About me
Employment history and credits
Self Shooting PD April 2013 - May 2013
Blink Films
Top Five 10x60 Discovery International
Cookie cutter 'cool machines' stuff for Discovery. Two man crew, pitch up somewhere across the world, get everyone onside and shoot a 8 minute package - sometimes in just a day. Not a complex show, but fun if you enjoy travel and new experiences - and always good to keep up the self shooting skills (Sony F800 XDCAM). Difficult access to multinationals and military.
Development Producer February - April 2013
Renegade Pictures
Street Geeks W/T 2x30 National Geographic International
Developed a popular science / stunt format, focussing on standing up budget appropriate ideas for two broadcast pilots and a potential series. Shot the pilots in Las Vegas, pulling brutal hours working on props and SFX rigs overnight. 100ft fireballs, tomatoes shot through wood, helicopters landing on eggs, bowling balls swinging at punter's heads...All very ambitious for six shoot days, but I'm proud to say our gags had a 100% success rate. Some self shooting on C300.
Series Producer August 2012 - November 2012
Gadget Man 5x30 C4
North One
Shooting on C300 and prime lenses the series achieved a high gloss look despite intense time pressure and very ambitious content. Each broadly themed episode featured the public, celebrities (Clarkson, Derren Brown, Jonathan Ross etc.), an array of gadgetry and a big pay off. These were very much one hit one hit wonders e.g. an amphibious black cab or a robot Stephen Fry, live at an awards ceremony. We managed all of this with just 7.5 days of Stephen's time, which required serious scheduling precision and flip flopping crews across multiple locations. Recomissioned.
Producer April – July 2012
Beat The Ancestors 6x60 Channel 5
Dragonfly TV
Co-Produced the engineering element of a massively ambitious ‘engineering meets history’ series which saw five engineers rebuild machines from the past, including bronze cannon, a huge Roman siege weapon, medieval crane etc. Solved specific casting problems using folk from my phone book, pitched episodes, worked up designs, ‘translated’ the engineering for the rest of the production team, story produced, shot second camera. Also responsible for risk assessments, buying in materials, managing build budget, liaising with talent, expert advisors etc. Built one machine a week for six weeks - very hectic but great fun.
Development Producer / PD October 2011 – April 2012
Renegade Pictures
Worked up various ideas including a popular science series for Discovery which I took from ‘one liner’ to six detailed and feasible episodes, securing additional funding. Cast, scripted, produced, shot and cut the complex (SFX heavy) sizzle reel, which secured a large budget six part series. Also worked up a returnable series based on car transformations (since sold to National Geographic as Car S.O.S), plus camera op on various casting tapes for MTV and a sizzle for BBC America. Reel available.
PD / Development July 2011 – October 2011
Engineering Giants 4x60 BBC2
Lion TV
Development Producer / PD on a history meets engineering series. Tough access to Shell, Boeing, Nasa etc. Extensive US travel and relationship building. Some self shooting EX3 with nanoflash as well as directing crew and talent.
Development Producer June 2011 – July 2011
Darlow Smithson / The Gamma Project Pitch writing for a Volvo corporate and a National Geographic project.
Producer/Director May 2011 - June 2011
Great British Weather, BBC1
Love Productions
PD on weather related VT's which dropped into a live TX. Some self shooting on EX3.
Producer/Director Jan 2011 - May 2011
Big, Bigger, Biggest 2x60 National Geographic / Channel Five
Windfall Films
Produced and directed two episodes and took one through the edit. The format looks at how technology has advanced over time, combing historical and modern stories with extensive graphics. Shot all over the USA, including two very strange days in a maximum security prison. Some self shooting on EX3 / Nanoflash and Canon XF305.
Development Producer June 2010 – December 2010
ITN Productions
Worked on various treatments for all the major broadcasters, both US and UK. Also shooting taster tapes and shooting as second camera for BBC2 architecture series 'Climbing Great Buildings' (EX3 with Nanoflash). The series won the Broadcast Award for Best Daytime Programme 2010. Judges loved it, mentioning "classy daytimebusting production values". I loved it because I got to clamber across St Pancras roof and scale the top of the Lloyds building...
Producer April 2010 – June 2010
Inside Incredible Athletes, 1x90 C4
Renegade Pictures
Co produced this feature length documentary, directed many ob doc days and self shot ob doc sequences on Sony 790. The high profile film opened C4's coverage of the Paralympics Games 2012 and was a combination of observational documentary, science GFX and spectacular sports sequences. Complex logistical challenges, for instance wheelchair rugby on the Woolwich car ferry while it travelled up the Thames and blind football in the British Museum’s Egyptian Gallery.
Producer / Director October 2009 – March 2010
Bang Goes The Theory, 10x30 BBC1
Asked back for the second series, again producing mad machines and science demos which proved incredibly popular on the first run (some got 7 million hits on YouTube). Also worked on web and studio content.
Development Producer September 2009 – October 2009
BBC Science
Worked on various factual ideas, from one liners to full treatments. Examples can be provided.
Producer / Director February 2009 – August 2009
Bang Goes The Theory, 10x30 BBC1
Developed, directed and produced VT’s with an invention element, including vacuum ‘Spiderman’ gloves, giant vortex cannon, getting a doll to the edge of space, 200mph rocket on a railway etc. Also worked on the studio content organising physical demos (car hung from Velcro etc.) and helped with the script. On studio days I became 1st AD and ran the floor.
Development Producer December 2008 – January 2009
Renegade Pictures
Worked up a technology based prank show series for the US market.
Development Producer August 2008 – December 2008.
Steel Spyda Ltd
Treatments for Nat Geo, Discovery, C4 etc. Also ran a seriously grim ob doc shoot following crime scene cleaners in San Francisco (self shooting on P2) edit produced and was a general ‘jack of all trades’ for this small firm. Successful development for Nat Geo, securing another ‘Megastructure’.
