CAMERA TRAINING

This week Gyto and I made the journey up to North Wales for three days intensive camera training (Digital Betacam) with Richard Wyn Huws (DOP on Cwcw). For some the journey up was a lot more confortable than others (I spent 6 & 1/2 hours in Sunday transport chaos on buses trains and taxis compared to Gyto's relaxed drive from Pembrokeshire!)

This course was invaluable as we got some real one on one training with Rich and Paul (Cwcw's Focus Puller). It was a real learning curve - we both took turns in operating the camera and focus pulling learning the fundamentals of both disciplines. Trying out some really tricky shots such as quick focus pulls and camera moves, someone walking towards the camera, sitting down moving about as well as planning the camera moves for each shot. We used Tripod, Jib arm and Dolly (my favourite - it can be quite fun being pushed around the studio!) using the Dolly shows how you all have to get the move exactly right for the shot to work - and ensures the focus puller, operator, grip and artist all have to work as a team to get it right - if one aspect is out of place then the whole thing can go wrong!

On the third day Rich even let us loose on the Steadycam - which is a hell of a lot harder than it looks!!! like robocop, we each donned our body armour and prepared for the immense weight of the whole kit (It weighs about 5stone!) Trying to get the balance right, walk unaided and not fall over as well as trying not to think of the weight pulling down on your lower back was taxing enough, let alone getting the shot right! A bit more practice on this I think! Hats off to those Rugby cameramen running about the field for the entire game!

FILMIAU FONDU - CWCW

Welsh Language Film based on the life of a soap opera actress/scriptnwriter, she struggles to make sense of the world as the boundaries between her real life and that of her on screen character become entangled and confused. Cwcw lives up to its name as many on set could also be seen scratching their heads with furrowed brows at times, but also delight in the humour and poignancy of some of the scenes. It was wonderful to work with a welsh cast and crew that become like a big family, although the 'GOG' welsh heard on set was often more confusing than the script!

Im looking forward to seeing the final edit of the film as it does the theatre and film festival circuit so I think it will be well worth a look even to the non welsh speakers.

While on Cwcw, I worked with the DOP, Focus puller and rigger along with another trainee, ahot on High Definition Video (Sony 900R) As well as the usual clapper board and marking actors (although this time marking the board in welsh was occassionaly more of a challenge as I seemed to get some weird form of dyslexia between the numbers 4 and 5!) there was also setting up the video monitors and getting all the equipment ready. Working on Cwcw was a great opportunity to see and also work with many different people as we were in close contact with each department - you could really see the importance of everybody's roles. I learnt about lighting for different conditions and effects as we used a lot of indoor sets, the DOP had a major input to the setting of the lights and the different effects achieved through the use of different tubes, filters and white balance. I loved helping the grip set up the crane, arm and tracks and there was also a lot of opportunity to see how shots are constructed as well as using many Steadycam shots. Because I also want to do underwater camerawork, the best part for me was going down to London to observe the underwater shoot in which they used 35mm film.

ITV - THE HISTORY OF MR POLLY

About... well exactly what it says on the tin really. A period feature length film shot in and around South Wales on Super 16mm Film for ITV. The starring role goes to none other than the king of comedy himself, Mr Lee Evans. Along with a wonderful cast including Anne-Marie Duff, the beautiful Richard Coyle (You know the OTT Welsh bloke on UK sitcom 'Coupleing' and Only Fools and Horses Legend Trigger to name but a few.

Lee was so wonderfully down to earth, on my first day he practically jumped over a coffin in a graveside scene and came right over to me in between takes. Obviously sensing my nervous and clumsy demeanour, he extended his hand and said 'Hi, I'm Lee, nice to meet you!' and continued to chat casually about my course and his family. He is such a lovely guy and always made everyone on set really at ease, not one hint of primadonna behaviour!

My time on 'Polly' was spent helping the DOP, Focus Puller and Clapper Loader, which was great to get a taste for working in the Film Medium as I'd only worked on Documentaries and with Video previously. As well as doing the clapper board, laying marks for actors and making a great deal of black coffee for the camera department(!) I would have the Finder ready for the DOP to frame up the next shot, get the required Prime Lenses, Filters and Film Stock to the Focus Puller to prep the camera and help out on the truck with the clapper loader filling out forms and checking equipment, I even learnt how to load and unload a magazine in the darkroom.



We had many sets and locations on Polly so it was great to see the countryside around the areas I've lived for so long and knew nothing about, as well as being part of a very large film crew. One of the most exciting days was the Fire Stunt where we had stunt specialists and Fire crew come in to recreate a building fire in which Lee has to run into the burning building.

Walking back from set one evening I heard a car pull up beside me and a voice say 'You getting in then or what?!' I had no hesitation to accept a lift from Mr Lee Evans himself in his chauffer driven Jaguar!

BBC - COAST

Having worked on Coast as a researcher on programme 2 series 2 'Holyhead to Liverpool' and programme 13 series 3 'Galway to Fastnet' I had already a great understanding of the programme and had worked with many of the crew before. It was great however to see the programme through to production and be involved in the main shoots for the Irish programme.

The North Wales programme has recently been broadcast and it was great to see my name go up in the credits for the first time! Maybe next time it will be as Camera Operator...

It was great to be back on a flight to Galway with 'COAST' for two fabulous hectic weeks working twelve hour days zipping down the Irish coast in a toyota avensis. We got a light aircraft flight to the aran isles, where I shot some 2nd Camera footage, went out on a rib looking for dolphins near Lahinch and I even got to skipper a 114 year old yawl boat down South from Baltimore. I got to shoot my own footage as 2nd camera operator with the Director down along the south coast for a few days and filmed some more as 2nd camera at the kilkee curach races, a lot of which is going be used on the show when it airs in 2007.