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Story First Film.

WIX Reel No branding low res.mp4

Jonothon Lees

Award-Winning Producer/Director & Senior Creative Lead

Creative Leadership. Hands-on filmmaking.

I bring more than two decades of experience across commercials, branded content, documentary and corporate communications. From shaping the initial brief and developing the creative approach to directing, editing and final delivery, I can lead every stage of a production while remaining closely connected to the work itself.

From brief to delivery.

I can lead an entire production or join at a particular stage, providing senior creative and practical production support wherever it is needed.

Creative development
  • Brief development
  • Creative concepts
  • Treatments and pitches
  • Scriptwriting
  • Campaign planning
Producing
  • Budgets and schedules
  • Crewing and casting
  • Contributor development
  • Location planning
  • Client and account management
Directing
  • Commercials and campaigns
  • Documentary storytelling
  • Interviews and contributors
  • Actors and performance
  • Creative leadership on set
Post-production
  • Editing and story shaping
  • Editorial direction
  • Graphics and animation oversight
  • Client review management
  • Versions and final delivery
find_your_light_(general)_30_seconds_v1.mp4

Find Your Light - TVC Commercial
 

Creative lead & Director
BIG MASTER SW DUB GRADE - PART 1 low res.mp4

Work.Buy.Consume.Die.
 

Creative lead, Editor & Director
behind_the_scenes_-_uoh_tvc_2018_v2 (1080p).mp4

New Heights - TVC Commercial
 

Creative lead & Director
fabulous_femininities_30_sec_clip_v1 (1080p).mp4
fbs_-_make_your_own_way_(2025_update)_v3 (1080p).mp4

Fabulous Femininities - Documentary
 

Jits - Documentary
 

Start With Yours - TVC Commercial
 

FBS 90 sec (16x9) - MIXED.00_00_58_06.Still010.jpg

Animation Showreel
 

Creative lead & Director

Nine projects that reflect the range of my work, from large-scale commercials and campaigns to documentaries and smaller, more personal stories.

Producer & Director

Make Your Own Path - TVC Commercial
 

Creative lead & Director
university_of_hull_tvc_2025_v1 (1080p).mp4
Creative lead & Director
Producer & Director
animation_reel_2022.mp4_v1.2.mp4
Creative lead & Director

Lets Get On With It- TVC Commercial
 

Selected Work.

Portfolio Stills.

A selection of stills from commercials, documentaries, campaigns and branded films created for agencies, production companies and direct clients. Each project demanded something different, from leading large-scale commercial productions to finding the human story within a complex subject.

01 / 35
'Remy Brandee' - Fabulous Femininities
Beautiful shot of Remy, practising her routine.
PD280814007498-11.jpg

About.

I’ve spent more than 20 years making films, long enough to know that every production begins with a question. There is something to say, someone to reach and an idea that has not yet found its final shape. My job is to find the film inside all of that.

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I work as a producer/director, creative lead and editor, moving from the first conversation and the rough beginnings of an idea through the noise and pressure of production to the final decisions made in the edit.

 

I’ve led large crews on major advertising campaigns, made award-winning documentaries and delivered hundreds of films for universities, brands, agencies and public-sector organisations.

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The scale changes. The fundamentals do not. Whether directing a commercial or sitting opposite someone telling a difficult personal story, I look for honesty, purpose and the detail that makes an audience pay attention.

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Based in the midlands. working everywhere.

Email.

storyfirstfilm@gmail.com

Phone.

Coming soon.

If you’re looking for an experienced producer/director, creative lead or editor for an upcoming project, send me a message using the form or contact me directly. I'll aim to be in touch within two hours of receipt.

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