January 2024 has dawned brightly with Lorraine Luke taking the helm as Chief Operating Officer of the GBCT. Meet the members joining her in the running of the Guild.
Lorraine Luke’s appointment comes after a tough year for the GBCT, coming to terms with the unthinkable loss of Dee Edwards and the realisation that she had been quietly doing the work of six people. It became increasingly clear that, despite Tim Potter’s valiant efforts, we needed to rethink the entire running of the Board.
We have implemented a holacracy, whereby each member of the Board will build working groups from the membership. Each group will take responsibility for various aspects of running the Guild. The groups will overlap and Lorraine will be the nexus and representative for us all. This will give the groups autonomy to make decisions within their scope of work, whilst retaining the ability to make collective decisions when necessary.
Each group has an external and internal co-ordinator. External co-ordinators are Board members and their main job is to foster transparency by feeding information back to the Board on each working group’s activity. All GBCT members are welcome to suggest projects and join the relevant group.
We’re confident that everyone will gain from the new, democratic and smooth operation of the Guild, working with and beside the membership.
DEAN THOMPSON GBCT – UAL LEVEL 3 DIPLOMA, NVQ LEVEL 3 1st AC
“I’m proud to be on the GBCT Board and look forward to being involved in training and mentoring.”
Dean’s freelance film industry career began after working for three years in the rental department of AKA Films. He started as a documentary assistant, before setting out as a 2nd AC in 1990. He moved up to 1st AC in 1996 and has worked steadily on features, high end TV drama and commercials ever since.
ELLIOT PURVIS GBCT – 1ST AC
External Co-ordinator: Outreach
“As a GBCT board member, I would like to repay the Guild for the opportunities it gave me, by helping to make it a place we can all be proud to be a part of. Part of my remit is to increase the GBCT’s profile throughout the UK and I’m particularly keen to involve our members in the regions.
“I began my journey in the camera department in 2007 and managed to get work as a camera trainee on a few projects in between working a separate job in construction.
“I was close to giving up on my dream of having a full time career in the camera department, until I was recommended by a focus puller to go see Dee Edwards at the GBCT. The timing was extremely fortunate as they were launching that year’s GBCT Trainee scheme and she encouraged me to sign up. I was lucky enough to be selected and was instantly introduced to some incredible GBCT focus pullers and loaders. With the wonderful help and guidance from Dee, always in the background of my career, I have had some incredible experiences in the industry I love.”
GABRIEL HYMAN GBCT – 1ST AC
External Co-ordinator: Website & IT
“The GBCT is a benchmark for excellent training and working practices and I was very pleased to join in 2004. When I need additional crew, I know I will always find competent and skilled fellow members, who understand their responsibilities and the workings of a film set. The industry can be disjointed and intimidating to newcomers and I see the GBCT as a beacon to help guide new and established members in maintaining standards, as well as providing support for each other. As External Co-ordinator for the IT & Website aspects of the Guild, my remit is to provide a clear and effective public presence for all members and patrons.
“I joined the industry as a daily trainee on series one of Spooks, where I met GBCT members who were both supportive and instrumental in my training and career progression. I spent what is by now considered to be a long time as a loader, starting in TV drama where loaders were regularly given the task of single-handedly servicing up to 3 cameras, often juggling four different film stocks as well. This was a good grounding for 35mm commercials and multi-camera features. The advent of digital cinematography eventually made us 35mm experienced 2nd ACs a busy bunch as the craft waned, but eventually I was pushed into focussing (as were many others) by loyal and generous GBCT contemporaries, who were willing to share their knowledge and experience to help others progress. I have been focussing for a little over 10 years, despite the grey beard suggesting it must be longer than that.”
IAN OGDEN GBCT – NVQ LEVEL 2 GRIP
Internal Co-ordinator: Website & IT
“I’ve always viewed membership of the GBCT as a sign of high achievement and recognition from industry peers. I’m proud to be playing my part in helping to secure the Guild’s future.”
