About Richard

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    PMW 500 owner/operator with 15 years experience in documentary, news, corporate and PR film-making.

    I'm always friendly, professional and fast, whether in a hostile environment or city boardroom. 

    My clients include Al Jazeera English, BBC News, ITN Productions, Brook Lapping Productions, Rockhopper TV and major PR and corporate production companies.

    With a background in television news I am used to fast-turnaround production, without compromising the quality of my camerawork. This allows me to work quickly, efficiently and intuitively on documentary production, as the situation often demands.

    And if you need material edited in the field I'm a capable FCP editor, with experience in turning around A and B roll footage for news and PR clients.

    I'm proficient with all the major camera technologies and formats, including HDCam, P2, XDCam and XDCam EX. In addition to the PMW 500 I also own a DSR 570 DVCam camera, a Canon 5DmkII with audio and video accessories and a good selection of lighting and sound kit. I'm also experienced in track and mini-jib camerawork.

    Showreel available on my website - richard.ashdown.co.uk
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    Credits

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    How Do They Do It? - Wag TV for Discovery , United Kingdom
    2012 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Lighting cameraman on features for Discovery show about engineering and scientific feats.
    Shot on HDCam F900 and Go Pro


    The Health Show - Rockhopper TV for BBC World , United Kingdom
    2011 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Lighting cameraman for a magazine piece on medical technology. Shot in HD, including jib work.

    The Lovers' Guide - Body in Balance TV , United Kingdom
    2011 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Lighting cameraman for all the interviews for a 30x30 minute documentary series to be broadcast on Body in Balance TV. Filmed on a PMW-500.

    Inside A Bulgarian Detention Centre - Al Jazeera English , Bulgaria
    2011 - Cameraperson/Editor
    Lighting Cameraman and Editor on a news feature piece for Al Jazeera English.
    Available to view on richard-ashdown.co.uk

    Frost Over The World - David Paradine Productions , United Kingdom
    2011 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Interviews for Sir David Frost's programme on Al Jazeera English. Filmed in HDCam.

    On the Front Line: Fighting Corruption in Palestine - Rockhopper TV , Israel
    2010 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Film profiling the work of Transparency Palestine - an anti-corruption NGO in the West Bank.
    Shot in HD.

    Life in Limbo - Rockhopper TV for BBC World , Democratic Republic of the Congo
    2009 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Documentary looking at life in the refugee camps of Goma, eastern DRC.

    Can be seen on www.rockhopper.tv

    Weltjournal - ORF Austrian Television , United Kingdom
    2009 - Lighting Cameraperson
    For ORF's foreign affairs programme Weltjournal.

    Feature on the effect of the credit crunch on private school education in the UK.

    Filmed and facilitated the shoot for the visiting Austrian correspondent.



    Pneumo Vaccine - Rockhopper TV , Rwanda
    2009 - Cameraperson/Editor
    Cameraman and editor shooting footage for news access, and for use in documentaries, of a new vaccine initiative in Rwanda.

    Guinness World Records - TNR Communications , United Kingdom
    2009 - Lighting Cameraperson
    A series of assignments for TNR Communications documenting stories for Guinness World Records.

    Shot the world's tallest man in Turkey and his following visit to London for news distribution.

    Need to Know - Brook Lapping , United Kingdom
    2009 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Documentary series looking at key issues facing teachers and education professionals in England and Wales.

    Presented by Mike Baker.

    Conference TV - ITN Consulting , United Kingdom
    2009 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Lighting cameraman on reporter-led films for broadcast at professional conferences around the UK.

    Celebrity Equinox - TNR Communications , Germany
    2009 - Cameraperson/Editor
    A series of assignments for TNR Communications documenting the launch of a new cruise ship.
    Shot and edited footage of the launch for news distribution and marketing use.

    Filmed aerial footage of the ship's departure from the yard in Germany and its arrival in Southampton.

