Reading Film and Video Makers

MEET THE MEMBERS

I was born in Hertfordshire in 1950. My parents were both Head Teachers, continuing the family history of academics going back beyond the 19th century.

I am married to Denise and we have 3 children - Jozef, Nerin and Laura. They all still live at home making our house quite a lively place to be!

I have been in my current job for 27 years. I am in the sales department of GlaxoSmithKline, formerly known as SmithKline Beecham, based in Brentford, West London. I enjoy the job which involves a good deal of travelling. Over the years I have had the good fortune to win many incentive holidays to countries right around the world. The recent merger with Glaxo Wellcome created the largest drug company in the world.

My interest in film started way back. I lived near Elstree Studios as a child and, through a family friend, visited the set of "The Dam Busters" in 1954.1 don't remember too much about it except for the massive models that were made for the bombing sequence.
Living near Elstree also meant that we frequently came across film crews making a variety of movies especially series like "The Saint". Letchmore Heath, a picturesque village near home, was often seen in films, and still is today. It was also the set chosen for "Village of the Dammed", from the John Wyndham novel "The Midwitch Cuckoos".

My Uncle was a lecturer in Cinematography at Coventry. He won many awards for his work which included a series of videos on Stratford Upon Avon, narrated by Anthony Quayle.

Video as a hobby became an affordable way to record family life and memories of visits. I like making documentaries and have been commissioned to make a variety of films for work. One was used by Sainsburys as a training film for managers and distributed to all 440 stores. Much of my recent work has been an experiment to get to know non linear editing and trying out techniques and ideas. I want to continue to experiment into more abstract work that will be visually interesting for the viewer.

Recent major projects include a film record of a Thanksgiving Dinner at The Café Royal in London (for GSK) and making a video record of old family 9mm footage taken by my grandfather in the late 40s and early 5Os. A film I made for GSK about The Log Cabin in Ealing was awarded a Silver Seal at the IAC International Festival 2001. This is my first major award and one which I am very proud to receive.

Much of my spare time is being taken up in research for a major film on two relatives who were killed in World War One having seen, and survived, some of the most horrific battles of the war. The research has revealed some fascinating circumstance which we did not know before. The Imperial War Museum have granted permission to use film and audio archive material and Triorchy Male Voice Choir are supporting the project with music. Filming will take place in the summer and we travel to the battlefield sites in September.

I discovered RFVM about 2 years ago and have found the club very welcoming. It has been the source and stimulus for many ideas and training. After all none of us ever stop learning, do we?

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