Christopher R. Watson
Writer / Director
BAGHEERA 18 minutes, Hindi with English subtitles
Completed in 2019, Bagheera is a proof-of-concept production for a series of films Chris is writing for the Indian market. Shot in Hindi language, the film has participated in over 85 international festivals and won 27 awards.
One evening, Bagheera, the determined young leader of an Indian girl scout troop, is abducted after a meeting with her pack. Using the many skills of her achievement badges, she fends off the would-be rapist & serves up a scorching retribution.
As a film, Bagheera addresses a major issue facing many societies throughout the world today, the violent denigration of women. Whilst the subject is dark, the delivery is both poignant and even uplifting as Bagheera reminds us that bravery and resourcefulness are two of humanity’s most powerful tools.
Feature Film and Second Unit Direction
Bagheera trailer 2
Feature Films in development
Goddess of Luck
When the dreams of a talented, young women are steadily crushed by sexism and social expectations, she learns to transform her reality by living inside her fantasies -played out as astonishing, magic realist visuals. As she learns to apply the strategic skills she mastered on the cricket pitch to her life off the pitch, she sees how to define her own path.
Currently, Christopher is working with creative partner, Leila Tayebaly, writing films that appeal to Indian audiences and also have strong crossover value in Western nations. This relatively untapped, niche market, has huge potential. Films such as The Lunchbox, 2014, which cost £1.5 million to produce, yet collected ~£12million in worldwide sales, serve as a striking example of why he and Leila believe in this approach.
TV Commercials, India
Bonn Bread, India
BONN PEPPER
BONN BREAD TOASTER
BONN BREAD LUNCH BOX
Nespresso Summer Campaign - UK
Nespresso -Creators of Summer campaign
Mentoring Director
Cafe Viennoise
Iced Macchiato
Cappuccino Nespresso
Nespresso demos
TV Commercials -Europe
5 X TVCs
Vanessa Amorosi -This Is Who I Am
Kids TVCs
A Findus Family
Career development work -Australia
Young Actor Showcase
Chris directed the performances of these young actors for Actors Management International, an Australian acting academy and management company. The goal was to build their showreels and develop sensibilities required for working on a real film set. All of these talented youngsters have gone on to find professional representation in the UK, Hollywood or Australia.
Christopher R. Watson:
BA Fine Arts, BA Media Studies 1st
Chris is an experienced writer-director who has shot feature films, shorts, TV commercials, music videos and brand-centered productions all over the world.
He is recognized for his ability to create detailed, emotional performances when working with actors and weave them together with impactful visuals.
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Chris’s film career started with multi award winning short films and music videos. Among which, his 9-minute film Pilbara Pearl was nominated for an AFI, the Oscar of Australia.
Chris moved to London in 2000 and became the primary commercials director at Saatchi and Saatchi’s in-house production company, Vermilion, working on brands such as Comet, Toyota and Cereal Partners.
He also free-lanced for International Production Company in Prague, for whom he directed TV commercials and feature film productions. This included the second unit direction of Solomon Kane $55M and Psych:9 $5.5M. He then directed their first US feature film, The Rainbow Tribe in Los Angeles.
Presently, Chris divides his time between Mumbai, India and Perth, Western Australia, as well as other international locations as required. He is focussed on stories of female empowerment and his life-long passion for Indian culture. His 18 minute, Hindi language short film, Bagheera won 27 international awards and participated in over 80 festivals worldwide.
Bagheera is a proof-of-concept production for Chris’s forthcoming feature film release, Goddess of Luck. Based on a true story and reminiscent of an ‘Indian, Amelie’, the film is on track for production in 2023.
Chris is well-seasoned traveler who has explored many countries. He is an experienced SCUBA diver and as a result of some fairly eccentric parenting, was able to drive a steam locomotive from the age of 4. He is also an accomplished fine artist working in oils.