Ian started his career in 2010, as a Grip Trainee and was fortunate enough to have a diverse education and training by the country’s best grips in all sectors of the industry. He stepped up in 2014 and worked his way up in TV drama and film, achieving his level 2 qualification in 2017. Since then Ian has worked on some of the biggest films and TV shows produced in the UK, as a dolly grip and as a best boy grip. Ian joined the Guild in 2023.
KATIE SWAIN GBCT – CINEMATOGRAPHER
External Co-ordinator: Member Benefits
“The current re-structure of the Guild will be an opportunity to enhance the membership by offering more opportunities for education, benefits and support to members with a firm focus on inclusivity and equality. As the External Co-ordinator of the Benefits Group I will be pushing for an attractive package of benefits that will aim to offset the cost of the membership and enhance our busy lives both at home and on location.”
Katie joined the Guild in 2012 and became a Board member for the second time in May 2023. Her career began as a camera trainee at Ealing Film Studios and subsequently a freelance 1st AC and then DP. Her work includes music videos, commercials and feature films.
MICKEY RICHARDS GBCT – VIDEO PLAYBACK OPERATOR
Internal Co-ordinator: Outreach
“I joined the Guild 12 years ago and was overjoyed when my application was accepted, as it felt like affirmation that I had made it as a top technician in my field. I joined a group of highly respected, outstanding technicians and found that having GBCT after my name led to numerous high end jobs. I’m proud to be a member and strive to give my very best, knowing that I’m representing both myself and the Guild.
“Like most people I started off as a runner. My girlfriend worked at a production company called Julian Seddon Films and she hired me on various jobs. I was often asked to cover video playback on small studio-based shoots and that’s when I thought that this could be a potential long-term career. Before I worked in the film Industry, I worked in post-production recording studios as a sound engineer in the music business and ran a record shop in the Kings Rd Garage.
“Fast forward five years: I had made many more contacts and was being hired to work for various producers and production companies on commercials, promos and films. As I continued to get more work and felt that this was where I wanted my future to lie, I decided to invest in my own playback equipment and to start up my own company. I’ve now been in the industry for 28 years and counting.”
MIKE HANNAN GBCT – 1st AC
Team member: Member Benefits
“I am proud to have joined the Guild Board during the Covid-19 crisis, which presented huge challenges for the industry.
“I started out 20 odd years ago as a trainee. I moved up to become a clapper loader 2 years later and was fortunate enough to work on many films and dramas in my early career.
“I joined the Guild in 2009 and have been involved with its teaching courses ever since, in particular the trainee and loading courses. I have additionally taught for many schools, including the NFTS and MetFilm.
“The move into focus pulling came about in around 2012, when the Guild gave me the encouragement I needed. I have since worked on many TV dramas and feature films.”
OONA MENGES GBCT – CINEMATOGRAPHER
Internal Co-ordinator: Operations
“I’m really excited about our new structure. As the Internal Co-Ordinator of Operations, I will act as a facilitator and conduit in the smooth transition from our traditional board model to the new holacracy we have implemented. My primary goal is building back a supportive and beneficial GBCT community in which we all feel an integral part.”
Starting out as a runner on commercials in 1987, Oona became a clapper loader in 1989, eventually joining the GBCT in 1991. She then worked her way up through the ranks of the camera department on all genres before stepping up to shoot in 2014, and is now a cinematographer. Oona joined the GBCT board in 2021 and is the GBCT Admin for the Operators Award.
RICHARD BEVAN GBCT – CAMERA OPERATOR/2ND UNIT DP
External Co-ordinator: GBCT Rep. in the North of England
“I feel honoured to be a member of the GBCT Board and part of such a prestigious organisation. It’s at the forefront of promoting our industry within and beyond its boundaries. I intend to expand this further than the current perceived London centric/SE bias and to foster the Guild’s influence, high standards and supportiveness in Northern England, which is home to a large chunk of the industry. Levelling Up in the North – pro-actively, not just saying it!”
Richard is based in South Yorkshire. He started in the film industry as a Runner, working for a Soho based commercials company. He progressed to Trainee and then Loader, before going freelance in 1989. He moved up to Focus Puller in the mid-90’s, joined the GBCT in 2005 and moved up to operator in 2012. He also works as a 2nd unit DP.
