SquareiMedia asked us to shoot a TV commercial for their client, Kutchenhaus.
So Vic and I headed out to the Trafford Centre in Manchester with a car full of kit. We filmed on Nikon and Canon DSLRs, mine was connected to my usual 22 inch location monitor. Every shot was moving in some way either tracking, jibbing or both and all shot with shallow depth of field focus pulls.
Some shots were very tricky to pull off, but the end result looks great:
Congregational and General Insurance asked me to film the Faith Through a Lens 2011 awards ceremony. I visited the venue earlier in the year for a recce with the media team from CGI, so we knew what to expect. I provided lighting in the venue, as well as suggesting the layout of the room and the best way to ‘stage’ the awards.
Internationally renowed photojournalist, Don McCullin attended the ceremony to meet the photograhers, and gave us an interview at the end of the evening.
We’ve just finished four nights at Magna – the children’s science park in Rotherham. It’s based in an old foundry, 350 metres long, 3 floors, painted black inside with very atmospheric low lighting. Bert Agency in Manchester kindly asked me to shoot the commercial for their client, so together with Vic McCullagh on lighting we took on the challenge.
After a screen test session a few months ago, the final actors were chosen, the lead part taken by Finlay:
The Science park has four zones, Earth, Air, Fire and Water (as well as a nice Cafe). Bert had a storyboard to work from, and I suggested additional areas to film in each zone to make the most of our time there. Safety was of the utmost concern, we were working in the dark a lot of the time, as well as being surrounded by water, flames, and dozens of child extras and their families.
The gloves are on… Vic means business
Finlay hosing the camera in ‘Water Zone’
I rigged the camera on the Jib, and behind a sheet of perspex, held up by magic arms.
It worked great, but I couldn’t keep my feet dry.
The turbine in ‘Air Zone’ recreates a hurricane,
and I’m sat in the middle of it…
Getting additional setups. Funny.
After the second burger, he was full.
Duncan and the Chris’s from Bert
Fully operational mini JCBs in ‘Earth Zone’ = NOISY!
The commercial ends with Finlay sleeping in the back of the car on the way home… Shhh!