Producer / Self Shooter / Development Producer May 2008 – July 2008
Renegade Pictures
Did the logistics for a (broadcast pilot) Sky One driving show fronted by Vicki Butler Henderson. Helped design the games, sourced giant props, cars, contractors etc. Shot using DSR 570, rigged mini cams. After the shoot I was kept on to work up three treatments for Discovery, CBC and C4.
Development Producer April – May 2008
Steel Spyda Ltd
Developing various ideas for Nat Geo, Discovery etc. Got two ‘Megastructures’ away with Nat Geo, having found the construction projects and secured access.
Development Producer April 2008
Renegade Pictures
Worked up a returnable series idea, incuding detailed formatting, epsiode ideas etc.
Development Producer March – April 2008
Breaking Point, 6x60 (Discovery Channel Int / Canada)
Firefly (now Dragonfly)
Big budget stunt show. Stood up six ep treatments in 4 weeks, performing a 'rescue job' (series had been wallowing in development hell for 8 months). Commissioned by Discovery Canada / International. Worked out a decent running order and made sure the science and engineering was credible, affordable, filmable, but still exciting.
Development Producer November 2007 – February 2008
Renegade Pictures
Returned to the 'Planet Mechanics' series I had set up earlier in the year, writing graphics and teeing up a new episode idea. Went on to write a succesful adventure doc proposal for Nat Geo (commissioned as 'Voyage of the Plastiki' 2x60) and a returnable series idea for Discovery.
Producer / Director May 2007 – October 2007
Scrapheap Challenge, 13x60 (C4)
RDF
Invited back to shoot and take two shows through the edit where 53 hours of multi camera footage is shoe horned into 48 minutes. Directed multi camera (5) including jib work and led a crew of 40 plus.
Development Producer April 2007 – May 2007
Planet Mechanics (National Geographic Channel) Renegade Pictures
Helped turn a wild pitch about climate change solutions into a filmable series. 95% of my suggestions stood up and went into production and I was invited back later to help out.
DV Director February 2007 – March 2007
Oil, Sweat and Rigs,13x60 Discovery Channel
Mentorn
Invited back to shoot content for two more episodes in Mississippi and Ohio. Shot rig workers unfreezing pipes on a gas rig by lighting sprayed petrol. An interesting job dealing with the roughest of roughnecks...
DV Director December 2006 – January 2007
Oil, Sweat and Rigs 13x60, Discovery Channel worldwide
Mentorn
1hr Ob Doc following oil rig workers 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Alaska. Extreme filming conditions -35c. Constructed and managed observational storylines while watching my fingers turn blue. An incredible experience - I’d go back tomorrow.
Development Producer September 2006 – November 2006
Kowalski Media
Developed a variety of treatments, factual and factual entertainment.
Challenge / Edit Producer January 2006 – September 2006
Scrapheap Challenge,13x1hr (C4)
RDF Media
Cast 39 contributors. Produced the across the entire series, leading two researchers and three engineers. Edit produced one hour.
Development AP December 2005 – January 2006
Mission Implausible pilot, Sky One
IWC Media
Produced all the logistics needed for the stunt heavy pilot, including trucks up on two wheels, presenters on 80mph rocket sleds etc. Led to an immediate commission from Sky One (10 hrs).
Assistant / Edit Producer August 2005 – December 2005
Scrappy Races Rally 5x1hr (C4)
RDF Media
Took Scrapheap Challenge off road in Scotland. Directed multi camera (five), devised challenges, edit produced.
Development AP May 2005 – July 2005
Various
Anglia TV
Developed a number of ideas for UK and US broadcasters.
Camera Operator March 2005 – May 2005
Sunflower Media Ltd
Shot, lit and did the sound on various health authority training DVD’s. Paid well, but was as dull as it sounds.
Development AP December 2004 – March 2005
The Garage, 7x60 Discovery Channel
Cheetah
Helped format this constructed ob doc and shot taster tapes. Commissioned and went to a third series.
Camera operator November 2004 – December 2004
Spot on Sound Ltd
Broadcast job for Discovery wings and a Cable and Wireless corporate.
Development AP October 2004 – November 2004
Oxford Scientific Films
Developed various documentary proposals.
Assistant Producer July 2004 – October 2004
Scrapheap Challenge special 1 x 90 min (C4)
Scrappy Races 2 5 x 1hr (C4)
RDF Media
Sole responsibility for an extended length show that celebrated the 200th anniversary of locomotion. Simultaneously working on a separate series, Scrappy Races.
Researcher February 2004 – July 2004
Scrapheap Challenge 13 x 1hr (C4)
RDF Media
Found and managed contributors, worked on designs, sourced parts and archive. Shot on PD170.
Development Researcher December 2003 - February 2004
Anglia TV
Worked on factual treatments for Animal Planet, Discovery and C4.
Researcher July 2003 – December 2003
Demolition Day 8 x 1 hr (C4)
Anglia TV
Researching expert contributors, team members, designs and materials for this construction based game show.
Researcher January – July 2003
Fred Dibnah’s Age of Steam 6x30 min (BBC2) and simultaneously Great Dynasties 6x1hr (History Channel)
Camera operator / DV Director June 1998 - December 2002
Clients included MTV Canada, MIT, Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Golman Harris, NTL etc. Digi Beta, DV Cam, Beta SP.
Personal Details and Qualifications
13.04.76
I Visa holder (USA based work) to 2016
Full clean UK driving licence
2011 BOSIET trained (needed for filming offshore in the oil industry)
2010 BBC Health and Safety 1 / 2
2012 BBC Safeguarding Trust