NIC KNOWLAND BSC

Nic came into in the film industry through still photography in the early 60’s. He soon became a much sought after documentary cinematographer working on many World In Action programmes for Granada though the highly respected outfit Alan King Associates.

He became a founding member of Tattooist International in 1969 and during the 70’s worked on programmes such a Horizon for the BBC as well as becoming John and Yoko’s steady cameraman making films like Imagine, Bed Peace.

In the mid 70’s he co-founded ICE to serve as an agent for Aaton who were introducing a new generation of Super 16 cameras that he had helped to develop.

There followed a period in which he became one of the’ Promo King DP’s ‘ of the UK shooting iconic promos like Imagine for John Lennon, Vienna for UltraVox and Rio for Duran Duran, all have which been voted as Best of the Century or Best Ever at various times .

He also has worked on many Dance/Physical Theatre films, Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men and Strange Fish for DV8 to name just a few.

He worked extensively with Director Tony Palmer through the 80’s and 90’s shooting many films based on classical composers such as Benjamin Britten, Stravinsky, Puccini , Walton etc and was Cinematographer on Testimony , a feature film based on the life of Shostakovich staring Ben Kingsley which opened the London Film Festival in 1985.

Nic has been DOP many features including Institute Benjamenta in B/W for the Quay Brothers which has become something of a cult film over the years, he also shoot the Piano Tuners Of Earthquakes on Digital for them.

Nic has worked on many TV Dramas over the years including Final Passage for Director Sir Peter Hall for which he won a BAFTA for his cinematography, Emmy Award winning US mini series, The Murder of Mary Phagan for Director Billy Hale and Separate but Equal with actor for Director George Stevens.

More recently Nic has been working on numerous Commercials, TV Drama’s and several award winning projects with Director Isabel Rocamora such as Horizon of Exile and Body of War. His work has taken him all over the world.

In 2012 Nic was nominated for Best Technical Achievement at the BIFA ‘s and was awarded Best Cinematography at the recent BIFICA’s in Buenos Aries for his cinematography on the  multi award winning ‘Berberian Sound Studio’ Directed by Peter Strickland.

Peter chose Nic to work with him again on his latest film, The Duke of Burgundy which was chosen to show in the main competition category at the 2014 London Film Festival.

Nic’s most recent feature film Steven is based on the late teenage years of iconic singer and song writer Steven Morrissey directed by Mark Gill. It is due for release 2017.

Nic is also developing an animation film called ‘Eudoria’s Broomstick’.

Nic is a Governor of the British Society of Cinematographers.

 

January 2017