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I knew from the age of 15 that working in the film industry was what I wanted to do.
Looking back now, how single-minded I was, stubborn and naïve in equal measures, just to do the next thing, to get to the next level.
I worked at Rentacamera/Samuelson’s Film Services for almost four years working my union ticket (it was ACTT not BECTU in those days and I was very proud that Harvey Harrison BSC was one of my application signatories). It was a small camera department there of three technicians, handling some Arriflex 35mm (BL, 2C) and Arriflex, Aaton and Éclair 16mm film cameras, film lenses and filters. In the same building upstairs was AKA films and also Document Films with a young camera assistant Barry Ackroyd BSC and cameraman Mike Fox BSC, both of whom I would work with later as a freelance clapper loader and camera assistant when I left ‘Sammys’.
As a freelancer, I worked as a camera assistant, clapper loader and 1st AC for many years working on documentaries, feature films and many music videos, working mainly with Jeff Baynes, Chris Cox and Simon Archer BSC, through Nic Knowland BSC’s company Tattooist International. Plus working with Philip Chavannes, Roy Cornwall, Witold Stok BSC, Mike Southon BSC (Paper House, dir. Bernard Rose), Elphida, Gothic (dir. Ken Russell), and Captive, a documentary in Nigeria with Walter Lassally BSC, and some dailies with David Watkins BSC, John Mathieson BSC and David Tattersall BSC on music videos and commercials.
Over the years as a cameraman I have shot many productions across documentaries, music videos, shorts, TV drama series, commercials and a feature film. Amongst my favourites are: Walter’s War (dir. Alrick Riley), In The Long Run series two and three (dir. Sandy Johnson/Ian Aryeh), McDonald and Dodds (dir. Ian Aryeh, drama), The Stephen Lawrence Story (documentary, also as the director – RTS Award), Heart of Harlesden (dir. Jackie Osei Tu-Tu, documentary series), feature film in Nigeria Beyond Blood, and Live from Abbey Road series one and two (dir. Annabel Jankle).
Proposed to the BSC by Nic Knowland and seconded by Mike Southon BSC.
