You are here > Home > GTC Awards > GTC Awards 2011/12 nominations

The GTC Awards 2012 were presented in association with Zerb and sponsored by the Vitec Group

The nominations for the GTC Awards 2013 were .....

Awards for Excellence

Casualty: Momentum: BBC1
Steadicam operator: David Morgan
TX date/time:
Type of programme: Drama

Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall: BBC1
Camera crew: Camera supervisor Ben Frewin and crew
TX date/time: 01/01/12
Type of programme: Multi-camera (Studio or OB)

Reason for nomination:
Wonderful performance, totally enhanced by beautifully executed and orchestrated camerawork, with a great range of shots, sympathetic timing and consistently lovely framing.

Adele doesn't move at all in her performance – no dancing or pyrotechnics – but the camera coverage and lighting absolutely captured the atmosphere of a very special concert.

Above Suspicion: Deadly Intent: ITV
TX date/time: 03–05/01/11
Type of programme: Drama

Reason for nomination:
There has been a great deal of mail about declining standards I agree with some of the content. But on a change of tack I would like to nominate the three part drama Above Suspicion:Deadly Intent for an award Good steady work with several flashes of excellence.

The Mountain: Vimeo
Cameraman: Terje Sørgjerd
Type of programme: Timelapse

Newsnight - Brain Science, by Susan Watts: BBC2
Lighting Camera: Justin Mills
TX date/time: 09/11/11 - 22.30
Type of programme: Factual

Reason for nomination:
News features are not generally known for their excellent photography but this was very stylish work and deserves recognition.

Newsnight has rightfully been criticised for poor photography but this was the opposite. Very careful balancing of lighting with projected imagery necessitated understanding and accuracy which was so good I had to check I was still watching Newsnight!

Tour de France - Stage 19: ITV4
Aerial camera: Eric Veyssiere and Franck Arrestier
TX date/time: 22/07/11 : 13.30 - 17.00
Type of programme: Sport

Reason for nomination:
The helicopter shots were outstanding. Not only was the scene-setting landscape photography gorgeous but also the camera 'moves' and close-ups of the action were perfect. Because of the steep terrain the helicopter could fly in the valley and get horizontal crabbing shots of the peleton cycling up the mountain road as if from a tracking vehicle on a parallel road, stunning.

Cherry on the cake was that a Brit, Mark Cavendish, won the stage! Now he's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Not Going Out: BBC1
Camera Supervisor: Tony Keene
TX date/time: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0862614/
Type of programme: Multi-camera (Studio or OB)

Reason for nomination:
Tony is in my opinion the best multi-camera supervisor in the country. He also happens to be a superb pedestal operator and makes it look so easy (when we know it isn't).

Tony is always taking time out to give trainees/cable bashers a chance on camera and gives so much of his own time to train them up to a standard he is happy with. For this alone he should be recognised by the Guild.

His work on the comedy series Not Going Out starring Lee Mack is one that the Guild should take note of. With slow camera tracks and the use of long focal length lenses it complements the comedy, sets and action very well.

Tony is at home with a four camera sit-com or a 20 camera OB. It matters not. His attention to detail and his dedication remains the same.

He is quite simply the best.

Outnumbered, Series 4: BBC1
Camera: Martin Hawkins (DOP and A camera) & Peter Welch (B camera)
TX date/time: Sept to Oct 2011
Type of programme: Other

Reason for nomination:
Outnumbered was shot on location at a real house with two hand-held cameras and with no or very little rehearsal since the directors liked to capture the spontaneity and performance of the first time on camera, be it with the children or adults.

The series involves children who do not hit their marks or do the same thing twice but their performance is fantastic when they deliver. Much of their performance is unscripted and many scenes are improvised, meaning long takes. The directors always choose the take with the best performance from the artists, so camera operators have always to deliver.

Over the shoulder shots, out of focus foregrounds and on long/narrow lens shots make Outnumbered a very stylish comedy series. Martin was responsible for the lighting which involved a 'no fuss' approach as the directors didn't want the set to be a sea of lighting stands that might distract the children. The shooting style was hand-held but as steady as possible as the directors did not want to draw attention to the camera but at the same time liked the flexibility and speed of the camera being on the shoulder.

