I am available to help, please get in touch.
Manchester
http://www.realfilmproductions.co.ukOriginally from New Zealand, but with feet set firmly in the North West, I now own and operate Manchester based Real Film Productions. We have produced instructional videos for a range of clients such as Vitalograph. Corporate and promotional videos, documentary programmes and interviews for clients including Hot Spot Films (screening on Al Jazeera). RFP can produce entire projects or accept specific aspects of a wide range of shoots. I am a focused and determined person, with a wide range of experience, a solid problem solver believing most things can be 'done, fixed or solved' and work well independently or within teams. With a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and International Development I also have a sound grounding in business workings and their processes, a highly complimentary asset for producing, production managing and running a business. Additionally supported by recent studies in International Development and business, I have a strong commitment and focus to working on humanity, social and community issues and so welcome collaborations and requests from charities, NGOs and community groups.
This qualification provides an integrated programme of study of the key features of the world of business: markets, organisations, business processes, organisational functions (including HR, finance and operations) business strategy, decision-making and policy. I have also have undertaken specialised study in, international development. I have developed key skills in communication, IT, numeracy, collaborative working, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation and reflective thinking.
*** Freelancing since 2008, I have honed a range of filmmaking skills and developed a variety of film projects, some with a global reach; including producing UK aspects of documentary programs for clients including Hot Spot Films (Cairo, screened on Al Jazeera), high production value short films and promotional film collaborations within communities, telling stories resonating from England and across the world. I spent 5 years as Production + Office Manager at KCFC (Kurdish Creative Film Centre). Additionally, I have recently completed a BA (Hons) in Business and International Development providing me with a wider understanding of business environments and processes along with international issues, consequently increasing my skills in planning and delivering strategically and within budgets to a high level. ***2008 - current - Producer - owner Real Film Productions (RFP) I own and operate RFP, focusing on creating video content on a variety of platforms including documentary (Hot Spot Films), instructional (Vitalograph), interviews and corporate videos (Beyond190). RFP are committed to successfully delivering clients wants and needs, to be flexible and adaptable to requirements whilst working effectively within set budgets and timelines. Positively our clients return time and again as happy customers. Additionally I have a strong commitment and focus on human, social and community issues and so actively encourage collaborations and requests from the third sector. *** (Commercial work) 2009- 2013 - Hot Spot Films / RFP - UK Producer / Fixer RFP acted as the UK Fixer for a range of documentaries produced in Cairo for Hot Spot Films. We were tasked to research and recruit interviewees and shoot interviews on a wide range of Middle Eastern History and Politics subject matter for documentaries largely produced in the Middle East and screens on Al Jazeera. *** (Commercial work) 2014 - current - Vitalograph - Producer RFP produces online training video tutorial material for Vitalograph on the use of respiratory medical equipment devices. *** (Commercial work) 2016 - Beyond190 - UK Producer / Fixer RFP shot the British component of a larger international commercial, promoting cricket as an everyday activity played by any and all sorts of people. *** 2012 - 2015 - Manchester Kurdish Film - Festival Manager MKFF is a annual film festival featuring internationally produced Kurdish films. The film festival ran for 7 years, later finding it's home at the Cornerhouse Manchester. The festival was directed by Alan Amin and managed by myself, but also with a host of other behind the scenes staff beavering away to bring to Manchester an impressive collection of Kurdish cinema. *** (Short film drama) 2010 - 2011 - Peekaboo - Big Budha Films - Line Producer Peekaboo-written and Directed by Debbie Howard will star BAFTA winning actress Lesley Sharp, and Shaun Dooley. A heart rending and moving film about the taboo subject, stillbirth-babies born asleep, we hoped the film would raise awareness of this incredibly sad event that happens to so many expectant parents. The film is an honest and forthright depiction of living with some of the consequences of stillbirth, whilst not solving the problem we believe this short film could bring about real understanding, desperately needed by those who have direct experience with stillbirth. *** (Short film drama) 2011 - Every Good Boy Does Fine - Factory Gate Films - Production Manager Written and directed by Dan P.K. Smyth, previous Cannes Short Film Corner winner, Every Good Boy Does Fine is a short film about reclusive and jobless, Gary, an 'undesirable', pursuing the art of violin making from his council flat, this is a poetic film about private passions & family redemption. *** (Documentary) 2011 - Britain in a Day (BBC) - Production Coordinator I was a production coordinator on this 90 minute documentary 'Britain in a Day'. On the 12th November 2011 participants filmed a small part ,just a few minutes of their day. We were looking for people from all walks of life, as the focus was on diversity, variety and representation. The project was based on 'Life in a Day,' which was a film produced by Ridley Scott last year made entirely of clips uploaded to YouTube. 