Darren Bramley
Secretary/Manufacturer Liaison Officer/
Press and PR

Darren is Head of Cameras at ITV Breakfast where he has been since before the launch in 1992.

As one of the few original members of GMTV staff he still enjoys the manic world of Breakfast Television. Involved in managing the studio crew, he also operates on the show every day in the studio, on PSC and OBs.

Introduced to the Guild in 1987 when at BBC Elstree, he has always been proud to be part of such a diverse band who care about the quality of camerawork and professionalism in the industry past and present.

Alison Chapman
Zerb Managing Editor/
Website Administrator 
(non-voting)

I have been on the GTC Council since 1992.

I worked at Thames TV, firstly as a picture researcher, before training as a camera operator. After completing their Technical Training Scheme, I went into Teddington camera department where I worked for seven years, as well as on OBs and The Bill, work for which I was awarded a GTC Certificate of Merit and RTS craft award.

After 1992, I continued as a freelance shooting mainly drama, on both film and tape.

I now work in publishing including managing Zerb for the GTC. I am also content editor and administrator for this website.

Dudley Darby
Exhibitions Manager

I worked for the BBC, later BBC Resources Ltd. in the camera department, mainly in studios, from 1963 until 2001, when I took early retirement. For the last five years of that time I was also a Safety Rep at TV Centre. Since 2001 I have freelanced as a cameraman, manual handling trainer, and producer/director in studios and on location.

From February 2003 I was GTC Secretary for some four and a half years. I was invited to rejoin Council in November 2010 to take on the Exhibition Manager’s rôle when Ray Meier decided to step down after many years of excellent service.

exhibitions@gtc.org.uk

Christina Fox
Social Media Officer 

Christina is currently taking a break from editing Zerb due to other commitments, but looks after the GTC Twitter feed and other social media initiatives.

 James French
Sponsorship and Advertising Manager
(non-voting)

I have been a freelance Lighting Cameraman since 2001, working for a wide variety of clients in studios, on OBs and as a PSC cameraman.

I have been involved with the GTC Council for over 20 years, in a variety of roles, including International Organiser, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Database Designer, GTC Newsletter Editor and Vice Chairman.

My current role is to liaise with our sponsors and recruit new ones, as well as selling advertising for Zerb, GTC In Focus, this website and our news emails.

Contact:

07855 743845

advertising@gtc.org.uk

James Fulcher
Student Membership Officer

Following advice from many TV professionals, I have made a conscious decision not to go to university. Instead I am learning camerawork practically, by working 'on the job'.

From the beginnings of creating small charity videos while at school, my range of work over the past two years has expanded to include working on broadcast productions as well as productions for major companies and brands.

I joined the GTC in 2007 in my last year of A-Levels and have used this as a springboard to start my training. 

I have recently joined the Council to help promote the GTC to students and young trainees. I am a firm believer in keeping up standards in craft camerawork to the highest quality possible and hope to help promote this through the GTC Council.

Martin Hammond

I formed MJH Media in 2007 as a small independent media/events management/film festivals consultancy, having taken early retirement from Kodak after 38 years where I was the main GTC contact as a Sponsor.

I work for the six major Camera Guilds, namely the GTC, British Society of Cinematographers (BSC), Guild of British Camera Technicians (GBCT), International Federation of Cinematographers (IMAGO), International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers (IAWF) and newly formed Association of Camera Operators (ACO).

I continue to make regular ‘location visits' to meet camerapersons across all market segments.

I am proud to support the GTC on the awards, website and business plan sub-committees and to support the GTC exhibition team at UK and international trade fairs/exhibitions.

Drew Hartley
Education Officer/Awards Officer

Drew's roots were in the corporate sector where a mentor introduced him to the GTC in the mid 1980s. He then moved into the broadcast sector shooting TV commercials. Work as a stringer for local news in the Yorkshire region followed.

After an RTA some years ago, Drew now identifies himself as a disabled cameraman.

Drew is both GTC Education Officer and GTC Awards officer and has advised many students and school-leavers on further education and training, while also co-ordinating GTC members' Awards nominations.

Drew is the GTC representative regarding industry training initiatives and works closely with Skillset, film schools, universities and other training providers. The GTC now accepts applications for Academic Membership, a grade Drew helped establish in order to forge closer links with the world of academia.

John Henshall
Vice President

I worked as a cameraman at the BBC TV centre for 15 years, during which time the Guild was formed. As one of the first BBC members, I was founder Dick Hibberd's Vice Chairman before leaving to work as a freelance Director of Photography in 1976.

