IAN MCMILLAN BSC 1934 – 2018

 

Ian McMillan began as a camera assistant in 1956 on feature films at Pinewood, Merton Park and Beaconsfield Studios, with titles such as VIOLENT PLAYGROUND 1958, directed by Basil Dearden and photographed by Reg Wyer BSC and A NIGHT TO REMEMBER (about the sinking of the Titanic) 1958, directed by Roy Ward Baker and photographed by Geoffrey Unsworth BSC and NO LOVE FOR JOHNNIE 1961, directed by Ralph Thomas and photographed by Ernest Steward BSC.

By 1964 Ian was camera operator and graduated to director of photography for second units, commercials, pop concerts and documentaries. Over the years he made 11 shorts of his own for cinema and television and in 1978, photographed “BUTCH MINDS THE BABY” directed by Peter Webb which won “Best Short Film” at BAFTA and the “Outstanding Film Photography Award” for a ST. RAPHAEL COMMERCIAL at D&DA London in 1980.

Shortly after, he joined Park Village Productions to direct commercials winning a Golden Lion at Cannes in 1982 for JOHN SMITH’S BITTER and Best Series and Best Commercial at D&DA. That same year, he was Director of Photography on “GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROAD STREET” written by and starring ex-Beatle, Paul McCartney and directed by Peter Webb and in 1985 directed the television film “FOOD, TRUCKS AND ROCK AND ROLL”, the story of the first year of BAND AID.

Between 1984 and 1990 he worked through MCMILLAN AND HUGHES a company he set up with producer, Adrian Hughes making many successful and award-winning commercials. The company disbanded after a less than happy merger with Howard Guard Productions and Ian returned to his first love, cinematography, shooting second unit on films such as RESTORATION (1995) Directed by Michael Hoffman with main unit photography by Oliver Stapleton BSC, EVENT HORIZON (1997) directed by Paul W. S. Anderson with main unit photography by Adrian Biddle BSC.

In 2001, Ian with his wife, Helen Gurry, who had been an associate producer on BBC's MASTERCHEF, decided to move to Cornwall with their children and later to Falmouth.

Ian loved sailing and had his own boat so living in Falmouth had its advantages especially bringing up two young girls. He carried on working sporadically photographing a short Irish film BLACK VELVET (2002), directed by Simon Cathcart and then an exercise video: NEW YORK CITY BALLET 2 (2003), directed by Richard Blanshard after which he more or less retired but continued sailing and playing tennis until a few years before his death.

 

Helen Gurry, Kate McMillan, Phil Méheux BSC