M. J. Bassett

Early life

Bassett grew up in Newport, Shropshire, in the West Midlands, where she was educated at Adams Grammar School. Bassett described this as a "safe, unremarkable childhood". She developed an obsession with wildlife and nature; Bassett's fascination with films would not arise until much later. Bassett's childhood aspirations were to be a wildlife veterinarian in Africa. Because of her grades in school, a veterinary career became out of the question, and at the age of 16, Bassett left school and became a wildlife filmmaker's assistant, where she would spend 18 months learning photography and film making.

Career

After her time as an assistant, Bassett went back to school to do A-Levels in the hopes of getting a Zoology degree. Once back in school, Bassett wrote to a variety of TV producers, looking for work as a nature presenter. Eventually, Bassett was contacted by Janet Street-Porter, shortly after which she began working as a presenter on the children's show Get Fresh, where she presented the science and nature segments. She left to work on other programs, but as work stopped coming in, she was losing interest. At this point, Bassett realized that she wanted to make films. Since moving into film-making would entail substantial risk, Bassett worked for a year animating and voicing the puppet Scally the Dog on Children's ITV while she considered the career change.

Bassett then produced several short films, as well as a 16 mm piece for broadcast television. All the while, Bassett worked on feature scripts which she used to try to catch producers' attention. After a period of years, Bassett's screenplay titled No Man's Land generated significant interest. Many studios offered to purchase the script, but Bassett was determined to direct the film of her screenplay. Eventually, one production company consented to this, and the film was retitled Deathwatch.

She directed Red Sonja (2025), after it had been reported Hannah John-Kamen and Joey Soloway had departed from the film.

Personal life

In 2017, Bassett came out as trans. She has two daughters and a son.

Filmography

Film

As a film crew

• Shooting Fish (1997) (Electronic Press Kit Producer)
• Waking Ned (1998) (Electronic Press Kit Director/Producer)
• Gabriel & Me (2001) (Electronic Press Kit Director)
• Close Your Eyes (2002) (Electronic Press Kit)

Television

References

References

1. [http://www.michaelbassett.com/pages/biography.htm Biography] {{webarchive. link. (30 November 2006)
2. "EAT MY BRAINS! – Interview with M.J. Bassett, Director of Wilderness – Feature Article".
3. (2022-03-09). "RED SONJA Reportedly Finds A New Director As ANT-MAN AND THE WASP Star Hannah John-Kamen Drops Out".
4. "Director MJ Bassett".
5. "Isabel Bassett".
6. Collis, Clark. (20 July 2020). "Megan Fox's mercenary takes on a lethal lion in trailer for action movie Rogue".
7. Hamman, Cody. (2023-01-11). "Red Sonja: How M.J. Bassett broke the reboot out of development hell".