“Pioneer, trailblazer, legend”: Tributes pour in for Jaspreet Bal GBCT

Tributes have been paid to the much-loved 1^st AC Jaspreet (Jaz) Bal GBCT, who suddenly passed away last month. Her many credits included The Wife, Churchill, Under The Skin, Fast & Furious 6, Whisky Galore and World War Z. Below, her family and friends share their memories of this ground-breaking talent who helped pave the way for women working in the camera department.

Jaz Bal’s husband, art director Adam Squires, said:

“Pioneer. Trailblazer. Legend. These are the words that have been expressed in celebration of her life by those who had been fortunate enough to know her, to work with her, to have been embraced by her light.

The one word, however, that remained the most treasured and sacred to her throughout her working life, was ‘Integrity’; her reputation; her role as a focus puller, as a 1st assistant camera. She was so fiercely proud of what she had achieved and her reputation, she wore it like a badge of honour.

Jaz worked selflessly and tirelessly over her 26-year career to ensure that the integrity of the story remained ‘the focus’ of her meticulous work – such was her dedication to the role and the craft. She loved her work and most of all the people that surrounded her on that journey. In life, she was a free spirit who savoured life to the full.

I would like to share the thoughts of some of her closest friends who were also colleagues, the ones that she most admired and respected who have captured the essence of Jaz in their moving tributes from her funeral which was held on 11 October 2022.”

Tommy Gormley, producer, said:

“I am very humbled to have the honour to say a few words about our dearest friend and colleague Jaspreet Squires.

There are many, many others of course who could offer heartfelt tributes… Suffice to say Jaspreet Squires was a true ground-breaker. A genuine one-off.

Like some of you in this room, myself and my wife Sarah first met Jaz on the film set of a period drama called Regeneration in 1996. It’s a film about the horrors of the First World War, and it is a great film.

In the camera department, there was a slight, fresh-faced clapper-loader, in the modern parlance, the 2nd AC. Why was this scene striking? Well – that slight, fresh faced clapper-loader was a young woman. Outside the roles that women were traditionally ‘allowed’ to have on a film set – make-up artist, costume assistant, script supervisor, maybe an art director if you were lucky – you did not see a woman on a film set. Pretty much at all. It was truly so rare and surprising when you did. And it was shameful that that was the case. And thankfully, quite hard to imagine now.

Beyond that, this fresh-faced loader was a young Asian woman – now this was mind blowing. This did not happen. You never saw a male Asian crew member, far less a woman – no, beyond that in fact, you never saw a non-Caucasian person of any kind. Everyone, basically, looked a bit like me. In a bad way.

And nobody at that time really seemed to mind, or to think that it was anything out of the ordinary that a film set was the preserve, almost exclusively, of white, usually middle-aged men.

Well, that young clapper-loader was a revelation on that film. She was a tireless worker, someone with boundless enthusiasm and energy, and most of all a hugely skilled and conscientious technician. Above all that, most importantly when you are working under stress in difficult conditions, she was simply a great human being to have around. Full of warmth, wicked humour and kindness.

Thanks to a very few people like Jaz, when you walk onto a film set today, it is not the preserve of white men. You do now see supremely talented women, and people of colour, bringing so much to our industry. And Jaz was a truly pivotal person in that process. She will be sorely missed.

We all have our own version of Jaz. So please hold onto that, think of her often – with a smile – and she will never be gone. Thank you, Jaz. For everything.”

Chris Maxwell GBCT, focus puller, said:

“Jaz gave me the chance as a young camera trainee. I did two camera trainee jobs and a job as her loader. Every night she would set me a challenge on the drive home, some technical aspect to read up on. And I’d better know the answer the following morning. But she taught me so much. I am so grateful to her.

I have a gift she gave me – a Magnum book of photography. No one else ever gave me a gift like it. I look at it often. It has an inscription that means everything to me – ‘Thanks for all your hard work – stay inspired.’ And it has kept me inspired. She was inspirational – as a focus puller and as a person.”

John Rhodes GBCT, director of photography – beloved mentor and long-time boss, said:

“I remember that Jaz scowl – not unhappy, just concentrating so fiercely. She was 100% reliable. She was a perfectionist. She would never settle for anything less. I have stills taken by Jaz hanging on my walls that show she had the eye for a great frame. She would have been a great operator and beyond. Jaz also took great pride in bringing on youngsters behind her. Many of her trainees and loaders have gone on to become successful focus pullers and operators.”

Seamus McGarvey BSC ASC, director of photography, said:

“I will never forget Jaz and her illuminating presence on set. She always had a wonderful aura of positivity around her, and this atmosphere permeated the entire crew and set an example of focus… creative focus towards the film. One of the best assistants I have ever worked with, Jaz was never one to dwell on technique or the latest gadget or device. Her passion was always about the story and how it could be told beautifully to an audience watching.

I worked with her recently just a few months ago at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Jaz was persistently and gently offering up ideas about how to make our shots better, simpler and more evocative. Her contributions to all the stories she helped to tell with a camera are immeasurable. She was a gifted filmmaker with a true artist’s mind and heart and the industry will miss her dearly.”

The British Cinematographer team extend our sincere condolences to Jaz’s family, friends and colleagues.