As a DoP I worked on many of the earliest music videos and formed my own group of DoPs. Our work included servicing MTV Europe for its first 10 years. Other credits include Channel 4's Network Seven and ITV's Spitting Image.

For the past 15 years I have been heavily involved in the developing field of digital imaging since its birth, organising conferences in the US and consulting for major imaging companies.

I am delighted to be back on the Guild council as Vice President and hope that my experience since my days as a BBC staff cameraman may be of benefit to the Guild.

Dick Hibberd
Honorary President

My career started as a trainee film director with a small company in Edinburgh. After spells with Ferranti and Decca Radar, filming top secret flight trials, I moved to BBC Lime Grove as a Technical Operations Cameraman on Crew 1.

With the advent of commercial television I joined ATV where I worked on multi-camera studio and OB productions for
8 years before moving on to Alpha TV in Birmingham. Next it was TWW in Cardiff, where I began to see the need for an organisation to cater for television cameramen. With the help of a few dedicated cameramen friends, the GTC was born.

After TWW became HTV, I continued to work there as Head of Cameras for Studio and OBs for 14 years. My last move was to Thames TV to work as a technical supervisor, sometimes filling in as lighting director, then studio supervisor, and finally as a production manager.

Mission statement
I feel as strongly as ever about the need for a Guild of Television Cameramen, catering for both men and women the world over. I am very honoured to have become the Guild's first President, and I will do my upmost to maintain and uphold the ideals of the Guild.

John Hoare
Vice Chairman 

I worked for the BBC in a variety of roles up to Lighting Cameraman and Resources Manager, as well as lighting in small studios and on location, until 2001, when I took early retirement. Since then I have freelanced in similar roles.

I was the GTC Treasurer from February 2003 to January 2010, followed by a year or so as the ‘odd job man' of the Council. Now in the wake of a re-shuffle I have the honour of being elected as Vice-Chairman. I am also proud to have been involved in the development and continuing evolution of the GTC website.

Paul Kay

I worked for the BBC 1954–1989, from 1965–1989 as a Camera Superviser/Senior Cameraman. From 1989 I worked at B SKY B and as a freelance, finishing in 2002. Although I had some outside broadcast experience early on and then later with B SKY B, most of my work was on studio multicamera productions, in particular drama series and situation comedy. I was senior cameraman on Question Time for 10 years.

Interests: photography; gardening; angling; clay pigeon shooting; and of course the grandchildren.

Craig Kelly
International Representative

US-based Craig Kelly’s career has included over 4000 live shows, events and concerts in most areas of broadcasting, corporate TV and sports production since 1977.  He is also involved in ministry based events and non-profit organizations, as well as having produced and directed the internationally distributed DVD: Eric Burdon and the Animals – Yes, You Can Go Home Again - shot on location in England.

As a freelance cameraman and DoP, he shot sports and corporate video for over 20 years and still shoots occasionally. Kelly has filmed in over 25 countries - from the Olympics to the Promise Keepers tour, to the peaks of the Alps and the jungles of Sri Lanka.

These days he is involved in speaking, workshops and writing for TV camera operators as well as directing. He recently launched a blog at www.craigjkelly.com for new camera operators and has a training DVD in production. You can reach Craig at:craig@vantageroad.com.

Craig says - I’m excited to be involved with the GTC as an international representative. I think our practice of advice, help and training for new operators - by sharing what it means to be a professional in our business - is the only way of preserving our craft and guarding against non-professionals diluting the industry.

Graeme McAlpine
Chairman

I joined LWT in 1977, where there was a great chance to work on many notable shows in both the studios and on outside broadcasts.

After various attachments, the chance to transfer to become a lighting cameraman in their PSC department beckoned at the end of the 80s.

Leaving this staff position for a self-employed career in 1991, the years since have been as a freelancer in studio, outside broadcast and PSC, within both the broadcast and corporate work place.

Having been a strong supporter of the Guild for many decades, the opportunity to re-join the Council and to serve as Chairman will give me a new and exciting challenge to promote and invigorate the work of the Guild.

Ray Meier

Clive North
Workshop Organiser

I'm a freelance documentary lighting cameraman, working mainly in broadcast science and history programmes with my own Panasonic HPX 3700 P2 Varicam kit.

Since taking over the role of Workshops Organiser I’ve rather cheekily tried to set up the kind of workshops that I would find of interest and benefit. From camera testing to lighting, helicopter shooting, 3D training, Health & Safety to business seminars. I'm always on the lookout for what is topical and of benefit to the members – after all I am one too!

