Cinematography and visual effects:
over 50 Cinema major feature films.
Director of photography:
over 4,500 TV commercials worldwide
Director / Cinematographer:
over 90 TV commercials and corporate films - Europe and the Middle East
major feature films.
About Mike
I am passionate about the industry that I engage each and every day.
Each day is as exciting as my first day with Hugh Hudson later to direct “Chariots of Fire” who for many years was one of my great mentors.
As the years moved along so ones experience and knowledge is granted a wider view of style and taste from many directors, cameramen notably David Watkin and John Alcott and many script writers. Additionally from the varity of lenes that have been produced over the years that would give that look for a certain project.
I started with 35mm film and there is still no replacements for chemicals although there are a few superb looks coming from Red and Blackmagic. Having said that each and every camera to today has a place within the arsenal of looks and suitability for each project being matched with a chosen set of lenses.
Each and every day is new day with Director and most high on my list the art director or Production designer without whom our artists would have no setting for action and dialogue.
At the end of the day…in the words of Freddy Cooper “ It’s not what you know …. its understanding what you can get away with”
Remember…Your best critic is yourself
Mike shooting a film about recruiting for the Swedish Air Force. The producer was Patrick von
Faber-Castel of"Travel to Romantis".
Mike's experience
2020
Facility for 12k Blackmagic and Red cameras for projects, VFX & films.
2020
Development of 12k/8k digital lab with David Bush
A mobile digital post production lab for grading, VFX & editorial on location or studio.
2019
“My Story” Director of Photography - a film profile of the life and times of
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai
2016 /2020
‘Vision 2030’ Director / DoP / Drone operations… series of films for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dealing with construction and development including the Riyadh metro, oil production, tourist development and culture.
2015
Awarded ‘Professorship of Cinematography’ … by the Shanghai Film Art Academy
The Legend of 1900 (1998)
2012
Establishment in China – setting up of production structures for international films and lectures with practical instruction.
Cinematography & VFX for Chinese market (features & advertising)
2010
‘Jackboots on Whitehall’ - Cinematography DoP - over 600 visual effect shots
2008
‘Appassionata’ – Short Film – Awarded Oscar at Long Island film festival ‘Best Foreign Film’ Cinematography & Producer. Exhibited in 29 film festivals worldwide including Shanghai
2006
‘Eichmann’ - DoP, Executive Producer & story line
2005
‘Oliver Twist’ – DoP for VFX Cinematography
Dir. Roman Polanski
2005
‘Silence Becomes You’ world first fully digital film RAW 4:4:4 data
Photography and post-production with David bush
1997
‘Legend of 1900’ - VFX Cinematography
Dir. Giuseppe Tornatore
1994 – 2020
Founder of Motion Control Cameras Ltd UK - operating in the motion picture industry for more than 25 years providing specialist cinematography and visual effects cinematography for over 50 major films and high end TV series, in addition to thousands of TV commercials, branding and music films.
Harry Potter 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8, Band of Brothers, Casino Royal (Bond), Quantum of Solace (Bond), Golden Compass, Prince Caspian, Penelope, Stardust, Sahara, Blood & Chocolate, Batman Begins, Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Life Aquatic, Brothers Grimm, Alexander, Five Children and It, Wimbledon, Oliver Twist (Roman Polanski), Die Another Day (Bond), Neverland, Ella Enchanted, Tomb Raider I & II, Below, The Importance of Being Ernest, The Others, Legend of 1900 (Italy), Ninth Gate (Roman Polanski), Enemy at the Gate, Vajont (Italy).
Vajont (2001)
1985/7
Consultancy & Cinematography on a long line of commercial advertising productions in UK and Europe, resulting hundreds of TV commercials for an innumerable number of brands worldwide. Consultant to the Soviet government (USSR)
Feature films 1981 to 1987 - Focus / 1st ac / Second camera operator
‘La Cenerentola'
Dir. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
‘Greystoke’
Dir. Hugh Hudson
‘Hotel New Hampshire’
Dir. Tony Richardson
‘Out of Africa’
Dir. Sydney Pollock
‘White Nights’
Dir. Taylor Hackford
‘Outland’
Dir. Peter Hyams
1981
Designer of ‘Super 35mm’ camera system for Warner Brothers
Some early projects:
‘Chariots of Fire’
Dir. Hugh Hudson
‘Alien’ - (Part) model unit with Oscar awarded Denny Ayling
Dir. Ridley Scott
‘Das Boot’ - (Part) Underwater photography with Egil Woxholt
Dir. Wolfgang Peterson
‘Midnight Express’ - Second unit Photography in Turkey
Dir. Alan Parker
‘Yentl’ - Second unit Additional Photography in Czechoslovaki
Dir.Barbara Streisand
‘Amadeus’ – Third camera additional Photography in Czechoslovakia
Dir. Milos Forman
