| Q1: What’s the best thing you’ve ever watched? |
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Mon Oncle. For a film made in the 50’s, it’s visual of old and new France is just great. Great simple geometric shapes of what they thought 60’s buildings would look like. Complete with brilliant comedy timing and French cinematic style just does it for me.
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| Q2. Who was you idol when you were growing up or who is your idol now? |
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Jacques Tati, French film maker, comic writer/ performer and director. I was introduced to his work by my dad at the age of 8. A very clever, funny person.
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| Q3. What cameras have you used in the past? |
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It’s more a case of which one’s I haven’t. First hand held was Sony BVP-330, Film was Bolex H16. First studio camera I had a play on was Link 125. Worse camera for me was Philips LDK 93 with bolt on betacam sp recorder. Like having two concrete blocks on your shoulder and was back heavy!
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| Q4. What is your favourite camera and why? |
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Back in the day Ikegami HL55 then HLV-55 camcorder. At that time in the early 90’s, the second gen of CCDs, the pictures out those cameras where just stunning.
Present, very hard as it’s changing so fast. The Alexa would get my vote, but think the new Sony F55/ 5 will be great from the footage I’ve seen and from a price point of view!
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| Q5. What’s the most bizarre/funniest/favourite thing to happen whilst on a shoot? |
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During a filming shoot in Japan in the 90’s. Being driven around by the prefecture officials, being told that we were going for lunch with some ladies of a village. When my director, soundie and I sat down found out that it was the "speak better English" ladies group wanting to practice English on us. All of which could speak better English than me, the boy from Birmingham. Very Surreal 2 hours and holy knows what they got out of it
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| Q6. What’s your favourite place to film and why? |
| I love the coldness of filming near the Scandinavian Artic Circle and the challenges with equipment when it’s well below -15.
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| Q7. What’s your favourite/worst conditions to film in and why? |
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Warm clear sun, blue skies but not in the temperature of Doha when I was there at 46 degrees in the Sun. Worst has to be fine rain, which normally happens on an OB job!
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| Q8. Who is the most interesting person you have worked with? |
| Hard one this, so many. During my time of filming F1, 1990 – 97. On team track practice day in 92, during down time, for what ever reason found myself having a conversation with Ayrton Senna. Which I won’t forget!
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| Q9. Name one unnecessary item that you cannot do without on a shoot? |
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Carabiner clips with Dyneema cord.
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| Q10. What would you like to film that you haven’t already? |
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Drama
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| Q11. What job would you be doing if you couldn’t do what you do now? |
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Most likely electrician or plumber, My mum made sure I had something to fall back on if I didn’t make my dream job. I told my parents that I wanted to be a cameraman at the age of 7! Started black and white photography at the age of 8 as well as messed about with my dad’s Kodak standard 8mm film camera. Lucky for me my parents went along with it.
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| Q12. What’s one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring Cameraman? |
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Network, Network, Network and be nice! Worked for me
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