Born in London, Julian worked as a junior technician in Nobel Prize-winner Professor Peter Medawar’s team at University College London before completing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of London. He then trained at London Film School before launching his freelance filmmaking and editing career. He was first introduced to the Monty Python team when they reached out for assistance with a number of corporate films they were making after Monty Python’s Flying Circus ended on TV in 1974. Julian and the Monty Python team worked so well together that Terry Jones invited him to become involved in a new movie they were planning – 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This marked the beginning of long and celebrated cinematic collaborations both with the Python team and Gilliam. [Film buffs take note: Julian has a cameo role in ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’; he plays the Policeman who puts his hand over the lens bringing the film to an end].

Julian is also famous for shooting the Fxs for Terry Gilliam’s ‘Brazil’, a movie which he also edited. Julian has also won awards for directing pop videos such as Kate Bush’s ‘Cloudbusting’ featuring Donald Sutherland, and Iron Maiden’s ‘Play with Madness’ featuring Graham Chapman.

While internationally recognised for his work in film, he is also known for Directing Masterclasses at various Colleges and Universities. Julian is also the author of multiple books, including Chemical Wedding, a novel based on his film of the same name; The Gospel According to Monty Python, a scholarly analysis of Monty Python’s Life of Brian; and his latest novel, the Sherlock Holmes-starring historical mystery thriller The Jericho Manuscript.

His most recent film is ‘Twilight of the Gods’, an in-depth exploration of the relationship between Richard Wagner and Friedrich Nietzsche. Julian has also given keynote talks on filmmaking at the BFI, V&A, Penn State University, and many more.