1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.
I have directed and produced a wide range of corporate films, promos, commercials, documentaries and short films. I started Rainbow Trout Films back in 2010 to offer a range of filmmaking services to my clients. Several of the films have gone on to win multiple international awards. Based out of Halifax at the newly opened Albion Street Studios, UK I work with clients and partners all around the globe.
I have been in the film & TV industry for over 27 years and have had the good fortune to work on many Film and Television productions including Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, Last of The Summer Wine, London’s Burning, Doctors, Rocket Man, Wheeler Dealers, Car of the Year & The Real Holiday Show. I started out as a Runner and worked my way up the Assistant Director ranks, before becoming a Producer and Director.
I directed and produced the documentary series ‘The Inflight Food Trip’ which launched in 2020 on Amazon Prime Video. It has now been seen in over 100 countries. I also directed a short film called 'Wheeling Dealing' back in 2004, which has been shown at Cannes in the Short Film Corner and at the BFI Disability Film Festival along with many other film festivals.
I live in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, I studied Media Technology at Thames Valley University.
I am 45, married with a young son.
2What led you to become a videography professional?
I was 10 years old when I got my first on-set experience, with the BBC comedy series Red Dwarf. My father ran a trout farm at the time and they needed some live fish for one of the scenes and I was hooked. Nobody could tell me otherwise.
3What is your role in the agency, and what traits should a videography professional possess to be successful in their role?
I opened my own production company, Rainbow Trout Films and I’m the Creative Director. Which involves all the other roles associated with making films. A Producer, Editor, Location manager, client liaison etc etc. You should be versatile, adaptable and willing to learn, as I’m always learning.
4Tell us more about your agency / company.
Rainbow Trout Films was formed in 2010, when I was freelancing for Sky Tv, in their in-house creative agency. We have since developed into a full-service boutique video production company back in Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK. We produced a variety of corporate, commercial and documentary productions. Please see
www.rainbowtroutfilms.com for further info.
5What is your own definition of great videography?
The video has to have storytelling at the forefront. The client will have specific needs for each video and it’s the understanding for the filmmaker to get that and make sure it meets that brief. The video should feel and look engaging for its intended audience.
6Describe your videography style/flair and its main characteristics
Professional and cinematic. Being clear at fulfilling the brief. From my love of films and cinema going I enjoy bringing elements of that to the work I do.
7Tell us more about your ideation process.
I have a frank conversation with my client to make sure the video is matching with their outcomes. That could be increased sales, more awareness or just informative. We make sure that the video strategy is on point with meeting those goals.
For example, an engineering client with whom we had created a product demo and customer testimonial hybrid film, I asked them about how it had worked for them and the response was amazing, the CEO said to me this video has allowed us to make 5 sales of this particular machine straight away.
Bringing in a revenue of £1.25m as each machine was £250,000 to buy. So, it was a very worthwhile investment in the video.
8Congratulations! As the winner of the NYX Video Awards, what does it mean for you and your team to receive this distinction?
This means a lot. Making a name and a splash within the industry is tough, so winning this international award to huge for us, and it will help us continue to raise our profile and grow with new clients coming onboard as a result. It's also great for our client who can also share in the success.
9 How has winning an international award help to promote your agency and works?
It is raising our profile and bringing in new enquiries for work, which is simply awesome.
It will allow us to work on bigger projects with clients. Old & New.
10 What are the challenges of your winning entry(ies)?
The project had a tight timeframe. Producing 27 Webinars, split into 3 versions, English, Dutch & German. We filmed at the Spring Fair trade show at the NEC in Birmingham and also at the companies head office in Carlisle.
11How has the country, you are based in, helped during your ideation process?
UK – It enabled us to work closely with the client to produce the products. Having that close connection with the client really helped the process.
12What are the current trends in the videography industry that you are most excited about?
We are really excited on how the technology has developed in recent years. Especially with lighting, now with color accurate LED panels and other lights, it is giving us a lot more creative choices when filming. Also now we can film in much higher resolutions, which open up a lot more creative possibilities.
13What are the top three (3) favorite things about the videography industry?
- The ability to create high quality cinematic content
- The array of camera possibilities.
- The evolving nature of technology within the industry.
14What resources would you recommend to someone who is searching to improve their videography ideas and skills?
Get a mentor.
Learn the Business
Invest in yourself as well as the kit.
In The UK we have Bafta, who have lots of resources, talks and screening.
15Where do you see the evolution of the videography in the next 5-10 years?
I think the market will split into 2 categories as more and more people can create content with their phones and the higher end cinema style content creators. Which will create new challenges.
16Who inspired you in your life, and why?
Patrick Stewart – Actor – As a fellow Yorkshireman, I was lucky enough to attend one of his actors workshops, much earlier in my career. He has a strong work ethic and really really loves what he does. I take that attitude to all the work I do running a small video production company.
17What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?
Keep learning! I have never stopped. Invest in training for yourself and learn from the best.