About Mike

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    Over the last 10 years I have worked as a self shooting PD on a wide variety of programmes, including documentaries, current affairs, magazine shows and in particular observational docs. Through my career experiences I have become accomplished at working with contributors and structuring my shoots so that the editors are never left without the content or shots they need.
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    Credits

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    Animal Cops Houston Series 8 - Granada Anglia , United Kingdom
    2011 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational documentary following the agents of the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Shooting on high definition, spent five months working in the Texas heat and cold, building relationships with the contributors and filming intense and often distressing material, as the HSPCA attempted to save badly treated animals from abuse.

    Customs UK 3 - Favourite Films , United Kingdom
    2010 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational documentary following the officers of the UK's customs and excise as they catch drug smugglers at Gatwick airport.

    A Farmers Life For Me - Splashmedia , United Kingdom
    2010 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    BBC formatted ob doc competition series that saw nine couple compete each week in agricultural challenges in order to win a farm for a year. Judged by celebrity farmer Jimmy Doherty.

    Filthy Rotten Scoundrels - Leopard Films , United Kingdom
    2010 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    15 part BBC documentary series following Britain's councils as they attempt to stem the flow of rubbish dumped in the UK's streets and countryside every day.

    Dog Squad / Customs UK 2 - Favourite Films , United Kingdom
    2009 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational documentary series following the officers of the UK's customs and excise as they catch drug and tobacco smugglers at Manchester airport and Dover ferry port.

    Animal Cops Philadelphia - Granada Anglia , United Kingdom
    2009 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational documentary (in HD) following the agents of the Pennsylvanian SPCA as they go into some of the most dangerous places in Philadelphia to rescue abused animals.

    Cars, Cops and Criminals - Steadfast , United Kingdom
    2009 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Popular BBC documentary about policing the roads in the UK. Observational filming and also lit interviews and reconstruction.

    K9 Cops - Granada Anglia , United Kingdom
    2008 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Hard hitting documentary about the most prestigious K9 unit in America based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Over six months, worked closely with the cops to capture the intense experience of hunting down criminals with German Shepherd police dogs. This involved many nights spent on shift, building relationships so when the calls came we were right on the front line. Very fast paced, all action actuality (often at night on infra red) in dangerous situations. This also entailed planning and shooting police training and 'at home' sequences to help build the characters within the series.

    Animal Cops Houston - Granada Anglia , United Kingdom
    2007 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational Documentary following the agents of the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Shooting on high definition, spent a year working in the Texas heat, building relationships with the contributors and filming intense of often distressing material, as the HSPCA attempted to save badly treated animals from abuse.

    Animal Planet Heroes Phoenix - Granada Anglia , United Kingdom
    2006 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational documentary filmed over a year at the Arizona Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Filming in fierce desert heat as the agents rescue animals from traumatic and perilous conditions.

    Costa del Streetcrime - Granada Bristol , United Kingdom
    2005 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational documentary series following the Spanish police on the Costa del Sol. Initially working in the edit crafting the shows and writing scripts as edit producer, and when the material ran out, flying to the Costa del Sol to film enough material to sustain three more episodes.

    Planet Action - Granada Bristol , United Kingdom
    2005 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Documentary following seven armchair conservationists as they are pulled from their comfort zones to battle to save endangered species across the world. Filmed in Panama, Belize, Malaysia, Borneo and Cambodia. Acted as one-man second unit, capturing the contestants in their moments of trial, tribulation and triumph.

    Streetcrime UK 4 - Granada Bristol , United Kingdom
    2005 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Observational documentary series following the police all over Britain as they tackle everything from late night punch ups to crack house raids. This series involved all hand held shooting in precarious situations. Also edit produced.

    The London Programme - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2003 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Location filming for this current affairs series about the big issues in the capital.

    Girls in Love - Behind the Scenes - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2003 - Cameraperson/Editor
    Short documentary about this popular children's drama.

    Energizing in Commercial Banking (Royal Bank of Scotland) - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2003 - Cameraperson/Editor
    Corporate video for major bank.

    Stiletto Ghetto - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2002 - Director/Cameraperson
    Docu-soap following the lives of six lap dancers. Shot on location in some of England's seediest venues.

    Streetcrime UK 1 - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2002 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Hard hitting cop show filmed all over Britain. Also edited.

    St. Paul Cathedral 'Safeguarding the Future' - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2002 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Documentary presented by historian Dr. David Starkey highlighting the renovation of one of London's best loved buildings.

    London's Scariest Mysteries - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2002 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Historical documentary series detailing the capitals most grisly murders. Including historical reconstruction. Also edited.

    Backstage 'Ayckbourn's Gameplan' - LWT - The Lab, LWT Arts , United Kingdom
    2001 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Documentary following renowed playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn behind the scenes as he brings his work from page to stage. Filmed over six weeks on location. Also edited.

