Simon West

Simon West
Born	1961 (age 55–56) Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England
Occupation	Film director
Years active	1981–present
Spouse(s)	Amadea West (m. 1995)

Simon West (born 1961) is an English film director. West started as an assistant film editor with the BBC, then directed documentaries and commercials including many for Budweiser. His film directing career started when he directed Con Air in 1997.

Born in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, West began his career in 1981 when he became an assistant film editor with the BBC in London. His heart wasn't in film editing, so he left the BBC after four years to become a freelance director.

West's career took off in 1985 when he was awarded a grant from the Arts Council of Great Britain to write and direct the film entitled Dolly Mixtures. He was subsequently signed to Limelight London to direct music videos and commercials. In 1987 he won Best Video at the Montreux Music Festival for Mel and Kim's Respectable. He also directed the video for Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" in the same year.

With a flourishing commercial career, West relocated to Los Angeles offices of Limelight in 1991. Moving to Pilot pictures in 1992, he received a Clio Award for Little Caesar's Airplane and a Golden Lion Award for Little Caesar's "Italian Feast."

West joined Propaganda Films in 1993 with a roster of credits including McDonald's, Sprite, AT&T, Ford, Miller Beer and Budweiser. His most famous commercial was a spot for Pepsi where a little boy sucks himself into a Pepsi bottle. The ad ran during the Super Bowl and was USA Today's highest rated commercial for that year.

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