Bill Mason (director)

Rowland Hill Berkeley Mason (9 November 1915 – 17 January 2002), [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/2212 Bill Mason] at bfi.org.uk (accessed 16 October 2007)] known as Bill Mason, was an English documentary film maker and scriptwriter.

Life

Mason was born in Kings Norton, Birmingham, England and was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, between 1929 and 1934. ["Old Greshamian Club Address Book 1999" (Cheverton & Son Ltd., Cromer, 1999)] .

Originally from King's Norton in the West Midlands, in the 1940s he moved to Hampstead Heath, London, [http://www.angelfire.com/me/floydmonster/members.html Pink Floyd Members] at angelfire.com (accessed 16 October 2007)] with his wife and son Nick Mason, who became the drummer of Pink Floyd. A film-maker and amateur racing car driver, because of a lifelong passion for motor sports Bill Mason specialized in observing them as a maker of documentary films. His enthusiam for the world of motoring was passed on to his son Nick, who wrote about them in his book "Into the Red" (2004). ["Into the Red" by Nick Mason and Mark Hales (Virgin Books, 2004) ISBN 978-1852272258] [ [http://www.rbooks.co.uk/product.aspx?id=1852272252 Review of "Into the Red"] at rbooks.co.uk (accessed 16 October 2007)] Mason's success was such that Nick was given an Aston Martin sports car as a teenager.

As well as making films, Mason was also a scriptwriter.

Filmography as director

*"Le Mans 1952" (1952)imdb name|id=1201542|name=Bill Mason (accessed 16 October 2007)]
*"Mille miglia" (1953)
*"History of the Motor Car" (1972)
*"Racing Mercedes - Part One" (2001)
*"Racing Mercedes - Part Two" (2001)
*"Racing Mercedes - Part Three" (2001)

References