some really great places around London to shoot - my favourite was St Catherines dock/ Tower Bridge area, absolutely stunning on a freezing cold, clear winters morning (and I mean sparrow chirp type morning).

If you're completely new to this "moving image" thing, the Polytechnic of North London, at their Trent Park campus, runs (or ran, at any road) a pretty cool, one week "summer school" intro to video production.

I did it about 6 or 7 years ago and found it really usefull.

They've got some pretty decent gear as well. When I was there they had a complete ex - Beeb VCR editing system and both Avid and (I think) FCP systems to boot.

There may be other places in town offering sommat similar, worth checking out "FloodLight", as the situation may well have improved re courses since I escaped.


CS

Colin - there's no better way of getting better at making films. Shoot, shoot, shoot, and come home and critically appraise what you've caught. Video is such a great teacher, patient, accurate, forgiving, repeatable.

I tell people starting out to 'talk to the mics', that way when they're watching their TV screens later they can hear themselves say things such as, 'This shot on manual iris, shutter and gain, auto focus and white balance, OIS on, hand-held, 100% zebras visible in white shirt', that sort of thing. Have 'display' turned on as well, it's a great help on your TV.

tom.

Hello.

I'm in Bristol too, just starting out. Plenty of ideas lined up, though as anxious as I am to get started, I want to do the ideas justice, so I'm holding off until I feel practised enough. Though what's better practice than the real thing, hmm?

I am just making some final purchases...perhaps amusingly, the last* purchase will turn out to be the camera, a Panasonic DVX100BE. The other stuff consists of a Tascan HD-P2 recorder, Rode NTG-2 short shotgun, AKG D230 reporter's mic, and the Oktava MK 012 with the triple capsule package (omni, cardioid, hypercardioid). I've got the Rode 3.2m boom pole and a Beyerdynamic G500 stand to mount them on, though I'd like to get a stand for the longer boom pole to sit on.

Intending on getting the HPRC AMRE 2600W for the camera and a few bits and bobs. Disappointed that there's no equivalent to the Portabrace camera body armour for the DVX100, but I'll at least get a rain cover, though that'll likely only get used in dire emergencies. Oh, and in support matters, I'm about to place an order for the Indicam Pilot sled (I'll get the arm/vest when funds permit, and if gigs seem to require longer steadicam shots), and have pretty much settled on the Vinten Pro-6HDV. I nearly went with the Manfrotto equivalent, but from what I've read, the sticks are better.

So if anyone in Bristol wants to see any of that, they're welcome to. I expect I'll hire it out in certain circumstances, also.

Phil


*Pfff...obviously I mean "last for now".

Hi Phil,nice to hear someone else is from Bristol.
If you wanna get together for any filming then let me know.
Paul.

Hi there

New film maker based in Hertfordshire here... in the middle of first feature.

Check out: www.myspace.com/shootthedjfilm

Or

www.stage6.com/user/sonichub

Always looking for 2nd camera people... and sound recordists etc..

Enjoy DVinfo.... it's a great place for free advice.

Sean

JVC GY-DV500 with 19 x Aspheric Lens, SONY VX1000, G5 Mac with Final Cut Studio, and a van load of various stuff cobbled together to make a movie...

Hi guys!

Another newbie to the forum - this time from north of the Border. Sunny Dundee! (Well it is today, anyway!) :)

Have been doing videos of all kinds of things for other people for many years and now want to start earning a bit of cash from it. I've got a couple of ideas I'm working on but they're in the early stages so I'll no doubt be back to pick people's brains from time to time.

I like the idea of people posting their experiences of UK suppliers.

I'm also amazed that this thread started in 2004 and has only really taken off in the last few days! :)

Anyway, good to have so many brits onboard.

Hi, St Leonards-on-Sea (Hastings),
Anyone from my area?
I am TV PD, 40 years in the biz.
I used to be in Vancouver BC for decades, CBC and freelance.
I just joined DVInfo and learn a lot from it.
Cheers,
Tony

Hey, West Country guy here, living near Bath. Glad I looked in this thread, I didn't expect to see many Brits (thanks for starting this thread Gavin).
Regards,
John.

Hey, West Country guy here, living near Bath. Glad I looked in this thread, I didn't expect to see many Brits (thanks for starting this thread Gavin).

