Jump Off The Screen

Getting close

2010-01-26T14:41:00.006Z

I enjoy getting to know ordinary people best and also getting close to them. Here's a delightful lady I met today at a Glasgow Care Home. So dignified and a great artist too.

With the Sugar Queen

2010-01-22T21:35:00.006Z

At the start of a very hectic period of production. 6 full days of location filming from Windsor to Glasgow over a 10 day period. Today we were delighted to be filming with Lina Kennedy the Los Angeles based Sugar Queen of hair removal and a bunch of young models. Companies we are filming with next week include; Unilever, Scottish Care and IBM.

Building up our broadcast development arm

2010-01-11T15:45:00.002Z

To work with me on proposals for broadcast channels, I've taken on a freelance development consultant. Also we've established monthly brainstorm forums to flesh out themes and narratives. It's all part of new processes to come up with imaginative and thought-provoking documentaries. Yes, I've had that book by the side of the bed to jot down daily ideas, but for 2010 we are creating resources that put Jump Off The Screen on par with top London production houses.

Filming with UK's number 1 female paralympic skier

2009-12-17T18:06:00.007Z

We're putting together a mini-profile of Jane Sowerby, who is engaging, inspiring and crazy on the slopes. In the short term, she'll have a profile-raising film, and early in the New Year we may have a film to shoot in America and Canada.

At the National Museum of Cinema Equipment in Milton Keynes

2009-11-23T23:43:00.005Z

It's great being based in Milton Keynes. It's home to innovative UK organisations and it's the UK's fastest growing business city. It's also home to an increasing number of filmmakers. I was pleased tonight to join the Milton Keynes Film Network and see a collection of showreels and short films. An added attraction was the wonderful setting - the Enigma Cinema at historic Bletchley Park. In every corner there are wonderful cinema projectors, many of which are kept working by an enthusiastic group of volunteers.

At Doc/Fest in Sheffield

2009-11-08T15:57:00.001Z

The picture doesn't show me but Marc Issacs, one of my documentary heros, trying out our EX3 as we did some interviewing for the Doc/Fest website.

With the Africa filming leading to new work with OU research teams, and three new business films to make before the end of November, I've been too busy to role out ideas for broadcast documentaries. However, you can't go to Doc/Fest and not aim to redress the balance, and I'm glad to say there's been some real interest in an idea we have developed.

Filming discussion on realising creative potential

2009-10-06T23:35:00.001Z

In Greenwich to film discussion between Lord Puttnam (producer of Chariots of Fire, The Mission etc) and Deborah Bull (Creative Director of ROH2 at the Royal Opera House). Shot with three cameras and will now turn into 4 x 10mins packages for the web.

At Warwick with the robot team

2009-09-25T20:55:00.005Z

Continued filming of the 'Search for Robot Culture' documentary - the trailer is on our broadcast page. Great to meet up again with all the academics and students. Filmed some fascinating discussions and presentations. Now looking forward to the start of the 'world-first' robot interactions. Can't wait.

Premiere of Africa Film

2009-09-15T07:06:00.004Z

Our fundraising film for The Open University was premiered at a reception last Thursday attended by ministers, ambassadors and funders. Here's some of the feedback..... "Your video got much applause at the Africa event last week. Well done!" "Everyone was really pleased with the final film, so congratulations to you" "Last night’s event was a huge success. The event went really well and the video was a triumph!" "Feedback included how clear the message was, how well the ‘ask’ came across, how well the film was edited, and how motivating the pictures were."

We are pleased. Hopefully some of the children and mothers can look forward to a different future.

Bringing movement to motion pictures

2009-09-10T10:05:00.007Z

At a shoot on Monday and Tuesday for Dove we used our newly purchased dolly and track system for the first time. Great success and a new standard we can offer all our clients without the need to hire expensive additional equipment. This reflects our plans for the Autumn; to be the premier creator of business films in the Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge region.

