Piers Clifton is a UK-based writer – working mostly in family film and TV – producer and lecturer. In 2017, he completed his first major screenwriting commission – a UK/Chinese CG animated movie script for Max Howard (producer of Igor and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron).
Since then, he’s been commissioned to write a second screenplay for Max Howard (in 2018), a treatment for the feature length comedy adventure Ruslan & Ludmila for Wizart Animation (in 2019) and has worked as a script and treatment writer for Blue Zoo Animation (2018-19) – working in development on the Netflix animated series Big Tree City.
In 2019, Piers worked for Tiny Island Productions – co-writing the animated movie Dream Defenders: Origins (currently in production). His most recent film project (in 2024) has been working with Max Howard Consulting Group again – and My Mystery Ltd – on the adaptation of a book optioned from Faber & Faber (title to be announced). Piers also worked as Additional Writer on the animated films A Wizard’s Tale (released theatrically in the UK and US in 2018) and LEGO Friends Girlz 4 Life (2016).
Piers was a Creative Producer at Prime Focus World Animation for four years – and was Animation Producer on LEGO Legends of Chima and LEGO Nexo Knights. He still works as an animation or visual effects producer on occasion; recent credits include Stephen Frears’ film The Lost King (2022), on which Piers was the main VFX producer.
Before Prime Focus, Piers worked in TV Comedy and Entertainment (during which time he produced shows like The British Comedy Awards: 16 Dangerous Years and did script editing or writing on numerous projects). He’s also an experienced development producer, with a background in TV development at companies like Princess Productions and Wall to Wall.
Piers is a University of Oxford English Language and Literature graduate. In 2020, he branched out into university lecturing – teaching a course on TV programme development at Ravensbourne University London, as well as lecturing on games and animation. He’s a screenwriting tutor for John Yorke Story/Professional Writing Academy and has also lectured at the University of Warwick on the Writing for the Screen course.
Piers’ blog Stop Telling Me I’m Brave: How My Partner Coped with Cancer… and Me was launched at the end of 2022 and has been acclaimed for its darkly humorous approach to a difficult subject. It’s now available on Substack (click on the logos to visit – and please like and subscribe!).
Animated Movies
2024 Title TBA (CG animated movie based on the works of a high-profile British writer; My Mystery Ltd/Max Howard Consulting Group) – Writer (treatment).
2019-20 Dream Defenders: Origins (CG animated movie produced by Tiny Island Productions, based on the TV series) – Co-Writer (screenplay).
2019 Ruslan & Ludmila (CG animated movie, Wizart Animation) – Writer (treatment).
2018 Foxy (CG animated movie, Max Howard Consulting Group) – Writer (screenplay).
2017 Jade Girl (CG animated movie, Max Howard Consulting Group/Dragon Tower Entertainment) – Co-Writer (screenplay).
2016 A Wizard’s Tale (Ánima Estudios/Prime Focus) – Additional Writer (screenplay) on CG animated movie, released theatrically in the UK and US in 2018.
2015 LEGO Friends Girlz 4 Life (Warner Bros./M2 Entertainment) – Additional Writer (screenplay) on CG animated movie, released 2016.
Animated Television
2018-19 Big Tree City (Netflix/Blue Zoo Animation) – Script and treatment writer, working in development on this animated series for Blue Zoo.
Books
2014 Lawrence and the Movie-Making Mutt (Mouse That Roared Ltd) – Author.
TV Comedy and Entertainment
Previously to working in animation and film, Piers was a producer of TV comedy and entertainment – during which time he also wrote scripts and script edited. See below for selected credits.
2008 ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards – Producer. Role included script-editing.
2008 Top Fifty Celebrity Meltdowns (Sky One) – Producer. Role included writing script.
2006 The British Comedy Awards: 16 Dangerous Years (ITV1) – Producer. Incl. script-editing.
2006 The British Comedy Awards: The Show Goes On Live (ITV2) – Producer. Incl. script-editing.
2005 The British Comedy Awards at 15 (ITV2) – Producer. Incl. script-editing.
2004 The British Comedy Awards (ITV1) – Co-Producer.
2004 Jack Dee Live at The Apollo (BBC1/Open Mike) – Associate Producer.
2003 Dame Edna Live at The Palace (BBC1/Tiger Aspect) – Associate Producer.
2003 Testing Friends (ITV1 pilot) – Writer/Producer.
2002 Entertaining Elvis (ITV1) – Produced and devised this comedy music show.
2000 Banzai (Channel 4/Radar) – Researcher. Devised/filmed items for this comedy show.
2000 Ex-Rated (LWT/Channel 5) – Researcher. Incl. scriptwriting for this game show.
Development Producer – Film and TV
Throughout Piers’ career he’s also worked extensively in TV and film development – writing pitches, treatments and formats for a number of companies. See below for selected credits.
2012-2017 Prime Focus World Animation – Creative Producer (development and production).
2006-2007 Wall To Wall – Development Producer.
2005 Flame Television – Head of Development.
2003 Red Wall (Wall To Wall/Red) – Development Producer on proposed Johnny Vegas show for Channel 4.
2001-2003 Unique/Michael Hurll TV – Development Producer. Commissions included Lights! Camera! Magic! for Disney/Channel 5, which Piers co-devised.
2000-2009. Development Producer at various other companies during this period, including RDF Media, Zenith and Princess Productions.
Other Writing Credits
2012 The Smuggler’s Story (Sarner International Ltd) – Producer/Writer of interactive visitors’ attraction.
2000 Off Season (Shooting Pictures) – approached to write an original screenplay, as a result of Piers’ running-up entry in a short screenplay competition in The Times.
University/College Lecturing & Other Tutoring
2024 (ongoing) Stratford-upon-Avon College. Part-time Lecturer, Media (including film/TV).
2021 (ongoing) John Yorke Story/Professional Writing Academy. Screenwriting Tutor on the John Yorke Story: Story for Screenwriting (Advanced Structure) course.
2021 University of Warwick. Guest Lecturer on the Writing for the Screen course.
2020-21 Ravensbourne University London. Sessional Lecturer in the Digital TV Production department – tutoring second year students in TV show development and production. Also, Sessional Lecturer on the Animation and Games & Animation courses at Ravensbourne, teaching concept and story development.
P. D. Clifton 