About Thomas

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    Visit: www.thomasviner.com: experienced series producer & director, drama docs, science, history, head of development, edit producer.

    I'm a versatile and experienced director and series producer, specializing in documentary, including high profile single docs, current affairs, science and history films; as well as series for Channel Four, Five, Nat Geo and Discovery. My work includes highly-dramatized films, presenter-led programmes and solid ratings winners. I am strong visually and narratively, with great skills writing scripts, on location, and in the edit. I have particular strengths in drama reconstruction, working with presenters, and cgi. My 15 years experience have taught me visual flair, how to stretch my budget, and how to motivate my team. I also have extensive development experience.
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    Credits

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    Aircrash Confidential - World Media Rights , United Kingdom
    2011 - Series Producer
    6 x 60'; World Media Rights for Discovery UK series exploring air crashes ad their causes through drama reconstruction, archive, interview, graphics and model-based vfx. Recruited and ran team, set series style, and oversaw shows throughout production. Exec. Producer: Matthew Barrett

    Locked Up Abroad: Mexico - Raw Television , United Kingdom
    2011 - Director
    1 x 60'; Raw Television for National Geographic / Five, the story of Jeremy Khinoo who was caught buying steroids in Mexico using counterfeit money, and spent two years as a heroin addict in a Mexican jail. Told through interview and drama. Executive Producer: Dimitri Doganis; Series Producer: Richard Bond

    Titanoboa: Monster Snake - Wide Eyed Entertainment , United Kingdom
    2011 - Edit Producer
    Wide Eyed Entertainment for Smithsonian 1x 120
    Restructure and edit of film telling the story of the biggest snake in history, including extensive CGI. Executive Producer: Jasper James

    Gladiator: The True Story - Blink Films , United Kingdom
    2010 - Producer/Director
    Blink Films for Smithsonian / Five, the story of emperor Commodus, and the fascinating true story behind the film Gladiator. Executive Producer: Steven Marsh

    Banged Up Abroad: Barbados - Raw Television , United Kingdom
    2009 - Producer/Director
    Raw Television for National Geographic / Five, the story of Zara Whittaker, a 19 year-old from south London who went to Barbados to bring back cocaine, and found herself not just in prison, but pregnant too. Told through interview and drama - "believable, nail-biting re-enactments" - The Guardian. Series Producer: Sam Maynard; Executive Producer: Dimitri Doganis

    Ideas That Changed The World - Brook Lapping , United Kingdom
    2010 - Edit Producer
    Edit produced 2 x 30' films, commissioning archive and extensive graphics. Executive producer: Kate Botting

    Tony Robinson and the Blitz Witch - Flashback , United Kingdom
    2008 - Producer/Director
    1 x 60'; Channel Four, 9pm: Tony Robinson investigates medium Helen Duncan, the last woman sent to prison for witchcraft in Britain, extensive drama reconstruction, first in new series - "this enjoyable documentary - "entertaining and occasionally thought-provoking viewing" - The Daily Telegraph Series Producer: David Edgar Commissioner: Tabitha Jackson

    Weird Connections - Outline Productions , United Kingdom
    2008 - Senior Producer
    26 x 30'; Discovery Science Channel mixing comedy and science. Worked across series: leading research team, taking over problem edit, and providing back-up to Series Producer. Series Producer: Martin Turner

    The Real Sopranos - Class Films , United Kingdom
    2006 - Producer/Director
    1 x 60'; Channel Four, 11pm: the story of the rise and fall of real New Jersey mafia family the De Cavalcantes told through in depth interviews, and drama reconstruction - "interesting portrait of the mafia in decline" - The Times. Commissioner: Andrew McKenzie

    The Girl Who Came Back From The Dead - Mentorn Barraclough Carey , United Kingdom
    2006 - Director
    1 x 60', Channel Four, 10pm:on the kidnapping and recovery of Delimar Vera, who was taken and brought up by another family for six years, a globally reported story, with unique access to all key participants - 'worth watching... describes in a simple and straightforward way her unbelievable story" - The Times Commissioner: Simon Dickson

    Buildings That Shaped Britain - Talkback Productions , United Kingdom
    2006 - Producer/Director
    2 x 60'; Channel Five: landmark series presented by Simon Thurley telling the history of Britain through its architecture; "Industrial Revolution" highest rating in series - "this superb series" - The Times Executive Producer: Charles Furneaux

    Poisoned - Talkback Thames , United Kingdom
    2005 - Director
    1 x 60'; Sky One: the story of the poisoning of Viktor Yuschenko in Ukraine, and poison as politics by other means in the former Soviet Union, fast-turnaround with high visual production values (Short-listed, Monte Carlo Television Festival). Executive Producer: Charles Furneaux

    Megastructures: Petronas - Darlow Smithson , United Kingdom
    2004 - Producer/Director
    1 x 60'; Channel Five / National Geographic: the construction of the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, featuring location filming, and strong CGI elements; used as series template by broadcaster.

    Global View - Lodestar , United Kingdom
    2005 - Producer/Director
    3 x 7' The History Channel: presenter-led history films, covering current events with a historical perspective on a fast turnaround.

    Built For Destruction - Darlow Smithson , United Kingdom
    2004 - Producer/Director
    3 x 60'; National Geographic on the science of extreme weather (tornado, flood, hurricane).

