Specializing in:
- Audio/Video Restoration
- Blu-ray/DVD Bonus Features and Authoring
- Documentaries
- Entertainment History
- Transfers from older formats, such as tape
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Les cast and voice-directed the first season of The Real Ghostbusters series for DIC/ABC-TV, plus several NBC-TV specials. While on staff at Disney, his landmark efforts include producing all the audio for The New Fantasyland renovations of 1983/84 at Disneyland Park® and the establishment of Disney Character Voices in 1988 to maintain quality and consistency of Disney’s vocal heritage worldwide, supervising more than 1500 projects in five years. Warner Bros. later engaged Les to likewise protect the integrity of their character assets.
Following that, Les made a career shift into independent production for a wide variety of clients (see Credits tab). This includes continuing his associations with Disney. Les’s work has enriched numerous Blu-ray and DVD releases as well as special presentations that delve into the history and behind-the-scenes aspects of Disney’s iconic film, television, and theme park shows. Drawing upon prior experiences at The Studio, plus Les’s tenure at Walt Disney Imagineering, his award-winning works are rich with insights into the creative processes of Walt Disney and his artists's fascinating history in animation, live-action movies, and worldwide entertainment.
Notable video creations by Les include the “Gears Behind the Ears” online series, Disney Channel interstitial series “Music Magic Week with The Sherman Brothers,” “The Disney Legends,” and presentations for the Motion Picture Academy. Extensive bonus features include Mary Poppins, Pete’s Dragon, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Parent Trap, Pollyanna, and the four-volume True-Life Adventures. His productions are appreciated for their educational and entertainment value, with their ability to enhance the viewer's enjoyment.
More recently, Les created award-winning documentaries featuring composers discussing Christmas songs they wrote (A Songwriter’s Christmas), and an epic Christmas Movie Scrapbook compilation. For TCM, he completed picture and sound restoration on 23 of James Dean's TV appearances, plus a 3-disc set, as well as renovating classic films and audio recordings, making dramatic improvements for Blu-rays, and adding related bonus content.
EXPERIENCE
Les Perkins has won more than 100 awards for Producing, Directing, Writing, and Editing in a rich blend of creative and technical abilities. He is most known for his extensive work with Disney, particularly in the realm of documentary production related to Disney's legacy, often uncovering rare elements buried in the Disney vaults. He’s had the pleasure of working with talents such as Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, Michael Jackson, Jodi Benson, Elijah Wood, composers Richard and Robert Sherman, and Roy E. Disney.
Additional work has included editing feature films, celebrity tributes, web series, and children’s educational programming for TV and home video. Les is also an entertainment historian and researcher. He has contributed to books, CDs, and video projects, including The Age of Believing, produced by Fitz Film for Turner Classic Movies, Oz The Great and Powerful for Disney, and Starring Dick Van Dyke for PBS.
MEMBER
ATAS – Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
PGA – Producers Guild of America
SAG – Screen Actors Guild
HHA – Hyperion Historical Alliance
LACPUG – Los Angeles Creative Pro User Group
WORK SUMMARY
- The Walt Disney Archives: Administrative Assistant
- Walt Disney Educational Media Company (WDEMCO): Coordinator, then Producer/Editor
- Farmhouse Films: Production Manager for NBC animated TV series “Adventures of Muhammad Ali”
- Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI): Writer, Audio Producer, Casting Director
- Disney Character Voices: Founder and Creative Director (Casting, Directing, Writing)
- Disney Consumer Products: Creative Director for "Disney’s World On Ice” traveling shows
- Warner Bros.: Senior Creative Executive, International Dubbing
- Les Is More Productions: Award-winning Producer, Editor, Director, Writer