Robert McGowan

Post Christmas eleven

2011-01-18T00:58:00.001-08:00

Post Christmas has been a bit slow to begin with, but things are getting back to normal -work is now starting to come through and have got a few offers on the table -
including a new short film with first time director Siara on a dark and twisted fable with 2 or 3 locations including some shooting in the cell set on-site at the Mill over in east London. I also attended the 3D production seminars at Ravensbourne college over at the O2 arena in Greenwich, which was a great insight for seeing how others got their films together and seeing some really nice high end equipment

. We also saw a few good examples of what can be achieved. I really want to do another 3D film shoot but it's just getting it together and finding the right script that will work.
I've also been doing some transcoding of some Red One material for a new feature film ( Scofia ) again for a first time feature director Chris Butler. It's been a bit if a learning curve, but easy once the software was installed onto the mac pro's

however for the 12 days of production I've had 2 machines transcoding for 72 hours ! Have also managed

to get another low budget music promo shot with Divesh from Creeping East,

we shot it in a mate of his' club in Ilford, just the usual- loads of girls and guys lording it up and trying to be creative ooohh it can tuff at times.

The next one at the end of the month is going to be interesting we're shooting under UV so it's back to Baga get the floro paint outagain rave and on you cheesy quavers. Well it's probably not but we can all dream - where were you in '92?

Oh and not forgetting a big shout out to the "Duck" congratulations on passing the psychology course darling xxx

Location:London + Germany

This ones for lester

2010-11-05T03:13:00.001-07:00

Just a quick up date - and also congratulations to Lester she's got her first on the way fingers crossed for you darling- well for me it's been a busy week or two from green-screen shoots with Christopher Biggins,

Tommy Walsh

and John Barrowman for The Living Room

to grimey music videos in south London

for Creeping East to a corporate telecoms shoot with Gabby Logan for Webvideos

Been to the RSA

to shoot a lecture from Chris Bones for The Working Manager

+ trying to get out my new showreel that's taking forever to get finished the sooner that's done the sooner the new web site can go live! This shoot was for Businesscashadvance a rather interesting method to finance your new ventures. I was working for Wisefox productions.

Location:London uk

Week 41

2010-10-15T01:31:00.001-07:00

Well last week ended with a very interesting gig at the menopausal Vaginal atrophy awareness

lecture in London, riveting subject never dried up once! See the video here: MENOPAUSAL Then at last I met a DIY guru

Tommy Walsh in front of a green screen at Camberwell studios he was doing a promo for a new web site, then off to film a lecture at the RSA in

the evening. You gotta love HR and political awareness, can't wait for the edit on that one!

Location: London

What time is it

2010-09-20T08:37:00.001-07:00

Last week was another mad one - I was editing the short film

we made with the mad Greek, then off to Readers Digest for my monthly interview with Gill Hudson the editor. Then we started pre-production on the

new londonfashioncatwalk.com">Londonfashioncatwalk.com for Blackberry on high

street Ken darling- come down and take the catwalk on there till next Friday
On Sunday we shot a new music video for mr K16 in Bow, easy London-

we used the Canon5D fantastic results on a budget if I do say so myself

Location:London town

It's a dogs life, walkies!

2010-09-09T00:30:00.001-07:00

Well if god had a studio this may be it, stunning locations and a beautiful cast.

Stavros came over from Cyprus to direct this short fantasy film, we still have a couple of shooting

days left on the underground and in Covent garden but alls well so far. We're shooting with both the 5D and the EX 1

Up the Villa - not the one your thinking OF.....

2010-09-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

Well last week was very eventful after doing a few rounds of golf with Colin Montgomerie, we decided to have a game of footy with David Villa, he's the one that lost out to the German bloke at the world cup and came away with the silver boot strange I wondered why he never smiled. We got flown out to Barcelona, for the hottest day of the year! We shot the previous viral for Gameloft using Nicolas Anelka but after all the furor at the world cup they dropped him and used David instead.

