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Simon Fields

Simon Fields (born 4 October 1955) is a film and television renowned for his extensive career spanning music videos, feature films, and scripted and unscripted series, with notable contributions to projects featuring artists like and , as well as high-grossing movies such as Shall We Dance. Born in , , Fields was educated at before entering the television commercial production industry in the city, where he advanced to production manager at the . In 1978, he joined Jon Roseman Productions and relocated to in 1979, marking the start of his American career; he later co-founded Gowers, Fields, Flattery and, in 1983, became president and CEO of U.S. Limelight, a company that grew to $150 million in annual revenue while producing award-winning music videos for icons including , , and , alongside early film ventures like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. From 2003 to 2013, Fields served as president of in partnership with , overseeing the production of several feature films—such as (2006), Bordertown (2007), and the box-office success Shall We Dance (2004), which grossed approximately $170 million worldwide—and executive producing television projects including the family series The Fosters, which premiered in 2013. His earlier film work also includes Hear My Song (1991) and the critically acclaimed (1995), for which Fields shared a award for British Producer of the Year. Following his tenure at Nuyorican, Fields founded Fields Entertainment, through which he has continued producing unscripted content such as the hidden-camera series on and on truTV, as well as developing scripted projects like Blowback with Shine Pictures. Residing in with his wife Melanie and their two children, Fields remains active in the entertainment industry, leveraging his veteran status across platforms to champion diverse storytelling.

Early life

Education

Simon Fields, a native of , attended , a prestigious independent boarding school located in Stowe, , . This formative experience provided him with a comprehensive typical of leading British public schools, emphasizing academic rigor alongside extracurricular development in arts and leadership. Upon graduating from , Fields entered London's vibrant television commercial production scene, gaining hands-on experience in the industry. He advanced through entry-level positions, building expertise in the fast-paced world of commercial filmmaking. Fields ultimately rose to the role of production manager at the , a key London-based firm specializing in and for commercials during the 1970s. In this position, he oversaw operational aspects of commercial projects, contributing to the company's workflow in delivering high-quality television advertisements. This early training laid the groundwork for his subsequent career in media production. In 1979, Fields relocated to the to expand his professional opportunities.

Initial industry experience

After completing his education at , Simon Fields entered the advertising production industry in by joining Jon Roseman Productions in 1978 in an entry-level role. There, he began building practical experience in the creation of television commercials, working within a company known for its pioneering work in promotional video content. In 1979, Fields relocated to to support Jon Roseman Productions' expansion into the U.S. market, helping to establish its American division amid growing demand for high-quality commercial work. This move positioned him at the forefront of transatlantic production efforts, bridging British expertise with emerging opportunities in Hollywood's advertising scene. During these formative years from 1978 to 1980, Fields collaborated closely with key figures such as director and producer Paul Flattery at Jon Roseman Productions, refining his production skills on high-profile projects. In early 1980, following their departure from Jon Roseman, Fields co-founded Gowers, Fields, Flattery (GFF), an independent firm. He took on critical responsibilities like budgeting and line producing, contributing to the company's reputation for innovative visuals in commercials that laid the groundwork for broader audiovisual projects.

Career

Music videos and commercials

In the early 1980s, Simon Fields co-founded the production company Gowers, Fields, Flattery with director Bruce Gowers and producer Paul Flattery, specializing in television commercials and music videos. This London-based firm quickly gained prominence by producing high-profile music videos, such as Prince's "1999" (1982) and Rod Stewart's "Blondes (Have More Fun)" (1979), leveraging innovative directing techniques to blend performance footage with narrative elements. In 1983, Fields partnered with director Steve Barron to establish the U.S. branch of Limelight Productions in Los Angeles, expanding operations across the Atlantic while maintaining a London headquarters. Under Fields' leadership as president and CEO, Limelight became a leading force in music video production through a portfolio that emphasized cutting-edge visual effects and storytelling. The company produced iconic videos including Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" (1983), which featured groundbreaking choreography and lighting to capture the song's rhythmic intensity, and Madonna's "Like a Virgin" (1984), known for its provocative bridal imagery and cultural provocation. Similarly, Fields produced Prince's "When Doves Cry" (1984), utilizing minimalist sets and symbolic visuals to enhance the track's emotional depth, earning it MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Male Video and Best Choreography. Limelight's music video work achieved significant recognition, including multiple for a-ha's "" (1985), where Fields served as producer; the video won six awards, including Best Direction and Best Concept Video, for its pioneering animation technique that seamlessly integrated live-action with hand-drawn animation. These projects not only elevated artists like Jackson, , and to stardom but also set industry standards for visual innovation during the format's formative years. Parallel to its music video success, Limelight's commercial division, overseen by Fields, created high-impact advertisements for major brands, including and , employing bold cinematic styles and celebrity endorsements to drive cultural resonance. For instance, the firm's campaigns incorporated dynamic athlete narratives and motivational themes, while ads utilized minimalist aesthetics and sensual imagery to redefine luxury branding in the . These efforts contributed to Limelight's reputation for blending artistic flair with commercial effectiveness, attracting clients like and solidifying Fields' role in shaping advertising's .

