For those who would like to get to know more about this former MTV presenter, she had an official site way back in 2001. There was a section on that site called “post-MTV” where she announced…
Since leaving MTV…
In February 1997, MTV underwent major structural changes in the Production Dept., and several long-standing programmes, including “Headbangers Ball” were cancelled. It came as quite a shock to me that MTV had decided to finish with the programme, as it was very successful, with consistently good ratings, even though it was relegated to a timeslot very late at night. I believe I am right in saying that HBB is the longest-running programme in the history of MTV. After nine very happy years at MTV, I suddenly found myself without a job. The next few months were a very depressing and unhappy time for me, as I wasn’t sure which direction to go in. I decided to spend some time travelling, and I went off to Jordan with my sister, Karen. We had a wonderful time visiting the ancient city of Petra, riding camels through the ruins and visiting many other wonderful places, like the Dead Sea.
When I returned from Jordan, I got a call from Sony asking me to film a news report for Mariah Carey’s album launch party for her album, Butterfly. It occurred to me that maybe there was a niche for me to make programmes for record companies such as short documentaries, live concerts, etc. I also wanted to get into directing music videos, which would be a natural progression of the work I was already doing. I therefore decided to set up my own production company undertaking this type of work. Early in 1998, I had a very lucky break. Sony asked me to work with a then unknown artist by the name of Ricky Martin. Ricky was a superstar in Latin America, and was recording in English for the first time. He had already had a huge hit in Europe and the U.K. with a song called Maria. Ricky had been chosen to perform the official theme for France ’98, the World Cup football tournament. The song was called The Cup of Life.
Sony commissioned me to follow and film the whole process of Ricky’s involvement in the World Cup. From when he recorded the song in Miami to when he performed it around the world at the different events. It was a fantastic assignment! First of all, I went to Miami and was actually in the studio when Ricky recorded the vocals!! Then I went with him to the World Cup Opening Ceremony in Marseilles, France, and to the FIFA World Player Awards where I sat on a table with Ricky, next to Renaldo!! A whole new world had opened up to me. Yes, an Aerosmith concert is huge, but to be involved at an event where the entire world is watching is an entirely different matter! As we all know, Ricky went on to become an international superstar. Because I had worked so much with him, other record companies started calling me and my business started to gain momentum.
In early `99, I was asked to be co-Producer of a show called “Top Ten Heavy Metal” for Channel 4. The programme was being made by Chrysalis Television. I came and worked at Chrysalis for six weeks, and really enjoyed the working environment of the company. I decided to approach Chrysalis about starting up a Music Projects Dept. where I would continue with my work, but with the backing of the U.K.’s leading independent production company. Fortunately, Chrysalis took me up on my offer, and I moved here in August 1999. Shortly after joining Chrysalis, I came up with an idea for a Latin pop music special. I knew that Ricky was going to be huge, and that Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Santana, and many other Latino stars were about to break through.
Chrysalis approached Channel 4 with the idea, and they commissioned it! I co-produced and directed the show, eventually titled “Latino Loco”, and it aired on Channel 4 in December 1999. It did very well in the ratings, and I finally proved that I was more than just a rock chick!! After that my business has gone from strength to strength. I have directed programmes for Toploader, Craig David, Coldplay, David Gray, Kylie Minogue, Aqua, Vanessa Mae, Emma Bunton, Pink, Outkast, Lou Bega, Bon Jovi, Maxwell, Pavarotti, Prefab Sprout, Moloko, Pet Shop Boys, Joe Cocker, Suede, Eternal, and many more.
I also branched out into directing music videos, mainly thanks to my old friends Motorhead, who asked me to direct their video for God Save The Queen. I would like to take this opportunity to say I am very grateful to Motorhead who have continued to support my work, right up to the present day. In October 2000, I directed the filming of Motorhead’s 25th Anniversary Concert at Brixton Academy, which will shortly be available on DVD. My department also organised the celebrity guest list and after-show party at the Hard Rock Café, which everyone agreed was one of the best nights out in recent years! My music video credits are as follows: Motorhead’s God Save The Queen, Kittie’s Brackish, Monaco’s I’ve Got A Feeling, Doro’s White Wedding, Eros Ramazzotti’s Un Angelo Non E, Blackmore’s Night (featuring Ritchie Blackmore) The Times They are A Changing, Jim Capaldi’s Anna Julia…
Through my work, I have been fortunate to continue travelling, along with music , the great love of my life. My assignments have taken me to Miami, Monte Carlo, Nice, Germany, Los Angeles, Florence, Milan, Prague, Rome, and many more places. As I write this in June 2001, I am about to visit Istanbul for four days to film the visit of Italian superstar singer, Eros Ramazzotti! So, as you can see, there is life after MTV, and it is pretty peachy! I still go to many rock gigs and keep in touch with the scene and I haven’t given up hope of getting another rock show back on TV. So … watch this space!
Also from Vanessa’s turn-of-the-century site are her top tens…
Favourite Albums
1. Queensryche “Operation Mindcrime”
2. Mother Love Bone “Apple”
3. Pearl Jam “Ten”
4. New Radicals “Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too”
5. Third Eye Blind “Third Eye Blind”
6. Korn “Korn”
7. Guns N’ Roses “Appetite For Destruction”
8. Coldplay “Parachutes”
9. Stereophonics “Performance and Cocktails”
10. Outkast “Stankonia”
Favourite Films
1. Remains Of The Day
2. Jaws
3. Apocalypse Now
4. Desperately Seeking Susan
5. The Shawshank Redemption
6. Spinal Tap
7. Saturday Night Fever
8. West Side Story
9. The Usual Suspects
10. The Green Mile
In the May 1994 issue of a magazine called Fast Bikes, it was revealed that Vanessa Warwick has been riding bikes since she was 16. By the time it was 1994, her favourite bike was Suzuki Goose. Although I like bikes more than cars, I was more interested in the things that she said which weren’t bike-related…
What charity touches you the most? Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.
Is there anything you’d start a fight over? Yes, if I felt I had to stand up for myself.
Do you have any superstitions? No.
If you weren’t a TV presenter, what do you reckon you’d be? A doctor.
What do you want for next Christmas? Two weeks in the Caribbean.
What’s your favourite band in the world right now? Queensryche.
What was your most embarassing presenting moment? When I was interviewing the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and they were cracking so many jokes that I completely forgot where I was saying; we had to start again. Then the band said that I’d had a mental block and we’d have to start again, so they condensed all their jokes together to show people what they’d missed first time round because of the mistake.
To close this article, here is the perfect one-liner: “I was the first woman presenter on MTV who hadn’t previously been a model.”
Pop Cult Master 