Page title Name
Lara Bickerton
Assistant Producer (Self-shooting), Researcher/AP
United Kingdom

Lara's Biography

BBC,C4,ITV,National Geographic, History Channel, UKTV History.
DSR, EX3, Z1, HD and sound mixers (Sound device & SQN)
Foreign filming: Vanuatu, Remote Malaysia, Nigeria, Poland, France, Canada and USA (i-visa).

I am an AP/Researcher who thrives working under pressure and I am brimming with new and innovative ideas. I am very organised, hard working, enthusiastic and have exceptional people skills.

My skills:  Contributor & location finding, setting up domestic & international filming, interviewing, scheduling, and people management.

Independent Travel: Argentina, Uruguay, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, and Europe.

Types of programming: observational documentary, history, drama reconstructions, daytime and expedition.


Credits

Tribal Hunt - Natural History New Zealand , Unspecified
2010 - Assistant Producer (Self-shooting)
Filming remote tribes hunting in Vanuatu, Ethiopia, Namibia & Malaysia. Living in remote locations assisting the p/d, working closely with the translator, 2nd camera, in charge of health & safety on location and the shoot includes a lot of hard physical work, hiking and running after tribes through forests, deserts & Savannahs.

Wanted Down Under - BBC Bristol , Australia
2010 - Fixer
(5 x 50mins) - BBC One (Based in Adelaide)
Factual Programme about British families moving to Australia. Setting up all filming aspects in Adelaide prior to British crews arrival. During filming I was the local support, problem solving and rearranging where necessary. Shoots include filming from/in boats/canoes, horse/bike-riding, & airport filming.


River Cottage - Keo Films , United Kingdom
2010 - Assistant Producer (Self-shooting)
4 x 1hr - 'River Cottage, Winter' Series for prime-time C4 about living off the land. Researching storylines, developing programme structures and shooting with presenter on DSR.

River Cottage - Keo Films , United Kingdom
2009 - Assistant Producer (Self-shooting)
4 x 1hr - 'River Cottage, Summer's here'
Series for prime-time C4 about living off the land. Researching storylines, developing programme structures and shooting with presenter on DSR.

Secret Millionaire - RDF Media , United Kingdom
2009 - Researcher
'Secret Millionaire' for prime-time Channel 4. Researching characters, causes & locations. Working closely with the AP & Director to produce a journey, touching on very sensitive areas. Homeless families, temporary accommodation, gangs & projects that help them.

Ancient Discoveries - Wild Dream Films , United Kingdom
2008 - Assistant Producer
Developing ideas for the new series of 'Ancient Discoveries', History Channel.

Skint - Debt - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2008 - Assistant Producer (Self-shooting)
Self-shooting the observational documentary 'Skint' on location in Birmingham. It is a documentary following a big issue seller throughout his trials and tribulations of life. I shot, directed and interviewed whilst in fast moving and unpredictable locations.

Seaside Rescue - BBC , United Kingdom
2008 - Researcher
Self shooting the observational documentary 'Seaside Rescue'. Based on the beach or with the lifeboat, I am responsible for controlling a variety of cameras. (DSR, Z1, A1, Helmet Cameras, Surfboard Cameras and Jet Ski cameras). I have to be ready for a story at all times and be ready to move at speed to capture the story in the best way possible.

Deep Wreck Mysteries - Mallinson Sadler Productions , United Kingdom
2008 - Researcher
Series for National Geographic US, History UK, History Canada. Responsibility for setting up drama reconstruction from extras and costumes to locations and experts. Shooting interviews, GV's, & drama reconstructions on HD, historical archive, recording sound, contributor and location research, coordinating helicopter aerials whilst on board the boat. Setting up shoots and filming in America and Canada.

Meet The Immigrants - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2007 - Researcher
Working as a sound recording researcher on the ob doc about Immigrants coming to the UK. Finding new contributors and continuing relationships with them throughout filming. Recording sound and self shooting on DSR¿s & Z1¿s. Foreign filming experience.