    Hot Science - Darlow Smithson Productions , United Kingdom
    2003 - Producer/Director
    2 x 60'; National Geographic: current scientific and technological advances in the UK and the Netherlands. Edited programmes on Final Cut Pro.

    O'Shea Special: India - Yorkshire Associated Producers , United Kingdom
    2002 - Producer
    1 x 60' special: Channel Four / Animal Planet: showing the intrepid herpetologist hunting pythons across northern India. Executive Producer: Pauline Duffy

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    Employment History

    DEVELOPMENT
    Head Of Development, Darlow Smithson, 2003/4; Firecracker Films, 2006
    Other Development: Yorkshire Television, First Circle, Talkback, Impossible Pictures, YAP, ZCZ

    ASSISTANT PRODUCER / RESEARCHER
    Associate Producer, "Planet Storm" 1 x 120': 2000
    Yorkshire Associated Producers, for Discovery Channel International/Channel Four; storms on this and other planets, involving CGI, drama inserts, and filming from volcanoes in Hawaii, to storm chasing on the great plains. Set up drama shoots.. Producer on Channel Four re-version into 3 x 30.

    Assistant Producer, "Cutting Edge - Homefinder" 1 x 60': 2000:
    Flame TV, for Channel Four; one hour documentary on housing relocator in the stock-broker belt of Surrey.

    Associate Producer, "Films Of Fire - Puppy Love" 1 x 60': 1999:
    ZCZ Films for Channel Four. Also developed and wrote proposal, leading to commission.

    Associate Producer, "Into The Unknown" 10 x 30': January 1996 - January 1997:
    Yorkshire Television for Discovery Channel, looking at the science of crypto-zoology globally.

    Researcher, "Sunday Live" 13 x 60': 1995:
    Yorkshire Television for ITV Network. Religious magazine programme.

    Researcher, "Disability Agenda", 13 x 10':1995:
    Yorkshire Television for BBC2 disability magazine programme.

    SHORT FILMS
    Writer/Director/Editor, "People Soup", 1 x 4' HD drama short: 2005
    Rubyred Films, drama short - available on YouTube

    Writer/Director, "100% Genuine", 1 x 7':2002
    Rubyred Films, DV drama short

    Producer/Writer, "The Rat Trap", 1 x 10':1999
    Rubyred Films, 35mm drama starring Mark Little and Emilia Fox; British Short Film Festival, Toronto Short Film Festival; Sky Cut Short Festival: RTVE; WTN; Sundance Channel; ITV.
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    Education

    Ma, History, Cambridge, First Class Honours, Foundation Scholarship;
    5 a-level; 13 o-level/gcse
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    Technical Equipment

    Broad experience of filming on DV, and HDV cameras, proficient with AVID and Final Cut Pro
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    Referees

    on request
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    Industry Awards

    Nominated & Short-Listed for Monte Carlo Television Festival, Best Current Affairs Documentary
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    Skills

    Broad shooting experience including DV, HDV, 5D; editing including Avid and Final Cut Pro; writing scripts, proposals and treatments
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    Additional Information

    Industries

    • Commercials, 
    • Corporate, 
    • Film, 
    • Online, 
    • TV

    Programme Types

    • Arts, 
    • Biography, 
    • Business, 
    • Current Affairs, 
    • Development, 
    • Documentary, 
    • Drama Reconstruction, 
    • Drama: Short Film, 
    • Dramatised Documentary, 
    • Health, 
    • Historical Documentary, 
    • Investigative, 
    • Mental Health, 
    • Natural History, 
    • Observational Documentary, 
    • Property, 
    • Religion, 
    • Science, 
    • Science Fiction, 
    • Social Action

    Specialisms

    • Anthropology, 
    • Archaeology, 
    • Architecture, 
    • Art, 
    • Art History, 
    • Arts, 
    • Biology, 
    • Business, 
    • Cookery, 
    • Crime, 
    • Current Affairs, 
    • Digi Beta, 
    • Digital Special Effects, 
    • Disability/Special Needs, 
    • Diving, 
    • Drama, 
    • Drugs, 
    • Ecology, 
    • Economics, 
    • Electronics, 
    • Engineering, 
    • Environment, 
    • Final Cut Pro, 
    • Finance, 
    • Food, 
    • Genetics, 
    • Geography, 
    • Health, 
    • Heritage, 
    • High-Definition, 
    • History, 
    • Industry, 
    • International Affairs, 
    • Journalism, 
    • Legal/Business Affairs, 
    • Literature, 
    • Location Filming, 
    • Maths, 
    • Medicine, 
    • Mental Health, 
    • Natural History, 
    • New Media, 
    • News & Current Affairs, 
    • Paleontology, 
    • Paranormal, 
    • Period Drama, 
    • Philosophy, 
    • Police, 
    • Politics, 
    • Popular Culture, 
    • Programme Development, 
    • Psychology, 
    • Religion, 
    • Science, 
    • Social Anthropology, 
    • Social Issues, 
    • Sociology, 
    • Technology, 
    • Transport, 
    • Travel, 
    • USA, 
    • Wildlife, 
    • Womens Issues, 
    • Writing, 
    • Zoology

    Languages

    • French

    Permits

    • EU, 
    • USA

    Licenses

    • Basic Driving (PLG), 
    • PADI Diving licence
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