RICHARD DE ARAGÜÉS
[‘DEH ARRA-GWES’]
Richard de Aragüés was born with a smile on his face, oblivious to danger and attracted to anything fast, high or unstable. After a happy childhood spent in North Yorkshire - and his local ER/A&E Dept, Richard’s father realised that they would need some help in channeling Richard’s ‘enthusiasm’; so they sent him away to boarding school - in the next village. But happily there were a few decent clubs in Leeds and he soon acquired a very fast motorbike.
After an International Law Degree, he was nearly seduced by a job in Corporate Finance; instead he gave his parents palpitations by taking out a loan and sending himself off to Film & Drama School.
At Oxford Scientific Films, De Aragues was instructed in the ground breaking film techniques that had earned the company all sorts of Oscars and Emmys..
A Silver London International Advertising Award followed for the ‘Samsung’’ viral campaign: ‘Millimetres Matter’, in which a series of tiny cakes and real custard pies were fired by catapult at a variety of insects. Audiences were astounded that the miniature pies were not CGI generated but actually shot in camera… although Richard was bizarrely accused of ‘insensitivity to insects’.
Silver Award at The London International Advertising Awards
“SAMSUNG - MILLIMETRES MATTERS”
His love of motorsport inspired a move to solo directing career and he worked with the top F1 teams (McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Toyota), the Yamaha World Superbike and Grand Prix teams, and he created the Title Sequences for Formula 1 and World Rally Championships.
After his first taste of directing for theatre projects, he gained considerable experience working with actors for TV and commercial work. His varied documentary experience has also enabled him to get the best out of all his subjects on camera, (for example he worked with a group of South African children to produce the “War Playground” charity film for which he received an award from the New York Art Directors Club).
Bronze Award at the New York Art Directors Club
“WAR CHILD”
Richard had always made full use of the fact that both North Yorkshire and the Spanish Pyrenees shared a refreshing absence of speed enforcement; so he was the natural choice as Director of the very first 3D Sports documentary feature about the greatest motorcycle road race in the world. His feature “TT3D: Closer to the Edge” about the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy had a fantastic critical response; Rotten Tomatoes, the highly regarded barometer of film reviews, awarded the feature film a 100% rating!