Bruce Burgess


Bruce Burgess is a documentary filmmaker. Burgess has written, directed and hosted a series of documentary specials that relate to conspiracy theory and fringe theory subject matters like Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, the mummified corpse of Mary Magdalene in France, ancient history, alien abductions, as well as on the British Royal family, paranormal claims, CIA assassinations and global terrorism.

Career

Born in London in 1968, Burgess studied at Hill House School in London, then Harrow School. He started a charity in 1986, EDUCAID, raising money through schools for Bob Geldof's Band Aid Trust.
In 1988 Burgess handled the launch events and promotion of the London Daily News for Robert Maxwell.
From 1988 to 1990 he worked for BreakMarketing, a subsidiary of Harvey Goldsmith Entertainments working on promotion, marketing and sponsorship. He also produced Peter Boizot's Soho Jazz Festival.
From 1990 to 1993 he was asked to be managing director of Unique Public Relations in London, representing major clients from both the UK and US.
From 1993 to 1999, he was Chairman of Transmedia Productions, an independent production company.
In 1996 Burgess created the London Restaurant Awards, which later became the ITV London Restaurant Awards. In 1998 Burgess founded the first London Restaurant Week with American Express and The London Tourist Board.
In 1998 Burgess was asked to become a media adviser to the Conservative Party by William Hague.
He was interviewed on Nightline about his 2008 film Bloodline.
In 2002 Burgess formed a Los Angeles-based production company, Bluebook Films, with René Barnett, and in 2004 wrote and directed his first 35 mm short film Rosbeef which premiered "out of competition" at the Cannes Film Festival. Burgess and Barnett also worked together on the 2008 film Bloodline.
In 2013 with the collaboration of the journalist Marcello Polastri, he will publish a story about forbidden history in Sardinia, dedicating himself to the giants of the Monte Prama.

Awards

Burgess' film on Area 51, Dreamland was voted best documentary by UFO Magazine in 1998, and top of the 'viewers choice poll' of TLC Channel in 2003.

Criticism

Burgess directed the documentary Dreamland an alleged exposé of the secret Pentagon facility known as Area 51, that was described as an example of uncritical reporting:
"...infuriating nonsense to mark the 50th anniversary of the crash at Roswell, New Mexico. The usual suspects are rounded up to tow their party lines and producer/director/would be intrepid presenter Bruce Burgess does absolutely nothing to question what he's being told or even point out the idiocy of some of the arguments."

Filmography