Not he seemed that bothered, blimey he's getting paid a fortune to do this and seemed really unhelpful on the day, not to worry we got the film shot then went for a dip in the sea, well the the stuntman - Dean did anyway. SEE THE FILM HERE

Colins the Man

2010-08-25T03:12:00.000-07:00

just got back from a weekend in Turnberry on the east coast of Scotland doing a promotional film with the golfing legend Colin Montgomerie - nice chat happy to pass on top tips to us mortals, - if you ever want to get away, it's an amazing place to do 18 holes, particularly recommend the 19th, especially if it's all paid for, I love these corporate gig's, 5* luxury and you get paid! the weather was great too! see the film here: WATCH

Deskspace Available in the Kennington, Elephant + Castle Area SE17

2010-08-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

Hello if you are looking to share an office with me please drop me a line here are some details:

http://www.gumtree.com/london/52/62337452.html

please check it out thers a photo and everythings included in the space, really nice people to share with and a great location in central London.

Hepatitis C for Journalists not for Editors

2010-04-09T01:16:00.000-07:00

We had an educational experience last week at the Royal College of Physicians, where the agenda was Hepatitis C, scary stuff, didn't realize how prevalent it was and it doesn't have the press that, say AIDS has - we filmed several commetators on the subject with 2 Sony Z1s - these cameras have a composite output that was live mixed on to Betacam by Steve from ShootBlue, for a later webcast hosted by Visual Media who we are working for, thanks Dan.
We then had a couple of interviews to film with leading Hep C doctors.

Creative by design

2010-04-09T01:07:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday went and shot a promotional film at the Aegis Media Global Client Summit 2010 just off Tottenham court road in central London, after the CEO had given his speech on the forth coming global meltdown and general sate of the global media industry everyone drank some wine and ate some nice canapes! Alex and Alice from Creative Nation were on hand to make sure everything was nice... I just wish they would stop arguing about the best method or archieving their projects here's my idea I'm runing with it, what do you think?, Do you know the best palce to get Blu-Ray 50GB DL disks from?

We're going to Barbados!!!!!!!

2010-03-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

well maybe not this time, but it felt like it, we were filming the finals of the Bahamas film challenge last week for Visual Media, we had to cover the event for a promotional video of the night. Check it out here, I wish I had seen this competition, wow! what a prize and just getting over there and filming would have been good enough for me, but a camera and 14K as well, good luck to the winner Robin Schmidt good stuff mate.

Fashion, turn to the left.........fashion, turn to the right..........

2010-03-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

Have a few very busy day's recently and hard to keep up with the blog - but slowly getting back to normal- having shot the pilot fashion series last week for a potential new client of Tapestry (lOndon). The model - was great really easy to work with and had a good attitude, as we're al the crew, thanks to Mal at Shoreditch Studios, worked really well even tho' the paint was wet , but the bacon butties where top pig!

Not so Shychlo more milo

2010-03-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Using the EX1 to film and music video in Camberwell studios for a new band of pranksters called ShyChlo- their new single will be big it's called Mental Confusion and the shoot had that element about it, having quite a big cast and crew we did good for the 10hr day and got alot done, Del will be putting it together, brup and biguns trip hopsters!!!@£££ ping ping peng?

Insulating Sheep..... get in that loft

2010-03-18T01:04:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a fraught couple of days, we came back from the back of beyond on friday - filming a new promo video for Rockwool in a very secluded part of Wales in Pembrokeshire. I have to say beautiful scenery and (there's) lovely people,but trying to get a mobile signal reception, forget it! not even in the town we where staying! (Haverfordwest). The Rockwool intaltion engineers were a great fun, Alan kept us laughing and we got some great footage, need your loft insulating? get in touch ca be done in less than an hour! All shot with the EX1 and thanks to Jake for beingthe last minute sound man.

A group a day keeps the doctor away!

2010-03-14T03:25:00.000-07:00

Having had a very busy week last week it's reassuring to know that all my funds are well looked after by Group 4 Securities, I went with Mal from Malachy Molloy Associates to ask Trevor Dighton, Chief Financial Officer a few probing questions - well Helen did actually, we went down to their Head office in Crawley and remember the Sony Z1, yes we shot on DVCam using a couple of radio mics, shock horror! 3 point lighting with blue gels making daylight without down lighting and air conditioning switched on in offices is the bane of my life at the moment, sound wise I just turn down the sensitivity of the Sony diversities to -15 dB. What's your solution?

Crowning around....