Skint - Christmas Special - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2007 - Researcher
Sound recording researcher on the ob doc about a big issue seller. Finding new contributors and continuing relationships with them throughout filming. Recording sound and GV shooting on Digi-Beta.

Blue Peter - BBC , United Kingdom
2008 - Camera Operator
Filming underwater with sharks and rays (using A1 and pen cams).

Hard Sell - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2007 - Researcher
Contestant finding and interviews, shop liaisons, contributor research, location research and buying of props. I also filmed the objects used in the programme on DSR camera using basic 3 point lighting.

Wanted Down Under - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2006 - Camera Assistant
Camera and lighting assistance on location, and logging.

It's Not Easy Being Green - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2006 - Unspecified
Recording Sound on location with presenter.

Flog It - BBC (Bristol) , United Kingdom
2006 - Runner
Office and location work, Z1 camera and radio mic operation, contributor consents, coordinating the public, steward supervisor, event publicity, assisting with research, camera and logging. Assisting in development.

The Last Tommy 3 - Quickfire Media , United Kingdom
2006 - Runner
Development research, proposal writing and layouts, assistant production secretary, secretarial duties, transcribing, logging, schedule arrangements.

- - Films@59 , United Kingdom
2005 - Runner
Post-production runner. General runner duties, open and shut down procedures, reception cover, and client service.

Education

2007 Bristol University. Evening classes in Anthropology & Globalisation
2007 Bristol University. Evening classes in Anthropology & Environment.
2006 Bristol University. Evening classes in Ethnography & Film.
2002 - 2005 Bournemouth University.
BA (Hons) Television Production - 2.1
Specialising in Camera and Lighting.
Dissertation - Environmental Programming on British Terrestrial Television.

Industry Qualifications

PADI Dive Instructor
EFR First Aid Instructor
O2 Administration
BBC DSR and sound course - 3 Day
BBC Z1 camera training - 2 day
BBC risk management course - 1 day
BBC manual handling

Technical Equipment

Cameras - DSR, EX3, Z1, A1 and HD
Smaller cameras - Pen cams (helmet, surf board, Jet Ski and pole-cams)
Sound - Mixers, Radio Mics, Boom.
Edit software - Final Cut Pro, Avid.

Referees

Available on request.

Skills

Short Film Credits
UK Challenge - Factual - Director and sound operator 2min
How Many Sleeps Before Daddy Comes Home - Doc Camera operator, Director, Editor 4min (Army family)
Conifer Avenue - Doc - Camera operator 4min (Hospital negligence)
Fags and Fairies - Drama - Lighting 10min (Homosexuality drama)
Cookie - Doc - Production manager 12min (Prisoner release)
A Loss Too Soon - Doc - Camera operator, Lighting 14min (Child Bereavement)
Gabriella - Doc - Camera operator, 12min (Domestic Violence)
School Number 1 - Doc - Director, camera operator, Editor 15min (Beslan siege survivors)
East end Calling - Doc - Camera operator 12min (East London Poetry)
Leaving You - Doc - Camera operator 12min (Euthanasia)
The Entertainer - Doc - Camera operator 8min (Meat Loaf impersonator)
My Roy - Doc - Camera operator and lighting 3min (Altzeimers)
Lulworth - Doc - Director 8min (Film about Lulworth cove)

Additional Information

Industries

  • TV

Programme Types

  • Community Progs, 
  • Cookery, 
  • Corporate, 
  • Daytime, 
  • Development, 
  • Documentary, 
  • Drama Reconstruction, 
  • Dramatised Documentary, 
  • Entertainment, 
  • Environment, 
  • Historical Documentary, 
  • Observational Documentary, 
  • Travel

Specialisms

  • Africa, 
  • Anthropology, 
  • Community, 
  • Cookery, 
  • Diving, 
  • Environment, 
  • Farming, 
  • Final Cut Pro, 
  • Food, 
  • High-Definition, 
  • History, 
  • Location Filming, 
  • People Finding, 
  • Photography, 
  • Social Anthropology, 
  • Social Issues, 
  • Travel

Languages

  • English

Permits

  • Australia, 
  • USA

Licenses

  • Basic Driving (PLG), 
  • PADI Diving licence