And here we are: (sorry if I've missed anyone)

Phil Bambridge
Stuart Burns
Niall Chadwick
Damian Clarke
Alan Dunlop-Walters
Dave Gosley
Tom Hardwick
Vince Hill
Paul Kellett
Rob Lohman
Mike Marriage
Colin McDonald
Peter D. Parker
Colin Reid
Graham Risdon
Ed Smith
Martin D. Smith
Chris Soucy
Gavin Thomas
Sean Vincent
Tony Wade
Andy Wilkinson
John Wyatt

Full time emp / Self emp / part time or leisure only,

What do you do with yours?

Me - part time.

Hi John.
You're near me then.

Paul.

I'm in Pembrokeshire. Full time (overtime) naturalist by profession, and that includes wildlife photography and video when I can fit it in.

Just shot my first Sony EX1 wedding yesterday in the snowy fields of Essex. Oh I do love that camera, but I can feel it in my wrist this morning. Note: use tripod more often, tom. But the Steadyshot is just so damn good, the low light capabilities amazing, the v'finders so goddam sharp. And I was glad of that big deep lens hood out there in the falling snow, keeping my front element dry.

tom.

Hi,

Long time lurker living in London. Just about to buy an XH A1. I've been saving for a while and plan to take July and August off to do some learning/experimenting.

Hope to make the big purchase next week - can't wait - woohoo ;)

Paul

hi guys from sunny? south ayrshire. canon xh-a1

Hi Folks,

just to add my name to the folks from the UK, Inverclyde to be more precise.

cheers John

Hey Paul -- I'm about 10 miles from Bath. Like to meet up some time for a drink and a chat? I usually haunt the Alternative imaging section on DVInfo. I have been experimenting with a Sumix camera head, but my work is not far enough along to use for a project I'm planning this summer, so I'll be shooting that with a Canon HV20. I used to work for a film company when I lived in London, but now my projects are personal no-budget type of things.
John.

Hi John.
I've sent you an email.
Thanks.Paul.

hi guys, just adding myself to the uk list - im from cambridge.

long time forum reader, photographer previously (now accountant..) and trying to do short films in my spare time. by no means expertly prolific camera operator, but i like to think my stills background gives me a boost :D

Add me to the list too please!

I'm in Isleworth, West London.

You can see one of my films here:

www.gooderick.com

Let me know if you want to see more.

Canon XH A1
Sony A1E c/w sports housing
Lowell lighting kit, Lastolites
DPA 4061 stereo mic kit, Sanken CS3-e shotgun, Sennheiser G2 radio mic, Rode shotgun.
Fig Rig, booms, tripods
Fostex FR2 LE sound recorder
HBB minidisc recorder (x2)
HP 6.4 Ghz workstation
Genelec speakers
Dell 24 inch monitor
Avid Liquid NLE

Hi Richard,

I am based in Hounslow so we are not that far apart. I am doing the 48 hour Sci-Fi challenge this weekend. Would you be interested in joining the team?

Regards

Colin

Hi Colin

I've seen this mentioned but I couldn't work out what it was all about. I would be interested but the timing is bad. I am working flat out to finish five short films by the end of next week and my sailing boat gets craned in on Monday (immovable deadline!) so I am a bit under the cosh at the moment. Shouldn't be browsing DV info really!

Does it all get done at the weekend? What's involved? Perhaps we should discuss this off the forum.

Do you want to give me a call?

Richard,

Yes, the whole lot from script to edit in 48 hours from 10.30 Saturday 5th.

I will be in touch.

Colin

I'm in North London and shoot on the XHA1.

Hi Kathy
Welcome. Good to see another Londoner here.
Looking forward to hearing more about what you are up to.
Richard

Hey thanks for the welcome.

The work I do is pretty varied from filming a beauty contest in Ethiopia through to some scientific filming in London. I've worked on lots of corporate stuff as well as some drama. How about yourself?

Good see another British female - there don't seem to be too many of us on this forum!

Tell you what Annie - isn't Premiere Elements 4 amazingly good for the money? I loaded it onto a friend's machine as he wanted to start with something simple and I was very impressed indeed with the simplicity and intuitiveness of the program.

Premiere Elements four is a lot simpler than one and two were - I skipped three and jumped onto four as soon as it came out - that was just after I'd bought the XH A1 and needed something that would cope with HiDef.

