Nick Dance BSC

As a schoolboy watching Lawrence of Arabia, 2001 A Space Odyssey and my father buying some Super 8 film kit, which I quickly commandeered, I was hooked on film.  I entered a short into the BBC young filmmakers competition and won first prize. That sealed it; I wanted to make a career in the film industry. 

After gaining a place at West Surrey College of Art’s Film School, I went on to make 16 and 35mm student films with the guidance of some of the industries best cinematographers.  On graduation the opportunity arose to work as freelance assistant film editor for the BBC Film Unit.  There, through contacts, I moved onto the camera department as assistant film cameraman working with some great cinematographers, gaining valuable experience in lighting and composition. 

I was lucky to start shooting professionally at the age of 24 on a documentary for Rolls Royce and BBC following the Red Arrows American tour.  Shooting in Iceland, Greenland, Canada and the USA. An amazing experience and thrill, especially for a young cinematographer flying in those iconic Hawk aircraft.

For the next 15 years I travelled to over 60 countries shooting 16 and 35mm documentaries, drama documentaries and corporate films for many blue chip companies and UK and international broadcasters.  From the Atacama and Sahara deserts and the African and South American rain forests to the Great Wall of China and Grand Canyon.  Working with Al Pacino, Yoko Ono, David Attenborough, Buzz Aldrin, Arthur C Clarke, Walter Cronkite, Stephen Fry to name but a few.  At this time I also dipped my toes into drama, shooting shorts, second unit and childrens series for BBC, including The Children of the New Forest and Johnny and the Bomb by Terry Pratchett.

In the early 2000’s and with the help of an agent, I moved fully into drama.  I went onto shoot the iconic medical drama series Bodies for BBC, winning Bafta and RTS awards. TV movies, Nuremberg: Goering’s Last Stand, (Bafta award) and Mansfield Park.  Other productions include the multi award winning innovative series Skins, the launch pad of Hollywood actors, Nicholas Hoult, Jack O’Connell and Dev Patel.  Bafta and RTS awards and nominations including for Photography and Lighting.  Our Girl, Award of Excellence for Cinematography.  Poldark, RTS nomination for Photography and Lighting.  The Replacement, Bafta award. Recent productions include, Gentleman Jack for HBO, Deep State for Fox, The Irregulars for Netflix.

Features include The Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think, Dartmoor Killing, (National Film Award Winner) and B&B(multi international award winner).

I was thrilled to become a member of the BSC in 2014 and thank my proposers Nic Knowland BSC and Nigel Walters BSC.

Awards/Nominations

Skins (2007-2011) Bafta and Royal Television Society Nominations for Photography and Lighting.  Royal Television Society West Nomination for Photography and Lighting. Guild Of Television Cameramen Award For Excellence.

Our Girl (2014) Guild of Television Cameramen Award For Excellence

Poldark (2017-2018) Royal Television Society Nomination for Photography and Lighting.

Credits

Gentleman Jack (2019)

Deep State (2019)

Poldark (2017-2018)

B&B (2017)

The Replacement (2017)

The Chemical Brothers: Don’t Think (2012)

Skins (2007-2011)

Bodies (2004-2006)