2010-03-14T03:11:00.000-07:00

shot the Crown Estate's latest announcement for wind farm generation off the Orkney Islands last week, headed over to New Burlington street with Scott from Visual Media to interview Roger Bright, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate. A quick set up with the EX1 and a few lights, the only trouble we had was putting up the display board in the back ground, should be available on the web site pretty soon.

East to Vest

2010-03-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

Made some films for WebVideos in the studio at Camberwell, this time using presenter Cat Cubie (National Lottery BBC1) as the face for some promotional work against the green-screen for WebVideos - also supplied with an autocue - we also went out to East Dulwich and got some Vox Pops from the GP about their views on web video and which content they would be interested in seeing, all shot with the EX1 and a couple of mics (radio and shotgun). Director Andy Roberts-

Boxing Clever

2010-03-06T08:53:00.000-08:00

well we just covered another white collar boing event for City Warriors at the Troxy, east London on Thursday night, everything went according to plan and there were a few fights, but no one was thrown out, for brawling! We even had a pair of ladies in the ring, which proved a great success, if you wish to take part please see the info here, talk to get Gary + punch UP! WebVideos covered the event for the filming and we had a 2 camera shoot + I'm going to put the DVD together.

Hana B - roc un roll

2010-03-04T00:57:00.000-08:00

WELL MARK HENDERSON AND TOM FINALLY FINISHED THE HANA B VIDEO WE SHOT AT CAMBERWELL STUDIOS IN EARLY FEBRUARY - very happy with the results congratulations to all the guys and best of luck for the release of the new album! for more information about the shoot see FEB 6th Blog entry.

I Miss You

HANA B | MySpace Music Videos

Viva Aviva

2010-03-03T23:55:00.000-08:00

just fininshed filming a couple of days work at Aviva previously Norwich Union - "we won't make a drama out of a crisis" insurance etc.
Shooting from a great vantage point in the city off Leaden Hall street we had various top executives and the CEO - Lord Sharman all giving their take on Aviva's performance and future. It was a 2 camera shoot with at least 4 crew, various 3point lighting and autocue, with sound from radio mics. Look on the web site soon for the films.

Virgin stories

2010-02-22T11:12:00.000-08:00

Well been filming over in Basingstoke today at the Virgin Media headquarters-
We were there to capture the CEO's end of year business announcement and there future business plan. Interview by Margret Feord (ITV 's London Tonight reporter). We edited it on-site, using Final Cut on a Mac Pro laptop shooting at 1080/25p in an SD time-line. Working for Visual Media

Anyone got the time?

2010-02-21T01:06:00.000-08:00

I was working this week on partt 2 of a commercial for Guerilla Vision - Martyn Kaye watches are based in Victoria, London they buy and sell old Rolexes, Breitlings and expensive watches and jewelery.
We had already filmed one commercial back in November last year and Martyn wanted an updated version with a new testimonial and more cutaway shots of watches, we filmed on the EX1 using Nikons in both the Victoria store and then went back to Guerilla Visions plush new offices back in Market place WC1. Directors where Matt Loudon and Jim - I supplied most of the production equipment icluding lights and monitors - watch out on the cable channels-

Enter the Green Room please!

2010-02-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

My friend and sometimes colleague Mall Malloy needed to shot some talking heads for a corporate film, this, as always was needed to be done on a budget, one that he couldn't afford a studio hire for.....enter me with a solution, so I managed to blag a green-screen cloth from my mates at Camberwell studios. We had 2 or 3 set ups from sitting position to standing and walking into frame. A pretty easy lighting set up with one flood on the screen and 3 of my Redheads bounced. Shot with the basic EX1 with SxS cards, please drop me a line if you need a cheap green-screen solution in your location.

The Show must go on.......

2010-02-20T12:24:00.000-08:00

Ended up helping out at the Production Show at Earls Court this week, I know both Andy and Del who run Camberwell Studios, they needed someone to chat with the 'punters' who may be more interested in what Camberwell has to offer. Really enjoyed the show this year, loads of stuff going on, I'm particularly interested in new 3D production techniques, and ended up going to a seminar covering the subject. There was great opportunity to get your hands on some fantastic equipment, must remember to do that next year!

