Raymond Thompson
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Raymond Thompson is a New Zealand scriptwriter and TV producer.
Thompson was born in Redditch, Worcestershire and grew up in Ontario, after his parents emigrated to Canada. He studied Drama at York University and embarked upon a successful career in the music industry as both a songwriter and musician. His groups include Stillwater and one evolved into Edison Lighthouse who had the No. one record "Love Grows Were My Rosemary Goes".
His greatest ambition was to write. He published a novel in 1979, The Number To Call Is ... - which remained on the best seller lists around the world for several weeks - before becoming a script consultant for various producers such as Joseph E. Levine. His television writing credits from the 80s include Squadron and Howard's Way, which many consider to be one of Britain's best loved drama series and which ran for six years. He acquired the position of Head of Development for BBC Television Drama Series and developed or worked on many other iconic titles from Bergerac to The House Of Elliot - before he founded, in association with the Sancuary Group PLC, his own production company in 1994, The Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group, which has since specialized in family entertainment.
The company trades through offices in London, Wellington (New Zealand) - and has recently expanded into the Australian market. Since 1994, he has produced several television series and movies, including - The Enid Blyton Adventure Series, The Enid Blyton Secret Series, The Adventures Of Swiss Family Robinson (starring Richard Thomas), Return To Treasure Island, The Legend Of William Tell (created by Raymond), William Shatner's A Twist In The Tale (also created by Raymond), along with other landmark series Thompson created such as Atlantis High, Revelations and The New Tomorrow. But his most successful was the teen drama/sci-fi hybrid The Tribe which has become a cult classic around the world and ran for five years with almost three hundred episodes being produced.
His son Cameron suffers from Asperger's Syndrome; Raymond has also been diagnosed with the condition. This led him to found Cloud 9's Children Foundation, which aims to support families affected by the syndrome mainly in Oceania.
In 2001, he returned to his muic roots and composed the soundtracks of Cloud 9's portfolio of product produced. Also the "Spirit Symphony", which was partly inspired by Asperger's. It was performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and released on CD in 2004. The proceeds of the song 'With You Every Step of the Way' ( also composed by Raymond) were donated to the foundation.
He has been a juror at BAFTA and the International Emmy Awards. In 2003, he was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to television. In the same year he also received an Honours Award at Dragon*Con.
Thompson is currently focusing on his screenwriting activities and is developing a portfolio of motion pictures.
