Robin Jacob

Robin Jacob had no interest in acting or the movies, other than watching them until his last year at Bell Lane Junior School when his English teacher Anna Scher cast him in the lead of the school play 'The Mayflower. ' From then on Robin knew what he wanted to do. Anna was confident in Robin's talent that she agreed to try and get him in RADA but his mother would not let him try. At the age of 14 after saving for a year he bought his first Super 8 movie camera and started from scratch to teach himself how to shoot, edit, sync up sound, etc. He worked weekends, holidays in a local sports shop to save up for the cost of the film, developing and the editing equipment. During one summer holidays he spent several weeks picking fruit which he described as the most back breaking work he had ever done. In two successive CO-OP Young People's Film Festivals he had his first two movies exhibited and won an award for them both. His second movie made just after he passed his driving test involved doing a spoof on his favourite movies; James Bond and he nearly wrote off his Austin 1100 and nearly rolled his friends VW Kombi! At Hendon County Grammar School he seldom excelled in the academic side of things unless there was a teacher of exceptional talent and communication skills. He did however, excel in drama and sports. Playing for the 1st 11 in cricket, athletics (long distance & triple jump), basketball and badminton. He still to this day plays badminton whenever he has the chance. At the age of 16 he was given the chance to attend the London Film School but again his mother refused to let him go. On finishing Grammar School he was a freelance photographer as well as doing many other part-time jobs. He had the good fortune to meet Steve Previn AIP (Pinewood) who had several meetings with Robin helping him develop some ideas he had for movies. Robin has never forgotten that kindness shown to him.

Participating as a Judge at the 31st Telly Awards (2010) [May 2010]

He also experienced several Coup attempts during the Aquino administration and in 1991 the Aquino Administration tried to ban his pop Video 'Paraiso' for the top selling international Philippine band Smoky Mountain because it featured the real life Smoky Mountain rubbish tip in the centre of Manila. The record company BMG and the band management refused to comply with the governments request. . . in the light of the 'EDSA Revolution' to allow Free Speech.

He was in Manila 1986 during the EDSA Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos.

Robin moved to the Philippines in 1983 and spent most of his time in Asia producing/directing TV shows, documentaries and Pop Videos. He has produced more than fifty music albums including several Gold Discs and the Multi-platinum Kumusta Ka for Freddie Aguilar.

On visiting Anna Scher in the late 1970s she remarked "Are you a past pupil or lover?" He replied "The former, alas".

His first Drama Teacher at Bell Lane Primary School (1966) was Anna Scher who later set up the Anna Scher Youth Theatre in Islington, London.