We have the right to partayeeeeee

2010-02-14T04:06:00.001-08:00

Filmed a new and up coming band SHYCLO at Maidstone, Hazlett Arts centre on Friday night, it was a 3 camera shoot using the EX1 a Z1 and Sony A1 one of the guys had been filming all day for the next part in a doco about the band, there will be a promotional video made from the footage for their forthcoming new single 'Mental Confusion', oh not forgetting XO Man who did an excellent set

Return of Dracula - bloody Hell!

2010-02-09T14:06:00.000-08:00

Working from studio 2 we shot the final footage for Sir Christopher Lee's new video, the album is being released on March 15th, watch out in press for promotions. Meeting Mr Lee was a fascinating and enjoyable experience, he's such a nice old fella, yes not as able as he was, but he is 87, a true great and honour.....the best of luck with the new CD Saruman.

a New dawn for comms ....that is the question

2010-02-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Working from Camberwell studios we have been making a new pilot for a B.T commercial, this is all being filmed in a constructed set, Andy the director decided to film here instead of hiring a location, just to see how the production would go. This is a two day shoot for the new telecoms network device - this is all being filmed on the Sony EX1, I have provided lighting, monitors and sound equipment. working for WebVideos

The return of Saruman

2010-02-06T01:59:00.001-08:00

Have also just done a days filming with a group of heavy metal freaks with a sprinkling of classical musicians, sounds strange and it will be, this is for the next CD release for no other than Dracula himself - Sir Christopher Lee, we have shot all the cutaways so far against green-screen in Camberwell studios, Juan the director has something special planned for the backdrop and we managed to create as many poses for the hair metalists as possible during the day, so the edit can cut well - A Charlemagne productions film.

HANA B

2010-02-06T01:34:00.000-08:00

Just finished making a new video for HANA B a band from Italy, great bunch of lads looking to go all the way really like the new single, I'm sure if well plugged on decent stations they will get all the publicity they can afford! Mark Henderson directed and Tom was the artistic director we had a great crew - thanks Jo and look forward to seeing the finished edit, available sometime toward the end of Feb - we hope.

17th June - FAZE - Part !!

2009-07-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

Faze is starring in his second video in 2 days - we shot the second one in The Highgate NW5, in the basement, a very good deal, 250 behind the bar get as much food and drink up to the tab and make a video for free! Well it didn't really work like that but they do have an interesting venue especially when you fill it with some gorgeous models..... Again shot on the EX1 with letus adaptor and Nikon lenses, very good cast and crew in an interesting location coming to an MTV site soon, appearently ? See Creeping East productions.

16th June Another promo for Divesh

2009-07-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

Back to the studio in Leytonstone NE London, to film another promo for Divesh (Creeping East) it's for his mate Faze, he has the idea of using the models for filming in various dance routines, I have help in the form of two Michael, they wanted the experience on set and this is a great way to network and get involved with low budget video production. Divesh is good to work for he's always running late but works well with the client and gets the job done, as usual running overtime, but it's for a good coarse! we hope...... shooting on the EX1, no lense adapters this time, shooting in 720p and variable frame rate for slow-mo acquisition, pin sharp resolution and good work flow for the amount of material we shoot helps to move quickly throughout the day.

Good Food Show NEC 2009

2009-07-09T00:47:00.000-07:00

was asked by 'the living room' to get some arty stylistic and creative shots of certain sections and parts of the show for a BBC promotional film, went up to the NEC on Saturday morning and managed to lug most of my kit around with me all day including a great piece of kit just purchased called the Glidetrack it's capable of shooting small dolly manoeuvres with a quick and easy set up - am I doing a good job selling it to you? Well because I didn't have the time to set up because I was to busy trying to capture the Hairy bikers and Gino D'acampo doing their stuff the food was pretty good as well.....

Glasonbury Mutoid Waste

2009-07-07T01:14:00.000-07:00

I've been filming for a while now off 'n' on for a new doco of the Mutoid Waste Company who are a group of freedom fighting artists based around or close to London, they make art from scrap metal including cars and rusty bits of old rubbish that most of us would regard as trash - these guy's are genius have a look at an old program starring Hugh Laurie about their beginings, fascinating stuff. I met Kary and Andy through a posting on Shooting People who were looking for a D.O.P for the documentary to be made about the company at this years Glastonbury fesitval......

testimonials help (apparently)

2009-07-05T04:36:00.000-07:00

we had to follow up the commercial shoot for 'Gold to Pounds' with the testimonials of people who had used the service - a couple of people turned up at Chelsea football ground hotel to tell us well they had got on with the exchange, Matt Loudan is the brains behind this project and all post is now complete, look out for the ad on 'Dave' and ITV3 - this is where the demographic lies take a look here: 'Gold to Pounds' got any teeth get a new camera!