80,000 people from around the world submitted short clips of their day, wherever they were and whatever they were doing. Similarly the BBC project 'Britain in a Day' aims to capture an authentic & broad reaching snapshot of modern Britain. The film wanted to encourage as many people as possible to upload a clip that sums up a typical 'day in their lives'. The 90 minute documentary was broadcast on BBC2 in May of 2011. The documentary set out to celebrate the uniqueness of Britain and of our Nations as Olympic fever started in 2012. *** 2006- 2010 - Kurdish Creative Film Centre - Production Manager During this time I Produced / Production Managed a variety of documentaries, short films and other events run by KCFC and provided a substantial amount of business development for the centre. Additionally KCFC had a strong focus on producing short films, documentaries and promotional videos as part of an outreach program for community centres and groups etc. within refugee and marginalise communities. *** (Short film drama) 2009 - My fathers Picture - Kurdish Creative Film Centre - Producer My Father's Picture is a short film that delves into the life of a 13 year old boy whose father is in the British army. Finding out his father is to leave yet again for tour of duty in Iraq is hard enough for Jack, but the final straw is a deep blow causing huge rifts within his family and community. *** (Documentary) 2007 - 2010 - Finding My Legs - Kurdish Creative Film Centre - Production Manager A documentary about Kurdish born Shaho Qadir, who is a double amputee having lost both his legs aged 13 in the chemical bombing of Hallabja in 1988. Shaho is now a successful marathon competitor who competes on both prosthetic legs and in a wheelchair. A hugely positive and inspiring character, local hero Shaho now lives in London and is a popular and well known community member. *** (Documentary) 2008 - Black Days - Kurdish Creative Film Centre - Production Manager Black Days is a documentary exposing the harsh realities of the chemical bombings on the northern Kurdistan/Iraq town of Hallabja in the late 1980's. The film delivers its message via interviews from 3 people who experienced the bombings first hand, also depicting the reality of the bombing from the point of view of the local towns people, including the thousands who perished that day and those who live with the scars even now. *** (Community related) 2008 - RUEU? - Glitterfish Productions / RFP - Producer Shot in Partnership with Glitterfish Productions, this film was a young persons art project discovering what it means to be living in the EU, with a strong focus on the ideas around youth and the highly controversial identity cards hoping to be introduced in the UK. *** (Community related) 2008 - Brinnington Lantern Festival - Stockport Council - Producer For 10 years the Brinnington community has been running a Chinese lantern parade every year. Brinnington is classed as an underprivileged area, however despite this every year the community comes out in full force to celebrate the Chinese lantern festival/parade. Workshops are held all over the area and attended by children, teenagers and old people alike. This event is a hugely positive one that is attended by many community members, enjoyed by all it is a real tribute to the local area and people. *** (Community related) 2007 - Yesterday Art Project - Rachel Shore / RFP - Producer Yesterday Play is a short fly on the wall film observing and listening into the conversations and stories of an elderly peoples remembrance art class. The finale of this study was bringing together the elderly people involved i the project with the very young to enjoy and mutually exchange 'playtime' together. The purpose of the film/class is to establish and acknowledge the value of our elderly folk in today's modern society. *** (Documentary) 2006 - Refugee Exodus To The Northwest - WFA - Producer Refugee Exodus To The Northwest is a short documentary and student film. The focus of the film was to highlight the issues surrounding refugees and asylum seekers in the NW. We felt that this group of people suffered greatly from the stigma and huge overgeneralizing regarding their status. We set out to interview people on their direct experiences on this matter. Community Arts Northwest annual Exodus music festival was used as the back drop to this film whilst interviewees were music and arts performers from the event. The documentary received very positive results receiving an invitation to be screened at the Cornerhouse, followed by appearing at Manchester's acclaimed home museum space Urbis' to take part in the exhibition '0161Manchester' for a period of 3 months.