More and more work

2009-08-21T13:33:00.005Z

Well I enjoyed a week in the South of France with the family and then it was back in the editing suite to produce the first cut of our Africa fundraising film. Also really good to hear from clients new and old about three projects shooting in September. In particular, Howard Smith Papers who won lots of nice incremental revenue on the back of our earlier films for them.

Short doc completed

2009-07-29T20:39:00.005Z

Showed my private project about a young talented girl and the pressures on her family to the main contributors (pictured above). Really appreciated their reactions and subsequent emails. They loved it. "Natalie: A West End Girl" will be distributed more widely in the late Summer.

Hi-def anywhere

2009-07-27T16:13:00.006Z

Just back from weekend work in Brussels. I'm often asked how we are able to film overseas so cost-effectively but with such good quality. Here's the kit we need which is all owned in house - the Sony EX3 camera just fits into our carry on bag, tripod and boom pole in the black bag, lights and other equipment in the suitcase. And secondly we work best with a simple two-person crew.

Creating new teachers in Africa

2009-07-17T07:17:00.004Z

On location in Ghana at numerous collages and schools capturing some of the amazing work being done. As Obama said in Accra last week "The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed."

Onboard HMS Ark Royal

2009-07-10T14:06:00.007Z

Inspiring to be filming on the aircraft carrier down at Portsmouth. Great access (we got to touch the engines) and fantastic crew all keen to tell us their stories. A big thanks to all those who arranged.

Capturing a unique atmosphere

2009-07-05T09:50:00.006Z

Filmed over the weekend at the Childwickbury Arts Fair organised by Christiane Kubrick. It's eclectic, convivial and relaxed – quite unique. With the EX3 and a radio boom mic, we worked hard to capture the breathe of events; famous artists to face painting, designer hats to bespoke jewellery.

Speaker at corporate video event

2009-06-09T20:50:00.005Z

Enjoyed myself tonight at the Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce meeting on Corporate Videos. In my presentation I spoke of the key things clients should do to get better videos. Making a film is about partnership working. We like brainstorming with clients, we like it when a project manager is appointed to help us on set, we like clients sitting with us at key editing moments. That's three of the ten I went through.

Searching for iconic images

2009-05-24T14:22:00.002Z

Filmed a business seminar in Munich. Wanted to precede our coverage with some iconic images of this lovely Bavarian city. These men were great; after a few moments of conversation they gave us the chanting and the toasting. You get the best images by engaging with people.

Interview with TV personality

2009-05-20T13:43:00.004Z

Pleasure to interview one of the first science-focused TV talents. We were commissioned to film Heinz Wolff's lecture in London and will use the interview to add value to our coverage.

Editing over Sudan

2009-05-18T10:04:00.003Z

On the way back from Ethiopia, Aleks pulled together some footage for showing to our clients. So whilst other passengers slept or listened to their music, we kept working.

The power of film

2009-05-13T22:18:00.004Z

Here are some of the images taken today on our shoot in Ethiopia. Travelled some 70km south of Addis Ababa to visit a Health Centre. Filmed baby inoculations, AIDS screening and maternity training.

Great use of talking heads

2009-05-01T20:52:00.005Z

At Barbican Art Gallery filming interviews with graduating Open University MBA students. We usually avoid talking heads, but these interviews, when quickly intercut, gave us totally inspiring stories.

Recording history

2009-04-28T21:37:00.002Z

Observational documentaries record history. So I was pleased that The National Trust lined up a wonderful brother and sister to tell us their stories about life at the soon to be restored coaching inn at Stowe.

Recording at the OU

2009-04-01T09:01:00.004Z

Enjoyable time at the Open University's in-house sound studio recording a 7 minute script. Pictured above are Matthew from the studio and James Owen one of the voiceover artists.

The film is an eclectic mix of images selected from some 70 OU and BBC programmes. Since previewing rough cuts, two divisions within the OU have requested their own versions of the film too!

The beauty of energy

2009-03-31T23:59:00.001Z

I can judge my passion for film-making by how far I go to get some footage. Today I was coming back from 2 hours of filming in Exeter, but simply had to get this image as the sun set over Somerset. It will look perfect in a business documentary we have in production.