2000

First Offence: Alone

HTV

Broadcast: HTV West - Programme 2, 13th June 2002

Focus Puller (Digi-Beta)

A 10 min (approx) short shot on 16:9 Digi-Beta with a film-style kit.

Shot over a long weekend late in 2000, this short tells the story of two youths who get more than they bargained for when they break into an old house.

Lupine Howl - 125 (Music Promo)

Vinyl Hiss Records

Clapper-Loader (16mm)

A music video for a Bristol band shot on Super 16 over three days late 2000.

Other Crew
Producer: Alan Gardner
Director: Michael Percival
DOP: Chris Maris
Focus Puller: Will Pugh

Living in Hope

Fluidity Films

Broadcast as 'Short Term' 3 x 30' series, HTV West Summer 2001

Premiere at Watershed Cinema, Bristol on 28th May 2002

Released across the UK late September 2002

The DVD including FREE CD soundtrack of Living in Hope launched in stores across the UK from 17 November 2003

Originally shot as a 100min feature on Super 16 for 35mm cinema release print. This production was also sold to local broadcaster HTV West and re-editted as 3 x 30 (ish) minutes for terrestial transmission. Most notable for an early appearance by (pre-White Teeth) Naomie Harris.

Shot in and around Bristol, UK, this production follows the frenetic high jinks of a group of fun-loving first year university students.

During the six hectic weeks of this shoot I gained further experience assisting Director of Photography, Terry Flaxton. Using an Aaton XTR kit this production was originally shot on Super 16 for transfer to High Definition for online editing before laser transfer to 35mm.

In the original 6 week shoot I was clapper loader. In pick up days shortly after, I was a focus puller and by the time pick up shots of a car explosion were filmed I had graduated to second camera operator.

Read the review in the June 2002 issue of Sight and Sound

"At last an authentic blast of anarchy. Should be an essential staple in every student's portfolio."

James Christopher - The Times

"Living in Hope is a welcome relief from the likes of Van Wilder. It's a vibrant rites of passage movie, bursting with humour and energy and boasting some of the best of the UK's young acting talent."

Michael Walsh - Belfast Telegraph

Selected Crew
Producer: Guy De Beaujeu
Director: John Miller
DOP: Terry Flaxton
Focus Puller: Robert Blackmore

Ammonite (1998-2000)

Ammonite Ltd are an independent film production company based in Bristol, UK who specialise in natural history documentaries.

From September 1998 - May 2000, I was employed full-time with a number of responsibilities.

Other Staff
Prod/Dir/Camera: Martin Dohrn
Office/Production Manager: Ali Bradburn
Camera Assistant: Michael Hutchinson

Ammonite Camera Assistant

I worked as a camera assistant to award-winning cameraman Martin Dohrn on a number of studio and location shoots in the UK and US gaining expertise on a variety of cameras (film and video), optical and grip equipment and techniques including timelapse and high-speed photography. I was frequently called on to improvise and adapt in unusual filming situations where little time, external help or resources were available.

Productions Worked on:

Shape of Life

Sea Studios Foundation, Monterey CA, USA/National Geographic.

Broadcast: 2nd April onwards 2002 US PBS/9pm Sunday Nights, National Geographic Channel UK Jan 2002 onwards.

Ammonite filmed many sequences and supplied custom made equipment for this production. As well as assisting on both studio and location shoots, I twice travelled to Sea Studios Foundation's US studio based in Monterey, California for extended periods.

Eight part series on which I am credited as a camera assistant on six episodes:

Episode 2: Life on the Move
Episode 3: The First Hunter
Episode 4: The Conquerors
Episode 5: Survival Game
Episode 6: Ultimate Animal
Episode 7: Explosion of Life
Studio Shoots
- US - Granite Canyon
- UK - Ammonite Studio including Trembly dramatic historic recreation.
Location
- UK - Natural History Museum

Peter Gabriel - Eclipse Shoot

Real World Productions

Lo-lite Camera Operator

As a cameraman using Ammonite's Lo-lite camera, I filmed crowd scenes in France during the total eclipse of the Sun.

Creatures of The Black Lagoon

Ammonite for Survival Anglia

Broadcast: August 2003

Responsible for the preparation and maintenance of equipment.

One hour documentary about the relationship between white lipped peccaries and jaguars in the rainforests of Costa Rica.

Serengeti: Hunters of the Night (shooting title: Balance of Power)

Ammonite for Survival Anglia

Responsible for the preparation and maintenance of equipment used for this shoot based in Tanzania.

Broadcast: August 2003

Film-maker Martin Dohrn explores the complex and unexpected relationship between lions and hyenas and Maasai on the Serengeti plains.

Head of Ammonite's Hire Department

On a daily basis, my responsibilities included answering queries regarding the hire department and the provision of Ammonite's custom-built, specialist equipment, especially their Lo-Lite cameras. This required a high level of expertise as I would often be called on to instruct hirers how to operate this specialist equipment.
In addition to its custom-built equipment, Ammonite offered Photosonics High Speed cameras including standard 16 Actionmaster 500 (up to 500fps) and one of only a handful of Super 16 High Speed cameras in the UK (1PL up to 360fps).

I also made a brief appearance in Broadcast magazine(16th April 1999).

Ammonite's Equipment Design/Development

I had substantial input into the design and development of equipment, the unique and specialised nature of which meant it was often necessary to interpret users' feedback and to appreciate their working methods to ensure the products continued to evolve and improve.

Ammonite developed a number of items including:

* A range of Lo Lite cameras. Image intensified video cameras for filming when little light is present as seen in many Ammonite productions and BBC's much admired Life of Birds.
* A lightweight pan-tilt head and jib arm designed to be used in the field by only two operators.
* A real time motion control system for fine control when filming fast moving subjects.
* A variety of scopes.
* Time Lapse motor for use with Aaton LTR and/or Bolex H16