Igniting a spark

Education is a key tenet of the British Society of Cinematographers and its recent workshop programme, in collaboration with London Screen Academy, gave underrepresented communities a hands-on – and in some cases life-changing – insight into the camera, lighting and grip departments.

Some 85 participants from across the UK descended upon London Screen Academy (LSA) to experience a free weekend of practical, hands-on workshops delivered by industry professionals, facilitated by the BSC. Appealing to early-career entrants interested in working in the camera, lighting and grip departments within the film and TV industries, the second iteration of the workshop event saw its bespoke curriculum implemented on a grand scale.    

An unparalleled initiative in the UK, BSC Education’s BSC x LSA Workshop programme received generous contributions from sponsors ARRI Rental, MBS Equipment Co., Sunbelt Rentals, Shift 4 Cine, Mission Digital, Goldcrest, and Hawk London in providing top-of-the-line equipment and support. 

In seeking to engage those who do not typically receive this level of practical cinematography education, an equitable application process prioritised those from under-recognised backgrounds, considering ethnicity, socio-economic background, or location, as well as people with a disability or people with caring responsibilities.

Bursary support was offered to participants in the form of travel remuneration and subsidised hotel accommodation for those travelling from afar, with free breakfast and lunch provided by LSA’s The Pantry catering service. 

The BSC x LSA Workshops curriculum focuses on inspirational, theoretical, and heavily practical elements in addition to guidance on how to attain trainee roles in each respective area. Participants were divided into a group of roughly 28 learners and rotated around each respective workshop. 

Mission-critical was offering entrants active time with equipment under the direct guidance of industry workers. Activities saw participants lighting their own portraits with various fixtures, learning basic dolly operation, changing lenses, manipulating colour in DaVinci Resolve, focus pulling between ones and twos and much, much more.

Tuition involved hearing from established lead speakers on their artistry; such as how one goes about choosing a lens based on the artistic intentions of a project, or their approach to lighting a scene with differing skin tones, or their vision of a Steadicam scene with difficult blocking. Equally as valuable were fundamental on-set behaviour and etiquette lessons from 1st ACs, 2nd ACs, grips, sparks, and trainees across departments. 

The BSC x LSA Workshops coordinator was Billy Abbott, while Workshops applications lead was Laura Boswell. Special thanks to Hsien Yu Niu.

SATURDAY

Introduction to Cinematography – Christopher Ross BSC

Introduction to Camera and Lens Technology – Christopher Ross BSC, Jessie Brough, Tamia Diaz GBCT, Rafal Rakoczy GBCT, Andrew Bradley GBCT, Chris Orr GBCT, Michael Montgomery-Salter GBCT, Luca Parasiliti-Holt, Jackie Read

Introduction to Camera Operating and Grip Technology – Ilana Garrard ACO Assoc. BSC, Hannah Jell ACO, Fran Amaroso, Kieran Sewell, Jack Powell

Introduction to Lighting Technology – Olan Collardy, with Kate Reid BSC, Martin Taylor, Jack Powell, Thomas Ross, Marie Colahan, Alexis Agricolo, Bart Bazaz

Following an introduction outlining the running order and mission statement for the weekend, Saturday’s workshop programme saw sessions led by Christopher Ross BSC, Ilana Garrard Assoc. BSC ACO, and Olan Collardy, with substantial support from the GBCT and a host of camera, grip and lighting crew. 

The Introduction to Camera and Lens Technology workshop, sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals and Hawk London, saw an initial salvo from the BSC president before the cohort split and headed to each of the five camera stations to get hands on with various types of lenses. 

Ilana Garrard Assoc. BSC ACO’s Introduction to Camera Operating and Grip Technology session, sponsored by Shift 4, showcased a remote head, PeeWee Dolly, and coverage principles of a scene before heading downstairs for the blocking and recording of a 30-person Steadicam shot. 

Joined by Kate Reid BSC for his final workshop of the day, Olan Collardy discussed lighting principles in the Introduction to Lighting Technology workshop, sponsored by ARRI Rental and MBS Equipment, before handing over to participants to get familiar with colour temperature via LED, tungsten and HMI fixtures. 

SUNDAY

Introduction to Camera Assisting – Mark Sneddon, Chris Orr, Dan Lemon, Lou Macnamara, Luca Parasiliti-Holt, Rafal Rakoczy GBCT, Ruth Woodside GBCT, Tamia Diaz GBCT, Hilda Sealy GBCT

DIT, Dailies Workflow and Role of the Colourist – Ruairí O’Brien BSC ISC, Jet Omoshebi, James Ian Gray, Ash Daniyan, Finlay Reid

Photographic Lighting Techniques – Tim Sidell BSC, with Martin Taylor, Jack Powell, Francesca Amaroso, Thomas Ross, Marie Colahan, Alexis Agricolo, Finley Norris, Jazz Cole, Ollie Poole, James Summers

Careers in Cinematography Panel – Oliver Stapleton BSC with Suzie Lavelle BSC ISC, Alana Gonzalez, Rupert Lloyd Parry, Vianney Kernanet

Sunday continued the breakneck pace of the day before; with notebooks filling up and smiles aplenty, Tim Sidell BSC led a practical showcase of three point lighting before inviting everyone in the room to light a portrait in small groups in the Photographic Lighting Techniques Workshop. Given five minutes each with a few lights and an ARRI Alexa, hierarchy and communication skills were the priority as participants issued instructions to their peers and supporting crew as they composed and lit their shots. 

The DIT, Dailies Workflow and Role of the Colourist workshop provided an extravaganza of post-production technology and terminology. Led by Jet Omoshebi and Finlay Reid of Goldcrest, and James Ian Gray and Ash Daniyan of Mission Digital – with a DP’s perspective lent by Ruairí O’Brien BSC ISC – students heard about ACES colour workflows, LUTs, livegrade stations, data processing, role delineation and the impact of a colourist.

Downstairs, the Introduction to Camera Assisting Workshop saw an array of expertise supported by the GBCT, from terminology and shorthand to trainee expectations and technical know-how, this was a masterclass in all things camera department. 

Oliver Stapleton BSC rounded off the weekend hosting a panel discussion full of practical and inspirational tips on building a career in the industry with Suzie Lavelle BSC ISC, Rupert Lloyd Parry, Vianney Kernanet and Alana Gonzalez. In an event full of practicality, the panel’s resonating words of ‘do it your way’ rang into the night as the cohort returned home wiser, smarter, and hopefully more motivated than ever. 

The response to the weekend was incredible. “You guys put on a huge event for so many people and no doubt have changed a number of lives,” said participant Jinya Mizuno. “I wish the LSA existed when I was a teenager.”

Another student, Kathryn Buck, remarked: “Every single member of staff was enthusiastic, kind, passionate and seemed to really enjoy teaching us. It was such an inspiring and uplifting experience.”

“Thank you so much for giving me this incredible opportunity,” said student Melanie Keeler. “I was at a point where I was really losing hope after countless rejections and this weekend really brought me out of that and inspired me so much to keep going and keep my head high.”

Participant Zsofia Benedek summed up the motivational impact of the sessions: “I’m not sure I can truly express how grateful I am for this opportunity. It has been a very emotional weekend for me and it gave me the push I really needed to keep going.”