    Sportsround - BBC , United Kingdom
    2009 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Cameraman for features and VT inserts into the childrens' sports magazine show.

    Mike Baker Meets - Brook Lapping , United Kingdom
    2008 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Interview series for Teachers TV. Former BBC Education Correspondent Mike Baker meets key figures in the world of education.

    BBC One, Six and Ten News - BBC News , United Kingdom
    2009 - Lighting Cameraperson
    Regular and ongoing freelance camera person for BBC News national bulletins, BBC News Channel and BBC Breakfast.

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    Employment History

    2004-2012 Freelance work for...
    Al Jazeera English - Shoot/Edit Lighting Cameraman
    APTN - News Producer
    Armitage Bucks Communications - Cameraman, media training
    BBC NEWS - Lighting Cameraman for BBC Newsgathering, across all outputs
    Brook Lapping Productions - Lighting Cameraman, documentaries
    The Crewing Company - Lighting Cameraman
    ITN Productions - Lighting Cameraman
    Markettiers4DC - Lighting Cameraman
    Press Association - Producer and Cameraman
    Reed Elsevier - Various corporate/new media work as a producer,
    editor and cameraman
    Rockhopper TV - Lighting Cameraman and editor
    Sky News - Lighting Cameraman
    Teachers Television - Lighting Cameraman
    TNR Communications - Lighting Cameraman and Editor
    Various collaborations with journalists and producers to provide corporate services and media training
    Wag TV - Lighting Cameraman

    2000 - 2004 Broadcast Journalist, PA Broadcasting
    Producer, cameraman and deputy to the head of news operations. Producing and shooting stories for regional, national, international and corporate clients on a daily basis.
    Video Games columnist, PA Features
    Writer of a weekly videogames review column for distribution to regional and local newspapers.

    1997 - 2000 Radio / new media journalist, PA Broadcasting
    Radio reporter for a variety of new media and broadcast clients.
    Newsgathering, editing and encoding radio packages on a daily basis.


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    Education

    1994 - 1997 Ba(Hons) Journalism, University of Central Lancashire

    1992-1994 English Literature and Media Studies A-levels
    City and Guilds 770 TV and Video Production
    City and Guilds 779 Radio and Print Journalism
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    Industry Qualifications

    Hostile Environment trained by Centurion
    BBC News and Location Safety certified
    GTC Soft Lighting Course
    Sony Europe 3D Craft Course
    Licentiate, Royal Photographic Society
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    Technical Equipment

    Sony PMW 500 XDCam EX HD422 50mbps camcorder
    Canon HJ 17 high definition lens
    Sony DSR570 DVCam camcorder
    Canon J12 standard definition lens
    Canon EOS 5DmkII DSLR with JuicedLink audio adapter, LCDVF viewfinder, range of Canon L Lenses 
    Sony HVR A1E HDV Camcorder
    Sachtler Video 18 tripod
    TV Logic HD field monitor

    Lighting:
    Kino Flow Divalite 400
    Tecpro Felloni high output light panel
    3 head Dedolite kit with softbox and gobo projector
    Arri 650 junior fresnel
    3 head Sachtler 300w kit
    Litepanels LP Micro Pro LED

    Sound
    Sennheiser ME66 shotgun mic and CF boom pole
    2x Sony ECM 77 lapel mics
    1x Sennheiser radio mic kit
    Rode Videomic Pro (for 5DmkII)

    Editing:
    Macbook Pro running Final Cut Studio 3
    External Speakers/ Deck/ Monitor
    Rode Podcaster voiceover microphone
    Coles lip microphone

    Heavy duty goalposts with 6ftx9ft chromakey backdrop and white infinity sweep.


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    Affiliations

    Guild of Television Cameramen
    Licentiate, Royal Photographic Society
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    Referees

    On request
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    Industry Awards

     
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    Skills

    HD camerawork - PMW 500 XDCam EX HD422  owner/operator

    SD camerawork - DSR 570 DVCam owner/operator

    Editing - Proficient with FCP, I regularly edit my own footage for news and corporate clients.