RUTH WOODSIDE GBCT – CAMERA OPERATOR
External Co-ordinator: Education & Training
“I am delighted to be on the GBCT Board and part of the new restructure. I pledge to continue to bring high quality training and support to our members and to shape the next generation of camera technicians.”
Ruth is a camera operator, currently establishing herself as a DP. She has worked in the camera department on high end TV and features for over 20 years. She joined the Guild in 2010 and has been an active contributor to the GBCT training programme over the years.
SANDRA PENNINGTON GBCT – 2nd AC
Internal Co-ordinator: Education & Training
“I have been part of the GBCT family for about 6 years and joined the Board last April. I feel very passionate about being part of shaping The Guild’s future, particularly working on improving the training for the camera department.”
Sandra is a major part of the GBCT Training programme. She was initially inspired to join the film industry by her father’s passion for photography. She studied Media Arts, specialising in Cinematography and Editing, at London’s Royal Holloway University. Her first job was at ARRI Rental in Munich, which launched her as a trainee with an impressive knowledge of equipment and technology in both film and digital. She quickly progressed to 2nd AC and has spent the past ten years establishing herself as one of the busiest. She is currently moving to 1st AC.
SARAH HAYWARD GBCT – SCRIPT SUPERVISOR
External Co-ordinator: Media, Messaging & Social
“I will do my best to continue to build on and expand the Guild’s reputation of ‘The Best of the Best’.”
Sarah Hayward started out on production in commercials. She was subsequently flung in the deep end on a documentary which took her all over the world and proved to be a great training ground, as well as tremendous fun. Many years on, she is an experienced film and television script supervisor. She joined the Guild in 2009 and has been on the Board since 2010. She is a trained Assessor for the Level 4 UAL Diploma in Script Supervision and has run courses in Script Supervising for CMS, GBCT, LAMDA, UCA Farnham and the NFTS.
STEVE PUGH GBCT – NVQ LEVEL 3 ADVANCED GRIP
GBCT Rep. Wales and the South West
“I was invited to join the Guild in 2000. I remember very well the sense of pride I felt in the way it recognised and validated my career up to that point. I joined the Board four years ago and am pleased to have the opportunity to use my knowledge and experience to help guide the Guild, as it moves forward with its new structure and continues to adapt and keep up with today’s technological industry.
“After starting my career as a stagehand/flyman in West End theatres a chance conversation in 1983 led to entering the film industry as a construction stagehand on films such as Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and TV shows such as Robin of Sherwood. After a couple of years in construction I was asked to join a standby crew, in those days a traditional route into gripping. With four years as a standby stagehand under my belt I moved across to the grip department in 1989. A brief spell as BBC staff was followed by going freelance again in 1992. Since then, I have worked on around a hundred productions all over the world and have become an NVQ Level 3 Key Grip. I strongly believe in increasing diversity in the industry and have tried to create space in my crews for under-represented groups.”
TIM POTTER GBCT – 1st AC
External Co-ordinator: Finance & Legal
“It was a proud moment when I first saw my name in the Crew Directory. 2023 has been an extremely challenging year, but we are emerging from it in very good shape with a dynamic restructured organisation.”
Tim Potter joined the industry in 1983 after a spell in academia. He started as a camera technician working for a Regional Arts Council Film-Workshop and then as a freelance loader. He has been a respected focus puller since 1987. He joined the Guild in 1991 and was elected to the Board in 2006. He became Chair in 2009. When we sadly lost Dee, he made it his duty to step into the role of running the office until we could engage a new COO.
TONY JACKSON GBCT – STEADICAM & CAMERA OPERATOR
Outreach team member: Patrons
“I have been a member of the GBCT since it first started and am proud of having worked closely with Dee in promoting the Guild and helping to make it the respected organisation it is today. Anyone who employs one of our members knows that they will be working with highly skilled and capable technicians.
“I started in the industry as a messenger and have worked my way through the ranks up to operator, mainly on features and high-end TV.”
