Thomas English

COTY Web Commercial – Macro moves on the MK-V AR

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:22:34 +0000

A web-commercial for COTY directed by a talented the Brazilian director now working in London for Crane.TV; Nicolas Viggiani and DoP’d by Ed Mash. I had to do load of tight macro-esqu shots for using the Mk-V AR Rig. These were particularly tricky shots as the foreground objects were so close to the lens that even a subtle move translates to a monumental move in the frame. Very tricky work but I think we got some great pack shot sequences really nicely lit by Ed.

COTY from Nicolas Viggiani on Vimeo.

The Mk-V AR rig handled these subtle moves with great aplomb and was really able to do stuff which would have been difficult and slow any other way. Like hovering the camera over the plynths or the other side of the plinths and taking it inside of the plynth circles etc. This had the additional complication that each bottle of perfume had an ideal angle to be photographed from so it was definitely a tricky shoot.

Below is a little making off so you can see the versatility of the AR rig with a G70 Steadicam Arm.

Coty Making – Off with MK-V AR rig from Thomas English on Vimeo.

Incidentaly COTY do lots of great perfume for when your in trouble with your girlfriend for spending too much time on set; like a get out of jail free card.

Marcus Collins “Mercy”

admin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:31:19 +0000

Another little promo I Steadicam Operated for Ben Todd DoP. For Marcus Collins’s “Mercy”. A relatively long day in and around Old Street offset by the fact that its only a stones throw away from where I am based.

Marcus Collins – Mercy from Thomas English on Vimeo.

Various Cruelties “The Great Unknown”

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:02:34 +0000

Done in one take with Commandante DoP Mattias Nyberg and Director Zac Ella on the side of a really bloody steep hill! Mattias said if I faltered he’d have me shot so we did many many takes backwards on that stupidly steep hill in painful low-mode with an Alexa Plus and Master primes. It hurt so much I didn’t watch the video for months but just watched it and now it all seems super worth it. Mattias did an amazing job making Liam look good and managed really consistent and great modelling lights all the way up the hill in really high winds. Sorry I didn’t mention the high winds earlier did I. Chimera softbox’s, Polly boards and Steadicams flapping in the wind with ominous storm warnings and dark clouds rolling in and out. Them colourful clouds were done in post I reckon as I was staring too much at a green screen monitor to notice. Mattias Nyberg is a giant and a genius and might have the power over my life and death on the side of a mountain in Devon but I’m not sure if he’s a Norse god with the power to spike clouds with LSD psychedelia juice. I’ll have to ask him now that he’s put the pistol down.

Various Cruelties – Great Unknown from Thomas English on Vimeo.

Tim Walker – “The Lost Explorer”

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:51:02 +0000

Directed by world renowned fashion photographer Tim Walker, THE LOST EXPLORER is produced by Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken, the successful duo whose first film, Shifty (d: Eran Creevy) won critical acclaim and was nominated for a BAFTA. the DoP was Robbie Ryan and the camera was the classic 35mm Panavision Platinum.

There was a huge amount of wind that day and the sequence I was to shoot for the story really required totally stable dolly ‘esque shots so I had to add gyros to that considerable lump of a camera. It was raining so hard at points and the hills I had to clamber were so steep and muddy I needed two grips right behind me actually pushing me up the slopes. This is not to mention that on some shots there was so much smoke was being let off I couldn’t see 6ft infront of me. It was a fun day shooting a beautiful film.

Here is the trailer. I am not sure when the full film will be released to the public but when it is I will post it here.

GROUPLOVE “Tongue Tied”

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:12:39 +0000

Fun little music video I did for Dop Brian Fawcett. Another long promo day with little time off Steadicam culminating in a load of Don Juan running shots at 11pm. As I remember we shot this on the Sony F3 without an off-camera recorder. Eva Arnold did a fantastic job at pulling focus and managing the bundle of cables that camera quickly became.

MK-V AR rotating head unit for Orbital “Wonky” (Feat. Lady Leasurr)

admin — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:55:59 +0000

There are a few ways to spin cameras. Traditionally a Scorpio head has been used this comes with its own issues. I have a few ways of spinning the MK-V AR (Alien Revolution) head independently of level for different types of applications enabling the camera to fly anywhere at any angle and that camera can rotate in shot. I was asked by Will Sheldon to spin the camera for an effect for an Orbital video “Wonky”.

Here is a little making-of the video demonstrating the MK-V AR IRHU (Independent Rotating Head Unit).

Below is the final video shot by a couple of cameramen on a mixture of 5D and RED cameras.

Modestep – Show Me A Sign

admin — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:24:07 +0000

DoP’d by Rob Shacklady. I operated Steadicam for the opening live action sequence. I am particularly proud of the elevator shot. The elevator never went anywhere; I stood on a table in low-mode and boomed the camera up giving the impression of movement.. Whoo Hooo! In camera camera effects at their best! Well shortly after my triumph in visual effects the music video goes completely mental and puts my cheap shot to shame. I like this video and actually the track has grown on me too.

Steadicam Operator

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:17:03 +0000

With 12+ years of experience of operating big rig Steadicams there isn’t a rig, situation or problem I haven’t seen. Certainly there are new challenges and I would dearly love it if you could bring those challenges to me.

I work as a cameraman with a specialty as a Steadicam Operator. I started in the moving image business at 18 making and mixing events visuals for bands and nightclubs as a visual jockey. This led to a 3 year stint at BBC documentary factual as an Avid editor and cameraman where, with my visuals and motion graphics background, I gained a reputation as someone that could make something visually arresting from any material. I left the BBC 13 years ago to specialize in Steadicam, something he had already been doing for 5 years; messing about with tiny lightweight steadicam rigs to make events visuals.

Currently I am available for Feature Films, Commercials, Music Videos, and Television work. I pride himself on speed and efficiency in setup and re-rig and de-rig times.

Welcome To The Punch

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:05:30 +0000

James McAvoy and Mark Strong in an action thriller Directed by Eran Creevy and lensed by Ed Wild. I got to Steadicam and operate B-Camera handheld in what looks like an awesome film in the making.

DJ Shadow “Scale it Back” – One shot promo

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 23:40:18 +0000

Ewan Jones Morris & Casey Raymond’s directed this very sweet one-shot promo for DJ Shadow in Wales. Nicholas Booth DoP’d it and I was lucky to come along and operate.

There was a making-off shot as well.