I don't find the titles part particularly intuitive to use, but that may be just because I don't have time to use it as much as would like and feel like I'm back to square one each time.

Greetings from the Hants / Sussex border. I'm about half way between Chichester and Portsmouth.

JSW

Its great to see so many people from good old Blighty on here!

Hey Annie, still not that many female camera ops!

Hi Kathy
Did not mean to ignore you. I didn't see your post.
I started doing this two years ago. Was asked to do a 'simple' corporate film that turned out to be quite complex. Bought and learned Avid Liquid (make that 'started to learn) and how to use a camera, do sound, lighting etc too.
Have done a bit more corporate stuff and am currently completing a really fun and interesting commission to make five films about musicians for distribution via the web.
I have a mostly finished film about sailing across the atlantic that I made on spec. May get this released as a cover DVD on a sailing magazine. Some more corporate and specialist TV channel stuff possibly in the pipeline.
I wonder what the other Brits on DV info do?

Funny, I didn't see Kathy's post either - must have been because it was on the next page, and I hadn't noticed a new page had been started!

My video is mainly for myself, but I also provide clips for others to use. Wildlife only. I give a lot of illustrated talks, and I have started using video clips alongside photos for that.

I live in South London.
Using DVX100 indoors, on tripod, for music shows, and HV20 outdoors.

Patrick - you seem to be mixing 4:3 (DVX) and 16:9 (HV20). Or maybe you don't use both cameras on the same shoot.

Patrick - you seem to be mixing 4:3 (DVX) and 16:9 (HV20). Or maybe you don't use both cameras on the same shoot.

Tom, you can still do 4:3 SD on the HV20 and 30.

I still do a lot of 4:3 because it's still better for some jobs where 16:9 would end up being letterboxed anyway. I still have a 4:3 telly and most computer monitors are nearer 4:3 than 16:9.

I got the impression my post moved from one page to the next, might just be my imagination though!

Sounds like people are shooting some interesting stuff! Do you guys ever do meet ups or anything?

Sounds like people are shooting some interesting stuff! Do you guys ever do meet ups or anything?
Not as far as I know but there is no reason why we couldn't except that people are spread all over the place.
Colin Reid called me about a spare time project that he was organising but I've been too busy to participate.
Maybe there are other projects or other ideas?

Tom,
I use the HV20 outside, as it is amazing in good light. Indoors, I still want the extra sensitivity of the DVX100. I did shoot a Gilbert and Sullivan performance using the DVX100 as my main camera, and the HV20 locked down to cover the whole stage. To get maximum light sensitivity the HV20 was shooting 25p, and the DVX100 50i. Colours were more saturated with the DVX, and there was more noise on the HV20. Even with some correction in Vegas, they were not a very good match. However, as the cuts were always between HV20 on wide shot, and DVX100 close up, I think it was not too distracting. It helps that the soundtrack was excellent, using top quality audio equipment in a dual system.
The final DVD was 16:9, letterboxing the DVX100. Vegas upscales really well. In fact, I think I could probably have got away with upscaling the project to 1440 x 1080, but there aren't enough people with blu ray players yet.
Patrick

And here we are: (sorry if I've missed anyone)

Phil Bambridge
Stuart Burns
Niall Chadwick
Damian Clarke
Alan Dunlop-Walters
Dave Gosley
Tom Hardwick
Vince Hill
Paul Kellett
Rob Lohman
Mike Marriage
Colin McDonald
Peter D. Parker
Colin Reid
Graham Risdon
Ed Smith
Martin D. Smith
Chris Soucy
Gavin Thomas
Sean Vincent
Tony Wade
Andy Wilkinson
John Wyatt

Just started my holiday and looking for silly things to do tonight, so here's a few more Brits I found posting to DVinfo recently:

Mike Beckett [Antrim]
Simon Bradley [Portsmouth]
Alastair Brown [Glasgow]
Alex Calderhead [Cumbernauld]
David Dwyer [Cardiff]
John Estcourt [Ayrshire]
Richard Gooderick [London]
Derek Grogan [Larbert Scotland]
Annie Haycock [Pembrokeshire]
Anthony J. Howe [Wales]
Phil Kay [IoM]
John McPaul [Inverclyde]
Gary Nattrass [Cornsay Durham]
Tony Neal [Fareham]
Kathy Stannard [London]
Paul Thomson [London]
Jamie Walshe [Cambridge]
Neill Watson [North Yorkshire]
John Westbury [Portsmouth]

Plus a few more who have been around a bit longer:

Andy Graham [Lanark]
Allen McLaughlin [Paisley]
Alister Chapman [Bracknell, Berkshire]
Duncan Craig [Leeds?]
Mat Thompson [Chelmsford Essex]

I'm here too - part of the UK, even if we're a bit remote and talk funny!

