Ray Selfe 1932-2001

Sadly, Raymond Selfe the founder of Norwood Films died of heart failure aged 69 on Monday 3^rd September 2001. He died peacefully at home with his wife Jean and son Howard. He was a veteran British Film maker, credited with over 1000 films.

Ray Started his illustrious career in 1948 working as a projectionist for the ABC Cinema chain in London. In a few years, Ray had become the manager of the Palladium cinema in Croydon, London and had set up his own mobile projection service bringing cinema entertainment into the village halls. By the late 50’s Ray’s long involvement with the television industry started when he began assembling films for ATV (Associated Television)

The transition from Film Assembler to Film Maker was realized in 1965 when Ray started his own production company making short films for industry and advertising, theatrical trailers, and commercials for European cinema and television.

By undertaking all roles within the film making process Ray added to his repertoire becoming a proficient producer, director, editor and cameraman. By 1972 Ray had made two films for Pete Walker (Heritage Ltd) in the role of Producer/3D Supervisor for “The Four Dimensions of Greta” and Stills Photographer/3D Supervisor for “The Flesh and Blood Show”.
Between 1973 and 1979 Ray owned and was the Managing Director of the Pigalle Cinema Group, with a string of cinemas throughout London’s West-End.

In the middle to late 70’s Ray photographed and edited numerous short films for cinema, as well as making a plethora of feature films including “White Cargo” (1974, Border Films) starring David Jason, for which he directed and wrote the original story and screenplay. Other films included “Sensations” starring Diana Dors, and “End of Term” starring Arthur Askey, both of which Ray produced. Ray went on to direct “Can I Come Too?” starring Charlie Chester, and in 1979 he produced, directed, and photographed “All That Jazz”

Ray founded Norwood Entertainments Ltd in 1980, supplying clips to all British television companies from his extensive archive, with series such as “Whose Line Is It Anyway” and “Looks Familiar” making extensive use

Throughout the 80’s and 90’s Ray continued to expand his archive, and the company went from strength to strength, with Ray gaining the love and respect of many television and film researchers, as well as a formidable reputation for historical advise and encyclopedic knowledge

Meanwhile, Ray continued his involvement with movie conception and production, with films such as
 “Don’t Open Till Christmas” and “Turnaround”, as well as producing and directing video compilations

In 1987 Ray restored and formatted the 1925 version of “Phantom of the Opera”, and supervised the speed restoration and synchronisation of the music operetta by Rick Wakeman

Then in 1988 Ray flew to Hollywood to direct Vincent Price in “Don’t Scream, It’s Only A Movie”

The archive continued to grow, and in 1998 Ray set up Norwood Film Productions Ltd, with his son Howard.
The production company was commissioned in 1999 to make 3 documentaries for Images of War Ltd, using the company’s in house facilities.

Channel 4 Television (UK) gave Norwood Productions its first major television commission in 2000. The programme, a 1 hour documentary titled “The History of Hardcore” including Ray’s last interview, shown on Channel 4 Thursday 6th June 2002 01:10

A Tribute to Ray Selfe Founder of Norwood