Rex Palmer
Membership Officer

I worked for the BBC from 1963 to 1996, initially at TV centre, then at London Outside Broadcasts where I became a Camera Supervisor before going freelance.  

Most of my work now is as one of the cameramen covering the Formula One Grand Prix races all over the world.

As Membership Officer it's my job to vet all membership applications to make sure that they are eligible and are joining at the appropriate Grade. I also assist the Administration Officer in the task of checking up on lapsed members and in trying to persuade resigning members to reconsider.

Roger Richards
Editor, GTC In Focus
GTC Membership Administrator

I joined HTV in 1971 as a trainee assistant cameraman in the film department and, over the next 20 years, worked my way up to lighting camerman. I became freelance in 1991 as lighting cameraman and director of photography.

I worked mainly on documentaries and drama until 2009 when I decided to combine my love of photography with my television career, opening a studio and gallery on the island of Anglesey.

I took over the editorship of the GTC Newsletter in 2004 renaming it  GTC In Focus and, in April 2011, I was appointed GTC Membership Administrator.

Simon Roe
Treasurer

Simon is Head of Cameras and Managing Director at
Zest.TV Limited, which specialises in providing camera and
post-production facilities to the live event industry.

He has been a professional cameraman for over 7 years
and now also multi-skills as an editor, director/vision mixer
and engineer.

Simon has been the GTC’s Treasurer since 2010 and is the guardian of ensuring the Guild’s money is spent wisely for the benefit of its members.

 Brian Rose
Welfare Officer

After serving as Standards Officer, Manufacturers' Liaison Officer, Vice Chairman and more recently Chairman, I decided to step back and take on the newly formed task of Welfare Officer.

This entails working on the GTC's relationship with various charities, giving members the chance to put something back into society. I'm particularly gratified that so many members have already volunteered.

I'm now a very busy ‘retiree', having previously worked as a consultant, technical manager and lighting cameraman, working in features, documentaries, drama and corporate television.

I look forward to continuing to serve on Council, supporting the members and the television industry.

John Rossetti

John Rossetti started his career as a film trainee at BBC Ealing, and worked as camera assistant with Ken Russell on the Monitor series and Jonathan Miller and Dick Bush on Alice in Wonderland.

John then moved to Alexandra Palace, became a news cameraman, and later worked at Lime Grove on Tonight and 24 hrs mostly with Fyfe Robertson. He then joined BBC TV production training as assistant technical instructor. He now has his own lighting company and freelances as a lighting cameraman in News and Drama/Documentaries.

Nominated for best photography at the Celtic Film Festival for Tristan & Isolt for Carlton.

After starting out in advertising photography, illustrative work for the BBC confirmed a move into 'movies' and – via industrial filming – I eventually joined BBC’s Ealing Television Film Studios (TFS).

There followed over 20 years experience across current affairs, documentary and drama, along with a period in operational management.

I went freelance in 1992 and this was when I joined the GTC.

I am now working as a DoP and lighting cameraman on location, in studios and contributing to features, as well as for today’s broadcast medium, webcasting.

The rich range of experience amongst members of the GTC benefits us mutually. I have been part of 'Team' GTC Council for two years and through this involvement expect to contribute to our craft as it faces ongoing technical and production challenges.

 John Tarby
GTC Awards Event Manager

A qualified photographer when it was trendy in the late 1960s he learned cinematography, on the job, whilst working first for the Royal Aircraft Establishment and later in industry for Unilever Research.

He became a freelance television cameraman in the 1980s and also helped start the Electronic Camera Company, one of London's first broadcast videofilming facilities, still operating today in East London.

John became a Council Member in 2004 and managed the annual awards event for six years. It was transformed from a rural retreat to a city celebration with steadily increasing attendances. It remains the prime thing the Guild does which demonstrates to the wider television community the benefits of employing professional television cameramen and Guild members in particular.

Richard van Nijnatten
International Representative

I started my professional career as cameraman in the mid-80s and I have broad experience in the areas of documentary film, TV news and current affairs, sports, corporate communication and training/education/awareness programmes. Over the years I also developed my skills as a Steadicam and Polecam operator, and in video editing and directing. Nowadays I work as Creative Media Manager for an international organisation, and I own a small production company. Alongside that I am the distributor of Polecam products for The Netherlands.

As International Representative I will try to expand the international character of the Guild in two ways: one being the promotion of the GTC in other countries, especially in areas where cameramen are less united, and the second being the provision of information about our craft and colleagues within countries other than the UK, for example, through stories in our magazine Zerb.