative documentarian, his passion for and understanding of motorcycle racing in all its forms, and the trust and respect he has won from the MotoGP racers, teams and organisers in the course of making FASTER made him the natural choice for this film.

Neale has over ten years experience in the creation of cutting-edge film, TV and new media. As well as FASTER, his recent work includes the internationally acclaimed documentary, No Maps For These Territories (2001) about the cult sci-fi author William Gibson.
 
Neale earned a Best Director nomination at the 1994 MTV Awards for U2’s music video Stay (Faraway So Close) which he co-directed with Wim Wenders. He also directed the U2 video Lemon and numerous hits for artists including Counting Crows, Paul Weller and The Verve Pipe.
 
His other credits include: video for U2’s ZOO TV world tour; two 13-part series for Channel 4 (UK) television, Mojo Working (1991) and Buzz (1990); and Ambassador Of Goodwill, a documentary for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. For Expo ’92 in Seville, Neale co-directed Memory Palace, a show combining film and live performance with a soundtrack by Peter Gabriel and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. In 1989 Neale was the winner of the Kodak/Lloyds Bank commercials competition for new directors.
 
Neale left his native England in 1998 and is now based in Santa Monica, California, where he rides a BMW 1150GS every day (which he bought in 2000, long before Ewan McGregor got his).

THE PRODUCERS

ELIZABETH STANLEY - PRODUCER

Elizabeth Stanley recently launched her own production company, Elizabeth Stanley Pictures (ESP), as well as a literary management shingle, Next Stop Management. ESP has a number of feature film projects in different stages of development, both in the US and abroad with directors such as Joe Dante and Mary Lambert.

Ms. Stanley also serves on a number of Advisory Boards for independent film organizations in the US, including Film Independent's Project Involve (a mentoring program for filmmakers of color), the Latino Entertainment Media Institute, and Visual Communications Film Festival.

From 1997 to 2004, Ms. Stanley was the Assistant Executive Director/Director of Organizing for the Directors Guild of America where she headed the DGA’s work with independent filmmakers and oversaw talent agency relations. From 1987 to 1997, she was the Administrator (chief executive) for the Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan, the pre-eminent US entertainment industry joint labor management training plan.

IAN MACLEAN – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Ian MacLean is the son of former racer and current MotoGP team owner Bob MacLean.  Ian has worked in the motorsports business for over 20 years, most recently with Roush Industries, owners of NASCAR's Roush Racing.  His work experience in Grand Prix motorcycle racing dates back to 1983 when he worked as a mechanic for a British 250 cc team.  He served as Executive Producer on FASTER and has been integrally involved with its ground-breaking methods of distribution.