The children's restricted hours on set might mean shooting part of a scene in the morning then releasing the children for a break before completion later on. In the mean time another scene would be recorded to keep the schedule on track ... so a firm grip had to be kept on eyelines...

Return of the Lost Boys of Sudan: BBC2
Camera: Nick Read
TX date/time: 12 December 2011 at 19.00
Type of programme: Factual

Reason for nomination:
Excellent camerawork and storytelling of epic subject whilst also directing and producing in a difficult location. Fine demonstration of a 'one man band' informing the public of a harrowing historic human saga.

Frankenstein's Wedding – 'Live in Leeds': BBC3
Camera Supervisor: Martin Hawkins
TX date/time: 19 March 2011
Type of programme: Drama

Reason for nomination:
Where to start.... this production was a 90 minute 'live' transmission to BBC 3 from the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds: part drama and part musical. There were 12 cameras but 11 operators, with over 30 camera positions which often meant operators running and
re-cabling for their next scene with very little time. There was one hand-held radio camera with no return V/F, 3 cameras on Osprey dollies and tracks, one jimmy jib and seven hand-held cameras.

The production was very under-rehearsed with only two complete run-throughs from start to finish and then, on Friday night, the artistic director decided to change the ending so we were still blocking the finale on Saturday afternoon as the audience were coming in!

The director and producers wanted a gritty and youthful look to the programme for the BBC3 audience so the 'hand-held look' approach was adopted, shooting on long lenses with dirty foreground and messy and uncomfortable framing in certain scenes when the monster was about.

The camera crew were fantastic, calm under pressure, a credit to their profession and all deserve to be recognised. I cannot praise them enough. They were:

1. Martin Hawkins - Camera Supervisor
2. Dave Bryce - Jimmy Jib
3. Tony Keene
4. John Walker
5. Tony Freeman
6. Chris Payne
7. David Short
8. Peter Edwards
9. Phil Pearce
10. Peter Johnson
11.Dave Neil

The Killing, Series 2: BBC4
Director of Photography: Rasmus Arridilt DFF and
TX date/time: 10/12//11 and 17/12/11
Type of programme: Drama

Reason for nomination:
Amazing night lighting and high standard of thoughtfully and sympathetically placed camera moves... High standard kept up throughout the whole production.

Seagull Stole my Camera,Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIu5B3Fsstg
GoPro Thief: Unknown seagull
TX date/time: 23 Jun 2011
Type of programme: Other

Reason for nomination:
Well, it was an exciting shot. Stunning aerial footage – literally the birds-eye view!
On a side note I too liked the audio, a 'comment' from the 'cameraman'. Of course, we'll never find the 'cameraman' but the idea of a seagull-cam is amusing.

Wild at Heart, Episode 5, Series 6: ITV
Camera Operator: James Frater
TX date/time: 02 06 11 - 8.30
Type of programme: Drama

Reason for nomination:
I watched this programme often and it seemed to look more interesting about this time in the series, largely due to the lovely camera moves. Essentially the nomination is for the jib/crane mounted camerawork which I understand was done by James Frater.

My Life as a Turkey: BBC2
Camera: Mark Smith and David Allen
TX date/time: 25/06/11
Type of programme: Natural history

Reason for nomination:
High quality, beautifully composed pictures, well edited, a real pleasure to watch.

Land Girls: BBC1
Jimmy Jib Operator: Bernie Totten
TX date/time: 17/04/11 6:15pm
Type of programme: Drama

Reason for nomination:
The opening sequence to this programme involves a very complex jib shot. It required exact syncronisation with the actors' movements and the title music.

This sequence is essential to setting the mood and forms part of the narrative and it was therefore essential that the camera work was invisible to the viewer rather than intrusive. Bernie performed the shot with subtlety and appreciation of the emotion of each part of the shot.

Grand Rapids LipDub - new world record, Youtube
Director of Photography: Andrew Tingley and crew
TX date/time: 26/05/11
Type of programme: Entertainment

Reason for nomination
The weight of responsibility hanging on the camera crew to simply 'get it right' must have been enormous. In the circumstances I think they did a great job.

