Steve Bell The Elusive Rising Star in the Field of Creative Genius

He has a degree in physiology, years of world-class marketing experience, he's written books, screenplays. He is a business guru, entrepreneur and even has patents on a wealth of inventions. Steve Bell is literally everywhere these days - Rome, Zurich, Stockholm, Los Angeles, Florida - and that's just in a week. This powerhouse of creative talent is behind many of the worlds emerging creative projects.

Notoriously hard to get hold of, I tracked him down on a remote island jewel in the sparkling waters of the south Mediterranean.

Late summer and I flew from London to Rome, Rome to Sicily, before taking a two-hour bus ride to the port of Milazzo. The searing heat of the Sicilian sun almost too much to handle. Then it was a one-hour hydrofoil ride to some of the most breathtaking volcanic islands in the world - The Eolian Islands. Now it was clear where he found his inspiration for his first novel The Magic Islands.

I was greeted and escorted up to his private villa and shown through the lush tropical gardens. On a cliff top terrace with a vista looking out across the sea to large towering volcanic islands, I waited.

"Hi. How was the journey" A surprisingly down to earth northern English accent.

With rugged looks and sparkling eyes he has a powerful presence, his handshake is firm and he smiles - and there's mischief in his smile. I've met Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt - they both have that same quality, that same aura.

Steve Bell was born near Liverpool, England and studied at the University of Leeds, where he graduated in Physiology at the early age of twenty-one. He then embarked upon a career in marketing in some of the worlds biggest and most important companies.

"They're great universities," he says, referring to the companies. "You get to learn so much from some of the greatest people. But eventually you have to leave school and go on your own."

We sit and drink cool iced-tea in the hazy afternoon sun, surrounded by lush fauna and flora. The villa is a good indication to his independent wealth that he made from years of hard work and a lot of intelligent business deals. He is the role model of a "self made man" but humble when he talks about his success.

"I didn't grow up with a lot of money, so I appreciate what I have now. I don't take anything for granted. I accept that I'm very lucky. I have the dream life."

But luck seems to have nothing to do with his phenomenal success. It seems to be his intellect, his amazing ability to network with the right people, and above all his charisma. He talks with an amazing passion about everything, drawing you into his conversation and convincing you. You really feel good about being around him.

"I guess I'm a people's person. I love to meet interesting people from all walks of life, from all over the world. I study them and try to take the best from them. It doesn't matter what they talk about, somewhere inside is a great idea, maybe the next DaVinci Code."

But his greatest passion comes through when he talks about his novels. "Above all the things I do, I love to write. It's my greatest passion. It just gives me the greatest satisfaction. To this day I still remember the feeling when I read The Hobbit. It was magical. From then on I knew I had to write."

His first novel, The Magic Islands, turned some heads. What's New magazine (2004) featured it along side Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and King Arthur, predicting it as the next major Hollywood smash.

"I was pleased with how it was received, but knew I could improve. I think being self critical in your work is essential to make it better. Nothing is ever perfect."

In December 2006, his new novel Secret Revelation will hit the bookstores after much anticipation. He describes it as a thriller, mash between The Bourne Identity, Total Recall and Marathon Man. "I hope the twists in the book will really set it apart. So far no one who's had a sneak peak has guessed it, but someone may." Again he smiles as if to say, no they won't.

He describes a bewildering number of concepts and ideas. He showed me a list of hundreds of concepts, enthusing me about some he points to at random. "They just keep coming," he says. "I think they always will, some have likened me to Dustin Hoffman in the film Rainman. I'm not sure it's a compliment, but I am a very good driver."

Soon the conversation turns to movies and he talks of his influences, The Matrix, American Beauty, Blade Runner and a wealth of others. But he holds one in the highest of regard. "It was amazing, I was a young kid with small eyes and when Star Wars burst on the screen I was blown away, just hooked on movies. This was something that changed the face of cinema."

Currently he is working on a series of movie projects, but he talks with passion about the upcoming movie The Sleep of Reason. "Giovanni Pedde is a genius, the next major horror and suspense director. You just need to check out his horror short Xchange. It's a short work of art, and a foretaste of what he's about to bring to your screens with The Sleep of Reason. There is something in this new film, never before seen in cinema and it is going to scare the pants of people. Just seeing the proof of concept work I though 'oh my god' when it happened. It will be coming out some time next year."

He never slows, getting more and more passionate about his work as he talks, but when I discuss his acting debut in the Italian independent film Watch under The Bed, he smiles and sips his tea. "I am more comfortable writing than acting, but it was fun. I would do more work, but only if they offered me a role like James Bond." He looks with a smile over his glass. "That would be cool and I'd seriously consider it. Until then I'll just keep writing the roles."

His cell phone rings and he becomes animated, more Hollywood folks on the phone to him. He apologises and bids me goodbye, thanking me for my time. You can tell he has not lost touch with the simple manners of his upbringing.

It's early evening when the hydrofoil pulls away from the island and I'm not sure if I've been touched by the beauty of these islands, or from having been in the presence of such an extraordinary person. I feel inspired, like everyone told me I would - maybe just an old Jedi mind trick he learned from his youth.

As hard as he tries to stay in the background, Steve Bell is rapidly coming to the world's attention. If I were a betting person, I'd say that he will be starring in one of his own amazing stories soon - and I'll be the first to go and watch.

All Book and film titles are property of their legal owners.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

This article has been robotically scanned and tagged by Prnewsnow with the following search tags. No human manipulation of these tags take place.
| Products | Jumpions Com | |

4867 readers online...

, Local News

Subscribe in a reader