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 he 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 never forget that kindness shown to him.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.He was in Manila 1986 during the EDSA Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos. 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.Robin married his girlfriend Monette De Vera in 2004.
Robin Jacob was born in Essen FRG, on 19th August 1955. His father Captain Clive Jacob was in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, stationed in Germany. His mother Eleonore (Ruhrmann) Jacob was an opera singer in Germany before WW2.He attended Hendon County Grammar School from 1967 to 1975. Always into drama and sports, he appeared in many High School plays including - Oh What a Lovely War, As You Like it, The Crucible. In 1970 and 1972 he received certificates of merit at the CO-OPs, Young People's Film Festival for 'Faces' & 'Spoof'. He made his first Pop Video in 1982 for the band 'Panache' and followed that up with an internationally acclaimed Video for German Band Boytronic. In 1983 he moved to the Philippines where he directed a number of commercials and TV shows. In 1990 he produced a number of music albums for Freddie Aguilar (Filipino singer) as well as producing and directing for Stage and TV Freddie Aguilar's concert at the Hammersmith Odeon London. He has produced approximately fifty albums. He has line-produced many foreign movies and TV shows in the Philippines as well as directing several documentaries on Philippine History, including 'Corregidor - Fortress of Courage' and 'Bataan Death March'. Married girlfriend Monina De Vera October 2nd 2004.
Trivia Update / From: Adrianna
I see Mark Lester is in 1066..... sorry for his loss.