    Calm and capable under pressure - have shot documentaries and news reports in hostile and challenging environments, from Iraq to the Congo.

    Good with talent - I've media trained blue-chip CEOs, filmed with royalty and world leaders.

    Good with clients - with my corporate and PR experience I understand that it's not just about the quality of my camera work. I'm always polite, respectful and appropriately dressed for the job.

    Dedicated to the craft - I keep on top of emerging camera, lighting, editing, TV and web technologies and techniques to provide the best service to all my clients.

    Photography - I'm also a stills photographer, recognised with a Licentiate from the Royal Photographic Society. If you need publicity pictures or quality stills for a programme blog I can bring the SLR kit. The Canon 5DmkII does also take photos!

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    Additional Information

    Industries

    • Corporate, 
    • Mobile Content, 
    • Online, 
    • TV

    Programme Types

    • Arts, 
    • Biography, 
    • Business, 
    • Childrens, 
    • Community Progs, 
    • Cookery, 
    • Corporate, 
    • Current Affairs, 
    • Documentary, 
    • Drama Reconstruction, 
    • Dramatised Documentary, 
    • Education, 
    • Entertainment, 
    • Environment, 
    • Events, 
    • Food, 
    • Health, 
    • Historical Documentary, 
    • Interactive TV, 
    • Investigative, 
    • Leisure, 
    • Live Multi-cam OB, 
    • Live TV, 
    • Magazine, 
    • Motoring, 
    • Music, 
    • Natural History, 
    • New Media, 
    • News, 
    • Observational Documentary, 
    • Outside Broadcast, 
    • Reality TV, 
    • Religion, 
    • Science, 
    • Social Action, 
    • Sport, 
    • Studio Debate, 
    • Studio Direction, 
    • Style, 
    • Training, 
    • Travel

    Organizations

    • BECTU, 
    • Guild of Television Cameramen

    Specialisms

    • Africa, 
    • Animal welfare, 
    • Architecture, 
    • Art, 
    • Art History, 
    • Arts, 
    • Aviation, 
    • Business, 
    • Cars, 
    • Celebrity, 
    • Children's, 
    • Cinema/Film, 
    • Community, 
    • Computer Gaming, 
    • Consumer Affairs, 
    • Cookery, 
    • Corporate Films, 
    • Crime, 
    • Current Affairs, 
    • Design, 
    • Digi Beta, 
    • Disability/Special Needs, 
    • Ecology, 
    • Economics, 
    • Education, 
    • Electronics, 
    • Engineering, 
    • Enhanced TV, 
    • Environment, 
    • Events, 
    • Farming, 
    • Fashion, 
    • Final Cut Pro, 
    • Finance, 
    • Food, 
    • Gardening, 
    • Health, 
    • Heritage, 
    • High-Definition, 
    • History, 
    • Human Rights, 
    • Industry, 
    • International Affairs, 
    • Internet, 
    • Journalism, 
    • Legal/Business Affairs, 
    • Literature, 
    • Location Filming, 
    • Maths, 
    • Medicine, 
    • Middle East, 
    • Motorbikes, 
    • Mountaineering, 
    • Music, 
    • Natural History, 
    • New Media, 
    • News & Current Affairs, 
    • Outside Broadcast, 
    • Photography, 
    • Police, 
    • Politics, 
    • Popular Culture, 
    • Religion, 
    • Science, 
    • Sexuality, 
    • Social Issues, 
    • South Africa, 
    • Sport, 
    • Technology, 
    • Theatre, 
    • Topography, 
    • Tourism, 
    • Transport, 
    • Travel, 
    • Undercover Investigation, 
    • USA, 
    • Wildlife, 
    • Wine, 
    • Youth Culture

    Languages

    • English

    Permits

    • EU, 
    • USA

    Licenses

    • Basic Driving (PLG), 
    • Motorcycle
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