Gift of the Gab

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ideasbynet1Ideasbynet wanted to redesign their website to include demo videos for 37 of their best selling products.

So over the course of two days I filmed Carla doing her very best QVC style presentation. I used two camera to save time, and synced them up in post production. I also created opening and closing graphic stings with sound effects.

 
 
 
 
 
 

The videos are all live on the website, but here’s an example:

 

Book ’em Danno

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ideasbynet2The guys at Ideasbynet.com created a cool scrapbook,
which together with a variety of props and practicals was brought to life for this fun video.
In the end it took eight of us, and a morning of rehearsal to get the final take.

I found some suitable music tracks, sound effects and light leak flashes then produced the final video in 1080p High Definition.

Over 2000 views and counting…
 

 

Leeds Local Television

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This morning I launched a new website:
LeedsLocalTelevision.co.uk is a domain I’ve bought recently to help local businesses find me.

I’ve added basic information about scripts and filming techniques, so visitors have a better understanding about what I offer and what to expect from any video production.

Harrowing Harrogate

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coppice_dental1Another Yell job today…
Coppice View Dental Practice in Harrogate was the scene, where I faced my fear of dentists and got down to business.

I helped the interviewees with their words, trying to keep things natural sounding and without them worrying about keeping to the script. Here’s the link if you dare…

Muchen Kutchen

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kutchenhausSquareiMedia 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:

You gotta have faith

congregational1Congregational 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.

 

Never work with Children? Bah!

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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:

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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.

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The gloves are on… Vic means business

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Finlay hosing the camera in ‘Water Zone’

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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.

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The turbine in ‘Air Zone’ recreates a hurricane,
and I’m sat in the middle of it…

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Getting additional setups. Funny.

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After the second burger, he was full.

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Duncan and the Chris’s from Bert

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Fully operational mini JCBs in ‘Earth Zone’ = NOISY!

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The commercial ends with Finlay sleeping in the back of the car on the way home… Shhh!

Newton wouldn’t stand for it!

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I spent the afternoon in Dore, Sheffield working with a regular client – Ideasbynet.com who wanted a short viral video for one of their unique and quirky products that they personalise and sell. So we set out to prove that the What?Gravity mobile phone holder can do much more than just hold phones! If you need one in your life you can order it here!
It’s had 61,000 views on YouTube so far…

Watching paint dry

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bodypaint1I spent the day at the Carnegie Stadium today filming England and Superleague rugby player – Ryan Hall. He patiently stood for three hours whilst having the most common injuries sustained by players like him, painted onto his body. The artistry was done by World Champion body painter Raphaelle Fieldhouse who travelled to Leeds all the way from South Wales. My clients from Umpf PR were in attendance as well as crews and journalists from ITV, SKY and the Sun.
You can see the edit I created for ITV used in this ITV Calendar news item:

Tooled up for Santa

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toolbank1I’ve just shot Toolbank UK’s Christmas promotional video for the eighth year in row. This time, two days of filming in 1080p on the EX1. It’s come a long way from the days of shooting on the 4:3 VX2000 in a glorified shed in Sheffield and duping 1000 or so VHS tapes to send around the UK.
These days I shoot HD and the final videos are in multiple currencies ending up on DVD and SD cards. Once the final voiceover script is received I’ll get the voiceover recorded and start on the 2 weeks of editing and encoding required to finish the job.

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