I'm here too - part of the UK, even if we're a bit remote and talk funny!

Mike, a thousand apologies, no disrespect intended. I should have remembered seeing your posts!

In compensation you are now top of the list of those added (thank goodness for the edit facility).

*chuckles* Don't worry Colin, it takes more than that to offend me!

*chuckles* Don't worry Colin, it takes more than that to offend me!

lol Mike. Dont set people challenges like that.

It will just encourage them :P

Been listed by Colin on another thread, so here's an intro.

Stills photog shooting mostly editorial cars for tuner car magazines, supplying words and pictures. Using Canon 1DS and Capture One RAW processing, plus usual stuff.

Very excited by Scarlet by Red as a motion camera that can supply stills similar to 1DS resolution. Currently only got a simple Canon DV thing bought to shoot footage of my kids growing up, but looking to shoot more motion footage. Main markets will be stock footage of cars / driving plus self publishing features online with video content and looking to get into creating more complete features and very open minded as to how that will pan out.

Very open to ideas from others and quickly realising that creating features is a team effort and not a single bloke output like stills photography...

Neill W

Here's one last update for now. I don't want to keep doing this in case I get bumped off DVinfo for posting endless lists when the info is here (somewhere) anyway.

I have this on excel and will try to keep it reasonably up to date but the problem is more that I didn't know how far back to go. There are some UK folks who posted last 2 or more years ago and doubtless there are others contributing to forums that I don't particularly follow. I've removed one or two names of people who are not actually based in the UK.

Jamie Allan Nottinghamshire
Phil Bambridge Bristol
Mike Beckett Antrim
Simon Bradley Portsmouth
Alastair Brown Glasgow
Stuart Burns Dundee
Alex Calderhead Cumbernauld
Niall Chadwick Chelmsford Essex
Alister Chapman Bracknell, Berkshire
Damian Clarke Lincolnshire
Duncan Craig Leeds?
Alan Dunlop-Walters Newbury
David Dwyer Cardiff
John Estcourt Ayrshire
Mark Fry Oxford
Andy Graham Lanark
Richard Gooderick London
Dave Gosley Hampshire
Derek Grogan Larbert Scotland
Tom Hardwick Billericay
Annie Haycock Pembrokeshire
Paul Hazeltine West Kent
Donal Heath London
Vince Hill Pembrokeshire
Anthony J Howe Rhos-on-sea, Wales
Terry Hulf UK South East
Melvyn Jones Telford
Phil Kay IoM
Paul Kellett Bristol
Mike Marriage NE of London
Colin McDonald Glasgow
Allen McLaughlin Paisley
John McPaul Inverclyde
Gary Nattrass Cornsay Durham
Tony Neal Fareham
Steve Norman UK
Peter Parker Preston
Colin Reid London
Graham Risdon Wiltshire
Mark Rook Aberystwyth
Ed Smith Hampshire
Kathy Stannard London
Ian Stark Hampshire
Gavin Thomas UK
Mat Thompson Chelmsford Essex
Paul Thomson London
Sean Vincent Hitchin
Tony Wade St Leonards-on-sea
Jamie Walshe Cambridge
Neill Watson North Yorkshire
John Westbury Portsmouth
Andy Wilkinson Cambridgeshire
John Wyatt West Country
Andy Yoong Belfast

Colin, great list and thanks for taking the time to get it together. Maybe one day soon some of us will start collaborating with each other!

And me.

I've gotta XH-A1

Paul W. Hazeltine [West Kent]

I'm here too - part of the UK, even if we're a bit remote and talk funny!

What do you mean? We don't talk funny - we invented the bloody language! ....although that was before those people "across the pond" reinvented it of course (but note, they still call it English!).

Only joking guy's ....and I'm based in the United States of Britain too But very lowly when it comes to filming and even posting!

Phil