Film production

Fields transitioned from producing music videos and commercials at Limelight Productions to feature films in the early 1990s, marking his entry into with the blockbuster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). As on this live-action adaptation of the popular comic book series, Fields oversaw a project that became a breakthrough for the studio, boasting a modest budget of $13.5 million and achieving massive commercial success with $135 million in North American earnings and over $200 million worldwide. The film's high-energy action and family-friendly appeal highlighted Fields' ability to scale up from short-form content to theatrical releases. A pivotal aspect of Fields' film career was his long-term collaboration with director , beginning in the late 1980s and spanning several critically acclaimed projects that emphasized heartfelt, character-driven stories. Their first joint effort, Hear My Song (1991), was a -drama about a nightclub owner searching for an Irish tenor, which premiered at the and established their creative synergy. This partnership continued with Funny Bones (1995), a comedy-drama exploring the world of stand-up in , , starring and ; the film earned Fields the London Film Critics' Circle (ALFS) British Producer of the Year Award in 1996 for its innovative blend of humor and . Subsequent collaborations included The Mighty (1998), an inspirational coming-of-age tale about two misfit boys based on Rodman Philbrick's novel, featuring and ; Serendipity (2001), a with and that grossed $50 million domestically on a $28 million budget; and Shall We Dance? (2004), a of the hit starring , , and , which succeeded commercially with $170 million worldwide against a $50 million budget. In 2003, Fields joined Nuyorican Productions as President, partnering with Jennifer Lopez and Benny Medina to focus on films highlighting Latino culture and narratives of personal triumph. Under his leadership, the company produced Bordertown (2006), a thriller directed by Gregory Nava starring Lopez as a journalist investigating murders along the U.S.-Mexico border alongside Antonio Banderas, with a $21 million budget but limited box office of $8.3 million worldwide. That same year, they released El Cantante (2006), a biopic of salsa legend Héctor Lavoe starring Lopez and Marc Anthony, which had a $20 million budget and earned $8.1 million globally despite mixed reviews. Feel the Noise (2007), another Nuyorican project emphasizing reggaeton music and Puerto Rican heritage, featured Omarion as a Bronx rapper discovering his roots, grossing $6.5 million worldwide on a lower budget. These films underscored Fields' role in amplifying diverse voices in mainstream cinema. Fields' evolution from Limelight's short-form expertise to scripted features reflected a consistent interest in uplifting, feel-good narratives—often blending romance, music, and resilience—that bridged his earlier commercial work with broader theatrical storytelling.

Television production and Fields Entertainment

In the mid-2000s, Simon Fields served as president of Nuyorican Productions, where he executive produced several television series, including the 2006 UPN drama South Beach, which followed a young man's rise in Miami's nightlife scene over eight episodes. He also executive produced the 2007 MTV reality series Dancelife, a dance competition format that highlighted aspiring dancers in Hollywood, running for one season of eight episodes and emphasizing the competitive world of professional choreography. Under Nuyorican, Fields co-executive produced the groundbreaking Freeform drama The Fosters from 2013 to 2018, which spanned 104 episodes across five seasons and centered on a multicultural foster family, significantly advancing LGBTQ+ representation through its portrayal of a central lesbian couple and storylines addressing transgender youth, adoption challenges, and family acceptance, earning praise for normalizing diverse identities in mainstream television. Nuyorican's unscripted slate also included the truTV reality series South Beach Tow (2011–2014), a docudrama depicting the operations of a Miami towing company, which aired 88 episodes and captured high-stakes repossessions with a mix of humor and drama. Following his tenure at Nuyorican, Fields founded Fields Entertainment in 2013, establishing it as a specializing in content with a focus on engaging, formats that blend with real-life narratives. The company has prioritized and docu-series genres, aligning with streaming-era trends toward accessible, relatable programming that emphasizes personal transformation and community stories over scripted narratives. Key projects under Fields Entertainment include (2014–2019) for , a hidden-camera prank series featuring magician Michael Carbonaro's illusions in everyday settings, spanning 106 episodes across five seasons and attracting a broad audience through its lighthearted, mind-bending format. In 2018, Fields Entertainment produced Boomtown Builder for DIY Network, an eight-episode home renovation series following craftsman Tim McClellan as he restored historic properties in American boomtowns, highlighting skilled labor and regional heritage on a modest production scale. More recent endeavors include the 2022 HGTV series Luxe for Less, where designer Michel Smith Boyd transforms homes using budget-savvy techniques, premiering with 13 episodes in its first season and emphasizing affordable luxury renovations for everyday families. In 2024, the company launched Renovation Aloha on HGTV, following husband-and-wife team Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama in flipping dilapidated Oahu properties into modern family homes, with the first season of eight episodes premiering on February 20, 2024, and showcasing Hawaiian cultural elements alongside large-scale builds. The series returned for a second season on February 18, 2025, and was renewed for a third season in 2026. These projects reflect Fields Entertainment's shift toward home improvement and lifestyle docu-series, capitalizing on the demand for uplifting, visually dynamic content in the post-pandemic streaming landscape.

Personal life

Family

Simon Fields was previously married to model from 1987 to 1992. The couple had a son, , born in 1987. Fields has been married to Melanie Apple-Fields since 1996. Together, they have a daughter, Isabelle, born in 2004. As a father to two children, Fields has maintained a high level of privacy regarding their personal lives and identities beyond basic public records. The family is based in Los Angeles, where Fields relocated in the early 1980s to advance his career.

Residence and later years

Fields has maintained his primary residence in Los Angeles since moving there in 1979 to oversee the U.S. operations of Jon Roseman Productions, a relocation that positioned him at the heart of the Hollywood entertainment industry and enabled extensive networking opportunities with key figures in film, television, and music. This longstanding base in the city has allowed him to cultivate deep professional connections while rooting his personal life in a vibrant, family-friendly environment conducive to long-term stability. In his later years, following the conclusion of his tenure as president of in 2013, Fields has focused on balancing his ongoing professional commitments with family-oriented pursuits in , where he resides with his wife, Melanie Apple-Fields—whom he married in 1996—and their daughter, Isabelle. This period has emphasized personal stability, with Fields continuing to operate from through his company, Fields Entertainment, which he co-founded with his son, , in 2013, allowing him to integrate work and home life seamlessly in the city's dynamic cultural landscape.

References

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