Steve Barron

About

Steve Barron

Born in Ireland and raised in London, Steve Barron began his career as a tea boy at a camera hire firm in Cricklewood. He entered the film industry as a clapper boy, contributing to major productions like Superman (1978) and A Bridge Too Far. Serendipitously, he transitioned to the realm of music videos, collaborating with artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Dire Straits, riding the MTV wave throughout the eighties. His directorial prowess reached new heights with the highest-grossing independent movie of its time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990). Notably, his creation, A-ha’s video for “Take On Me,” has amassed over 1.8 billion views on YouTube.

Seven years ago, a significant shift occurred in Barron’s life with the arrival of his granddaughter. Motivated to contribute to her future, he purchased a derelict farm and grew hemp on the land, harvesting it to build a farmhouse out of the crops 24 tons of bio-mass. Presenting his insights at the Royal Geographic Society through a TED Talk, Barron advocated for hemp’s potential to address environmental challenges. Margent Farm, his venture, has since become a sensation in the construction and environmental sectors. The innovative materials developed by the farm have been showcased at institutions like the V&A and the Barbican, featured at Clerkenwell Design Week, and received accolades from Kevin McCloud of Grand Designs. Barron’s journey underscores the universal importance of innovation across diverse industries.