Mel Swope

Mel was born in San Francisco and grew up in the bay area. As a child he was always interested in theatre and films. He converted his parents garage into the ‘Beverly Theatre’. It seemed appropriate because he lived on Beverly Avenue in Millbrae. Each weekend he would travel to SA Bruno, the nearest silent movie rental store, the precursor to todays Blockburtster Video to rent films. The local kids would pay a nominal fee, ten cents to see films and be entertained.

By the time Mel reached high school he was spent most waking moments in the theatre.

He was the Stage Manager, Technical Director, Radio Commissioner, anything to do with entertainment. He was an actor and directed a Stage version of the radio play, “Sorry Wrong Number.

Fortune struck at 18 when he was hired by ABC-TV in San Francisco to be a Stage Manager for the summer. Then off to San Jose State College to major in Theatre and Television.

While at college, Swope met Jerry Juhl and Sylvia Cirone who were doing a puppet show on stage. The three worked together to adapt the show for television, Sylvieand Pup, which debuted on KNTV in 1958.

In 1961, Mel continued to work in television in San Francisco. His network break came when he directed the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show for ABC-TV. In 1964 Jerry Juhl introduced Mel to Jim Henson of the Muppets where he directed the pilot for, The Land of Tinkerdee.

Mel married Judie Miller in 1965 and they moved to Los Angeles.

Mel’s, Hollywood credits include: The Partridge Family, Police Story, David Cassidy Man Undercover, Fame, Miami Vice, the Dirty Dozen. He produced and directed films until his retirement in 1999 when he directed musical theatre including: Noah's Fludde, West Side Story, a Chorus Line, Cabaret anda Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Two time Golden Globe winner, Mel was chosen as the first Gilliland Chair of Telecommunications at San Jose State University. He has received four Emmy Awardnominations, one Humanitas Prize nomination, two NAACP Image Awardnominations and two MPSE Golden Reel Awards. As a Producer and Executive he has supervised hundreds of productions in the USA and around the world. From summer stock Musicals, to Comedy and Drama, Mel has shepherded 'story telling' from his beginnings in theatre to the world of television, as we know it today.

Mel is a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America. He served as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the California State Summer School for the Arts, and was Vice-President of the Rubicon Theatre Company.

He is a former Vice President of the British Columbia Institute of Film Professionals. As a leader in international production he has been invited to speak to groups including: Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television - Association of Film Commissioners International - Croatian Film Community, Zagreb, Croatia - Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic Minnesota Film Commission - Munich Film Symposium - San Jose State University and U.C.L.A.

Mel has extensive international production experience including: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Greece, India, Italy, Mexico, Philippines, Slovenia, Sweden, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Russia and Yugoslavia.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama and Television from San Jose State University and was a member of the 'Directors' Unit' of Actors Studio, Hollywood.