    Backstage 'Hull Truck's Northern Soul' - LWT - The Lab, LWT Arts , United Kingdom
    2001 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Documentary following the creative process required to bring the latest John Godber play to the stage. Filmed over six weeks on location with the Hull Truck theatre company. Also edited.

    UK Today - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2001 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Making packages for this foreign office commission presenting the best of Britain to 120 countries worldwide. Also edited.

    Dinner Dates - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2001 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Popular restaurant review / food show. Also edited.

    Flirty Something - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2001 - Cameraperson
    Vanessa Feltz fronted multi camera studio discussion show.

    Love Bites - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2001 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Fun packages for this teenage sex education programme. Also edited.

    Crimefighters - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2001 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    London based observational series following the Metropolitan police all over the capital. Also edited.

    Nightlife - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2000 - Producer/Director (Self-shooting)
    Making packages for this late night magazine show about current affairs, entertainment etc. Also edited.

    The Real Car Show - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2000 - Cameraperson
    Location work on this show for car enthusiasts.

    Don't Mention the Score - LWT - The Lab , United Kingdom
    2000 - Cameraperson
    Multi camera comedy discussion show hosted by Bob Mills. Made to accompany Bundesliga football on On Digital.

    Melvyn Bragg's 'Two Thousand Years' - LWT Arts , United Kingdom
    1999 - Camera Assistant
    Twenty part documentary / discussion programme detailing the last two millennia of Christianity.

    The South Bank Show - LWT Arts , United Kingdom
    1998 - Runner
    Popular Arts Programme hosted by Melvyn Bragg

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    Employment History

    2006 - Present, Freelance Self Shooting Producer / Director

    2005 - Granada Bristol, Self Shooting Producer / Director

    April 2003 to December 2004 - Travelling. Travelled for 21 months throughout SE Asia, Australasia and the Indian Sub-continent working and photographing my route.

    Sept 1999 to March 2003 - The Lab at London Weekend Television, Multi-Skilled Programme Maker. Whilst working for one of the original digital programme making departments I made a wide variety of shows. Producing, directing, shooting and cutting.

    Sept 1998 to Sept 1999 - LWT Arts. Camera assistant and runner working on Melvyn Bragg's 'Two Thousand Years' and 'The South Bank Show'.
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    Education

    BA (Hons) 2:1 in Media Production Management
    West Herts. College, University of Hertfordshire
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    Industry Qualifications

    Camera, directing, lighting and sound (Granada)
    Offline editing (Final Cut Pro and Sony ES3)
    Law for Factual Programme Makers (Granada)
    Health and Safety (Granada)
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    Technical Equipment

    HD trained. Adept at using Cameras - HDW-F900R, HDW-790P, DSR 300, 450, 500, 570, PD150, Z1, Z7, Z5 (DV and HD)
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    Referees

    Ryan Gaffney, Series Producer - Animal Cops Houston/Philadelphia
    (01603 543 725) ryan.gaffney@itv.com

    Tanya Gottlieb, Series Producer - Flycatchers
    (07976 696944)

    Sally Ann Lomas, Series Producer - K9 Cops (07736 090406) SallyAnnLomas@granadamedia.com

    Patrick Keely, Series Producer - Animal Cops Houston (01603 752356) patrick.keely@granadamedia.com

    Moritz Schick, Series Producer - Streetcrime UK (07773 784231) mdschick@hotmail.com
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    Skills

    HD trained. Adept at shooting and lighting using the following cameras: HDW-F900R, HDW-790P, DSR, Z1 (DV and HDV), PD150.

    Experienced in working in the edit and writing scripts, which in turn feeds back into my shooting and directing abilities.

    I have an affable personality and enjoy trying to win over the most demanding contributors. I am also used to working closely with a team on long, all encompassing projects where an agreeable disposition is a great advantage.

    Used to working in extreme situations and locations across the world. US i-visa holder.

    Can competently edit using final cut pro.
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    Additional Information

    Industries

    • TV

    Programme Types

    • Arts, 
    • Cookery, 
    • Corporate, 
    • Current Affairs, 
    • Daytime, 
    • Documentary, 
    • Docusoap, 
    • Education, 
    • Entertainment, 
    • Environment, 
    • Events, 
    • Food, 
    • Historical Documentary, 
    • Leisure, 
    • Live Multi-cam OB, 
    • Magazine, 
    • Motoring, 
    • Music, 
    • Observational Documentary, 
    • Outside Broadcast, 
    • Reality TV, 
    • Science, 
    • Studio Debate, 
    • Studio Direction, 
    • Travel

    Specialisms

    • Animal welfare, 
    • Arts, 
    • Crime, 
    • Final Cut Pro, 
    • Food, 
    • High-Definition, 
    • Location Filming, 
    • Police, 
    • Popular Culture, 
    • USA, 
    • Wildlife

    Permits

    • EU, 
    • USA

    Licenses

    • Basic Driving (PLG), 
    • PADI Diving licence
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