Royal Wedding: Westminster Abbey, BBC1
Camera Supervisor: Neil McLintock
TX date/time: 29/4/11
Type of programme: Multi-camera (Studio or OB)

Reason for nomination
Nomination for Camera Supervisor : Neil McLintock, for the multicamera coverage of the Royal Wedding from inside Westminster Abbey. The show from inside the Abbey was excellently shot using many cranes and remote heads. This live transmission was televised to a massive audience around the world.

Wimbledon 2011 – X-mo work, BBC1 and 2
Camera: Steve Gray
TX date/time: 20/6/11 - 3/7/11
Type of programme: Other

Reason for nomination
Nomination for Specialist Camera Work. Steve Gray's work using the high speed X-mo camera on Centre Court at SW19 for close up replays into play.
The X-mo was used to great effect with a long lens by Steve to produce stunning and excellent replays and sequences, along with excellent composition and an understanding of what was required for analysis. Because of the requirements of high speed photography, Steve's focusing had to be absolutely spot on.

Horizon: What is Reality, BBC2
Lighting Camera: Toby Wilkinson
TX date/time: 18 January 2011 - 21:00
Type of programme: Factual

Reason for nomination
This takes us back to the golden David Attenborough days of the BBC being a Centre of Excellence. Imaginitive camera work, well shot without being in the least intrusive.

Rigoletto by Verdi, BBC2
Director of Photography: Vittorio Storaro
TX date/time: 4 & 5 September 2010 - an opera in three live acts
Type of programme: Other

Reason for nomination
One the of the best and most ambitious programmes I've seen for ages, beautiful lighting and camerawork, all going out live from Mantua, Italy to 148 countries. The costumes and sound were also impeccable as was the direction with the pictures often like old master paintings come to life. A superb artistic and technical achievement with the imagery created by Vittorio Storaro being the most outstanding as it held the entire opera together in a most enthralling manner.

The Great Climb, BBC2
Nominee: Entire team of climbing cameraman
TX date/time: 28 August 2010
Type of programme: Extreme

Reason for nomination
Superb level-headed camerawork shot from extremely difficult filming positions, such as dangling on a long rope hundreds of feet in the air out from a 150-foot rock overhang whilst being hit by heavy rain and gusting winds; standing on 6-inch rock ledges for live chat between the climbers and commentary team; shooting vertically to produce vertigo-inducing images; demanding shots from below climbers filming directly upwards whilst being suspended on a rope; hanging right over cliff edges for the final ascent by the climbers. This was all sensational stuff and the shots on the whole remained very steady despite the physical demands and the influence of the weather.

This OB required nerve, calmness, huge stamina and a creative eye for a shot as well as the ability to anticipate the action. It also needed the strength and skill to physically lower and haul themselves up ropes to get into good positions for shots. The Polecam cameraman exhibited extraordinary stamina and captured some great angles.

It was all transmitted live in HD and was compelling viewing. Definitely not for the fainthearted cameraman and true professionalism was shown by this team of climbing cameramen.

This programme has also been separately nominated in the Sport category:
Amazing coverage in more-than-difficult conditions. This is pushing the capabilites and the crew to the extreme.

Seal of Approval

Nikon to Sony F3 Adaptor, MTF Services

Reason for nomination:
This adaptor makes use of a very wide range of very high quality Nikon-mount still lenses possible with the Sony F3 camera. It has an ingenious design feature which allows manual control of the iris on lenses which do not have a manual iris ring (common on many modern lenses). It makes the F3 a much more flexible camera as the only alternative would be to use PL mount lenses which are great but expensive.

The EasyRig System

Reason for nomination:
I have been using the Easyrig for a number of years, I have found it is becoming more and more popular as large cameras such as ARRI and RED are being used handheld on dramas. I use it for live music, studio and OBs and often on PSC to great effect. ITV Breakfast have three units and I am seeing more and more Easyrigs in use as demands are put ever more on cameramen.

The inventor Johan Hellsten deserves recognition for the constant development he puts into the idea, having most recently developed a variable unit which the end user can vary the tension on.