Looking back over 2021
Shooting pickups for a feature film in April with Kostis assisting
Last year, in the midst of the pandemic and as we approached our third national lockdown in the UK, it felt inappropriate to do my usual roundup of the year. Truth be told, I’d had a difficult few months (along with everyone else) but it paled in comparison to the vast majority of the population. As we now sign off for 2021 (wondering where the time went) and learn to live with covid, I think it’s time to start talking about our achievements again. With awareness and discussions around mental health now at the fore as we transition into a post-pandemic world, I think it’s important that all of us celebrate our successes, no matter how big or small they are.
So, this is what’s been happening in my world for the past year, with a bit of 2020 context for good measure:
Less filming, more editing
One of many educational promos edited for MCN Productions
As a result of the restrictions imposed in 2020, naturally there was a lot less filming to do. However, businesses were still keen to get video content out to their audiences. Even as we emerged out of the first lockdown, there was still some unease about shoots taking place. In this time I experienced a major shift from filming to editing; companies would send me pre-recorded footage, often on phones, to edit and professionalise, as well as the professionally shot footage, much of which had been shot with skeleton crews. Even as shoots began to return to some sort of normal, the demand for content as a result of the uncertainty was still there. This trend continued well into 2021. One such client was Brighton based MCN Productions, whom I’d already been working with for several years making video content for schools. Demand had exploded in 2020 for virtual school tours, open evening videos, promos and re-edits of existing content, and 2021 only built on this further.
Example animated infographics for an eFinancialCareers Linkedin video
In addition, I also found myself venturing into the motion graphics space somewhat. One of the few upsides to the first lockdown was that I suddenly had free time (as did we all) and I chose to spend a good amount of this developing my skills in this area. This proved to be successful, as I found myself doing more motion-graphics style edits for existing clients, as well as for new client eFinancialCareers. Editing existing footage in a creative way and enhancing phone footage by adding animated text and infographics was an exciting and creative challenge to step up to. Bar charts, pie charts, split screens, animated typography - there is so much that can be done in this realm!
Whilst it was never my intention to become a motion designer, developing these skills has certainly led to some exciting projects that fit well into the video marketing arena. They definitely enhance an editors abilities and I look forward to doing more of this in 2022.
First live event in 18 months, with HSJ
Filming in conference venue & former Nightingale hospital, Manchester Central
After live events were decimated last year, long standing client HSJ went virtual. But in September they hosted their first live event in 18 months, the Patient Safety Congress in Manchester. It was so good (and felt a bit surreal) to return to the events field after so long, especially being in a room with several hundred delegates. What made this year’s event particularly significant was not just the fact that it was a healthcare event during a pandemic, but how it was hosted in a former Nightingale hospital. It could not have been a more appropriate and welcome return to the events sector!
Web commercial, with Clockhouse Productions
Sneaking this in just before Christmas, I was fortunate enough to shoot a high-end web commercial for German software company SAP, through Tunbridge Wells based agency Clockhouse Productions. Shooting five actors against five different coloramas to deliver six scripted videos with compositors extending the backdrops in post-production, this ad was similar to some of the Descript ads that often pop up on Youtube. With a gruelling schedule spread over three days, the key to this project was setting up the lighting in the studio so only very minimal changes were needed throughout. Naturally, the lighting was soft and contrast relatively low, but collaboration with the art and costume departments helped the subjects jump out from the background. This created colour contrast instead through the use of complementary colours.
At time of writing the videos are still in postproduction, but I’m looking forward to sharing them soon.
An example of complementary colours, with the talent’s blue costume on yellow.
Getting some assistance to help sell the effect of walls being ‘pushed’ away
More complementary colours here with blue on orange
Shooting narrative, with Entity Film Co.
And last, but certainly not least, one of the biggest developments (starting in 2020, but continuing well into 2022) saw me take up the opportunity to shoot an independent feature film as a cinematographer. Whilst this was a world away from corporate and events, in my view there was no better time for a new challenge when life was so uncertain for everyone.
It is extremely difficult to sum up this experience in a few words, as the project has been in existence for almost as long as the pandemic itself. To be brief, it’s a drama about a model who goes on a journey to reconnect with her family after the unexpected death of her mother. Principle photography took place in October 2020 at several locations throughout London and Sussex and, amazingly, made it through the second lockdown. It then spilled over into 2021 and as soon as we emerged out of the third lockdown in April, a skeleton crew regrouped to shoot some pickups in Gun Hill Studios, East Sussex, both to fill gaps as well as shoot new scenes after some changes to the original script. Numerous small shoots followed for the rest of the year, which included recreating scenes in the producer’s house to ‘cheat’ close ups of things such as the talents’ hands and phone screens, as well as capturing cutaway footage of locations we’d visited that we couldn’t get the first time round.
Filming on location in Dungeness, Kent
Shooting pickups in Gun Hill Studios
One of many skeleton crew pick up shoots, this time getting creative with close ups
Although it’s been over a year since we finished principle photography, at time of writing we still don’t quite have all the footage in the can! About 95% of the film has been shot, so early 2022 will be about filling these gaps, colour grading the finished product and getting it to market.
Making an indie feature film in a pandemic is like climbing a mountain during an avalanche, but despite the odds being stacked against us, bit-by-bit it’s coming together. I’ll be speaking about this project in greater detail on my cinematography site when it goes live in the coming months.
And away from work..
With my fiancée, Emma
Outside of work there were a few developments as well! In July I got engaged to the love of my life, Emma. Whilst the world sometimes feels like it’s falling apart, she’s my rock, always there and encouraging me to keep going, no matter how difficult things get. I don’t know where I’d be without her.
There are some great views to be seen on the South Downs way
After a painfully long winter lockdown, I was glad to start some semi-regular hiking with fellow video production freelancers Russ and Martin. We’re currently about a third of the way through our South Downs Way walk from Eastbourne to Winchester, and none of the legs have been a struggle at all..honestly! In 2022 we hope to reach the end before taking on a challenge event for charity.
And finally, after getting my PADI Open Water scuba diving qualification in between lockdowns last year and my dry suit this year, I’ve definitely got the diving bug! I’m now on the look out for buddies, so whether you’re already an experienced diver or are thinking of trying it out, drop me a line!
So, here’s to the next 12 months..
This time last year everyone was saying how 2021 couldn’t be any worse than 2020..so hopefully 2022 will build on that some more! But whilst the pandemic isn’t over yet, it certainly won’t last forever. I was one of the lucky ones when it came to receiving support throughout this crisis and am incredibly grateful for how fortunate I am to still be trading as a non-essential worker in a highly competitive, small industry. What’s more, I believe that a diverse portfolio, resilience and a rock solid support network were invaluable during this period. The next few months may still be uncertain, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and I’ll do whatever it takes to hang in there, continuously improving to meet and exceed the expectations of my clients.
To all my clients, collaborators, family and friends - thank you for a great year in such challenging times. All that’s left to say now is..