Scotland’s first GBCT Steadicam course gave trainees the chance to develop practical skills through hands-on training with top industry professionals. 

The GBCT and Tiffen ran Scotland’s first Steadicam workshop in January, supported by ScreenSkills and NoDrama’s James Jones. Tutors Gareth Hughes ACO GBCT, Chris Maxwell Assoc. ACO GBCT and Tiffen’s key instructor Danny Hallett led nine attendees, including Julie Bills GBCT. 

Danny Hallett, Tiffen key instructor

Hallett joined Tiffen International in 2006. He works primarily on the motion picture side and has helped expand their Steadicam Workshops into the well-known bronze, silver and gold formats, known throughout the UK, Europe and beyond. He also rolled out the concepts to numerous universities including the SAE schools across Europe. 

Camera operator Gareth Hughes ACO GBCT  

“Teaching on the GBCT/ScreenSkills Glasgow Steadicam course was truly rewarding. It felt good to pass on some real-world knowledge and give a little back to the industry I love. I enjoyed observing the progress made by all the students in just a few days and seeing them achieve that lightbulb moment. 

Both my parents worked on stage in theatre and in front of the camera. I often accompanied my mother on set and was given a walk-on role (with my own close-up!) in a period drama. I was ten and fascinated by the process. I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it, albeit definitely not on camera!  

I applied to the BBC after my A levels, but was deemed too young, despite multiple interviews and reaching the final board each time. I then applied to Ravensbourne, but missed their intake by just a few days. Undaunted, I did a one year City & Guilds TV production course in Birmingham, before re-applying to Ravensbourne. I was accepted and completed my HND in TV programme operations two years later. The BBC visited in the final weeks, as they needed two fully trained candidates to join their regional base in Southampton. I was successful so, via a very roundabout route, I finally ended up joining the BBC as a technical operator. The motto – we each find our own way in. Never give up! 

Having completed my contract, I moved to Hong Kong to join StarTV – a new multi-channel satellite broadcaster. I assisted on assignments around the world, progressing from loading to focus pulling to smaller assignments as a junior cameraman. I returned to the UK four years later and The Bill gave me my first break into drama. I operated multiple episodes and honed my skills, working on various regular continuing dramas, before broadening into original series and HETV.” 

Camera operator Chris Maxwell ACO GBCT     

“Teaching on the Tiffen Steadicam workshop was very important to me, both in terms of passing on my knowledge and because they were massively helpful in starting me off on my Steadicam journey, from training in Italy with Danny Hallett to purchasing my first rig. They’ve continued to support me throughout my career. 

I left school at 16 and worked in a warehouse organising products and driving a forklift. I did not excel in this profession and crashed the forklift into a roller shutter door, which led a co-worker to jokingly suggest that I go into TV. I signed up for a night class called Intro to Digital Video the next day. This was followed by a two-year college production course and then another two years at film school, where I shot my first chase sequence. It has taken almost 20 years to shoot another one for actual TV.  

I graduated into the 2007 recession, when work was scarce, especially in the camera department. I spent a year as a lighting assistant, which taught me a lot and gave me the opportunity to meet ACs. Once established as a 2^nd AC, I worked in drama during the week and at football matches at the weekend, when I assisted Alf Tremontin, from whom I learnt the possibilities and diversity of Steadicam. I began practicing when I was a 1st AC, thanks to the generosity of the operators I was working with taking the time to teach me during our lunch breaks. My career changed pace after the Steadicam course I attended in Italy and led to my first Steadicam credit and then to my first show working as A camera/Steadicam.”   

Camera operator Julie Bills GBCT 

“After leaving art school, I worked for several years as a studio-based artist, making a living from artists’ residencies and community arts-based projects, which concentrated on collaborative photography, moving image and performance. One day, while walking home, I wandered onto the set of the first Trainspotting film, where the crew were filming the opening ‘Choose Life’ sequence of Renton and Spud running through Edinburgh’s back streets. This inspired me to gain a place as a camera trainee on the Scottish Film and Broadcast Training course, which in turn led to working on features, HETV drama and documentaries.  

I progressed through the camera department, spending several years loading, focus pulling and operating. After a career break to bring up a family, during which time I worked in film education, I completed the Steadicam course with a view to re-establishing myself in the industry. The accessibility of it being in Scotland was brilliant. The tutors were very generous in sharing their knowledge and experience and the course was well structured and progressive.