Full Name
Theo Gelernter

What year did you leave John Lyon (Class of)?
2013

What did you do after leaving John Lyon?
Studied Psychology at the University of Nottingham

Can you describe what you have done in your career so far?
I got into filmmaking whilst at university, leading me to work at the BBC after completing my degree. I then became Creative Director at a production company, and am now working as a Freelance Documentary Director.
See more of Theo's work here.

How did your experience at John Lyon prepare you for/or shape your future?
There were a multitude of creative opportunities that allowed me to explore my external interests alongside my academic work.

What has been your proudest achievements so far?
I get to work on projects telling the stories of some absolutely incredible people, and each one has been a total honor to bring to life! This year, I had the privilege of telling the stories of three of the strongest women in the world.

What was your fondest memory from being at John Lyon?
I put on our own version of Take Me Out - that was a lot of fun (and stress, and hard work). It's still up on Youtube somewhere!

Are you still involved with the School and if so, in what way and why is it important for you to be involved in this way?
I've done a couple of career days and talks as I think it's extremely important that young people know there are other paths and options that they can take that aren't the traditional career paths.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a current pupil?
With how the world has changed and is today, you can make literally turn anything you want to into a career if you are smart and strategic enough about it and willing to put in the work.