TERRY JERVIS BACKGROUND: LEGACY & HERITAGE
Terry Jervis is a special advisor and facilitator in business, a media pioneer, innovator and visionary leader whose work has reached billions of people worldwide. He has transformed ideas into impact across film, television, radio, publishing, digital media, business and defence.
Born in Hackney, East London, to Caribbean parents from Jamaica and Guyana, Terry grew up in post-war Britain. His play grounds were dangerous bomb sites, a remanent from the destruction of factories and buildings during World War II. Austerity meant he learned to manage risk, and create something from nothing. Where others saw rubble, he saw possibility.
His early fascination with acquiring knowledge and anything mechanical (such as cars, planes, spaceships, radio, television, and collecting books and comic books) shaped a lifetime of creativity, resilience and drive. His life story has been one of great challenges and amazing triumphs. His talks to corporate companies, community organisations and youth groups have all described him as awe-inspiring and an example of how to navigate a complicated world and shape a positive future.
Key Milestones
- Prodigy film-maker at 16 – self taught and self financed his first film
- One of the youngest executive producers and head of department in BBC history aged 27
- Built a 40+ year career across media, business and industry
- Produced and directed some of the biggest and most iconic TV shows and radio in the world
- Created content watched and heard by over 4.5 billion people worldwide
- Known for turning bold ideas into powerful, lasting projects
- Created the world’s first superhero VR video game and showcased at Virgin Mega Store
- Influenced British and American popular culture in ways that are hard to imagine
- Became the first Commercial Merchandising Agent for Secretary of State for Defence and the Royal Air Force
- Launched the Pilots of the Caribbean, Tuskegee Airmen commemorative coin campaign
THE JOURNEY
Comic books to Sam CookE
FIRST EVER... SUPERHERO VR GAME
Comic books to Sam CookE
Terry started buying and selling comic books by traveling to and from New York City at the mature age of 14 which then got him a job with a small indie comic-book publisher. He was then able to buy a film camera and self-financed and produced his first documentary commemorating the great musician and civil rights campaigner Sam Cooke.
Prodigy to Producer
FIRST EVER... SUPERHERO VR GAME
Comic books to Sam CookE
Many celebrities came to see the movie. The song “Change is Gonna Come” was used many years later on President Barrack Obama’s campaign to become the first black head of state for America, and a milestone Terry could very much relate to.
The BBC recruited and paid for his training at the University of Westminster, at the age of 21 because of his vision and skill-set.
FIRST EVER... SUPERHERO VR GAME
FIRST EVER... SUPERHERO VR GAME
FIRST EVER... SUPERHERO VR GAME
Jervis’ Virtual Reality game Spirit of the Pharaoh launched with Richard Branson in Virgin Games Mega Store in 1995. The original graphic novel and BBC animation from 1995 was rewritten in 2018 with Marvel and Transformer writer, Simon Furman, collaborating with Hollywood Superman/Batman writer Stan Berkowitz. Watch this space for the remaking of the animated movie.
International Impact
FIRST EVER... SUPERHERO VR GAME
There are many significant milestones in his life, including becoming the first ever owned label and international executive signed to world famous Motown records, and helping to set up BBC America. Produced and directed transmissions for the global Millennium broadcast and World Environment Day
INDUSTRY & GOVERNMENT IMPACT
He has advised and worked with the UK-Government, Rolls-Royce, Shell, LSE/Box, and later working with the military (Royal Air Force) to become the first commercial merchandising agent for the Secretary of State for Defence (UK), the UK Government Digital Catapult (Silicon Valley), and a Special Advisor to PA Consulting and Jacobs, Buckingham Palace and a range of diverse businesses.
MEDIA & SOCIAL IMPACT
His shows have an audience figure of over 4.5 billion worldwide. Terry has made TV history with specials featuring Queen, Elton John, Will Smith (Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Richard, Venus and Serena Williams, Bob Marley, Status Quo, Thunderbirds and many more. Also, includes working on Star Trek World Tour, Top Gear (BBC), Sky and Sky Sport (BSkyB), The Real McCoy (BBC), 2000 Today -Millennium Broadcast (BBC/ABC/WGBH), 2012 Olympic Games (Olympic Committee), World Environment Day (BBC/United Nations)
THE AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
NUMBER 10
Leadership Commemorative Presentation:
•Number 10 Downing St. •Buckingham Palace
-Royal Air Force
LONDON CHAMBER of COMMERCE AWARD
Legacy & Heritage Award
Contributions to UK Media, Culture and Economy
London Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Black Excellence Awards
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY UK
Honoured in the National Portrait Gallery and the British Film Institute
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE SALUTE
British Film Institute Presents:
The Terry Jervis Story: From Hackney to Hollywood + Celeb Q&A
ROYAL museums GREENWICH
National Windrush Museum signing House of Lords UK.
Presentation of the
Pilots of the Caribbean and Tuskegee Airmen coins
stem in defence award
The historic contract with David Gordon SVP Rolls-Royce and Terry Jervis that conceived StaRRship, Won the STEM WOMEN IN DEFENCE AWARD
BFI TERRY JERVIS SALUTE MEET & GREET
THE MEET & GREET WAS A SUCCESS THANKS TO YOU!
" I am genuinely grateful for your presence at this pivotal moment in my career. It was a unique experience, for the first time, stepping out from behind the camera to narrate the tales of your lives through my lens. Your participation made this moment truly special, and I look forward to sharing more stories of my past and plans for my future."
TERRY JERVIS BOOK SIGNINGS
Our Gratitude
You came and learned more about Terry Jervis' JEM World Experience, and you saw original works of art chronicling historic moments in time, plus some of you got signed copies of the 1st edition printing of his book & graphic novel, Spirit of the Pharaoh, an adventure & romance across time .... We thank you for your patronage!
History note: It was the first VR game for Virgin Megastores in 1995
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