Up the Hammers

2009-07-03T02:51:00.000-07:00

finishing off an edit for West Ham United football club for their community support programme and have been editing some rather dodgy footage shot by my mate Joaquim on behalf of TrapMedia, we have the basis of the off-line and have now forwarded that to the clients for their opinion, so we'll probably be playing video tennis for a while until we score, never the less this has given me the opportunity to buy some great new plug ins for FCP these can be seen at the Noise industires web site, highly recommended!

Web Videos

2009-06-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

I have been working with Web Videos for years now and do all their green screen work for them, now I have the Sony Ex1 it makes the work flow much easier, we transfer the files on the cards to their PC and they can edit in Premiere and After Effects and get fast turnarounds, check em out, Mark the compositor and creative behind all their work is really good and I highly recommend him if you need ~Flash work and Web design......

Another Short Story PART III- 31th June

2009-06-12T03:06:00.000-07:00

Well it's all over and I'm exhausted we finished with a small wrap party in a pub in Paddington last night, we've spent the last two days filming in a park and small terrace mews house around W1, the location was transformed into a 1970's bedroom, it really brought back some memories seeing some of the games and toy's the great set designer -Miri- had supplied, she also help design and construct the grip we had to make up for one particular shot, thanks for that Miri and Natalie (make-up) and the rest of the cast and crew a truly memorable experience made all so interesting by you Yolanda!

Another Short Story PART II - 29th June

2009-06-12T02:52:00.000-07:00

Everything went oK yesterday, a few teething problems as is usual on the first day of every shoot, permission for the catering department was denied and we may have to loose some shots, hopefully won't impact to much on the overall story line, but would have been very useful none the less......still happy with everything so far and looking at the rushes of both days filming we have some great material

Another short story - 28th June

2009-06-12T02:35:00.000-07:00

Well started today on a new short film, directed by Jesus Mateos it's the story of Philip (all my shorts seem to have Philips in them, weird!) a rather shy man who lives for one thing, not telling yet, but we follow his story as his life takes some twists and turns.
Again shooting on the Sony EX1 with some Nikon lenses we have 3 locations over the next 4 solid days of filming (this is a retrospective log - didn't have time during production to make notes), Day 1 and 2 location is in a college in Victoria, I'm supplying 99% of the production gear, everything from Camera and lenses to production monitor track and dolly, lights and sound equipment......

Great bunch of people all really able and willing, looks to be a great experience.

who let the Gorilla out -

2009-06-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

Shot with the great help of the team, including Matt Loudan, Jim and Christian (CGI animator extraordinaire) a new commercial for 'Gold to Pounds' this was shot in a rented house location nr Kingston, Guerillavision needed to get the morning look, for a lady who needs a few extra pounds in her pocket and does that by sending in her old jewelry hence, Gold to Pounds.

We shot this on the EX1 and used 35mm lens adaptor and Nikon lenses, once the off line edit has been completed and agreed with the client the CGI is then added, we've shot various options and intend an anmated ring (Ringo) to pop out of one of the drawers, dance across the table and into the laptop, well it's now in post and looking for a complettion date of the 19th so will be broadcast after that, what out Ringo's about!

Up the Hammers

2009-06-11T02:06:00.000-07:00

just started working on a West Ham United promotional doco for the club, filmed by my great mate Joaquim Barreto over 2 or 3 days we are going to do the work for TrapMedia on behalf of West Ham, have downloaded various plug ins for from Noise Industries to cope with the task!

Another Promo for Badness

2009-06-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

Well started out quite early on a Sunday for the production of MR Badness' new promo video, shot in E17 at the studios the theme of the video was - the root of all evil- we had face painters and body painters naked girls and gansters 007's and clowns with hats and beautiful models, Divesh was the director, got some great ideas worked well together and various people asked us to shoot more stuff on the day

last saturday

2009-06-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

Filmed a Sikh pre-wedding ceremony for Hussain of Shaadi Videography in north London used thew trusty old Z1, arrived late (because of a hold-up on the A40) and was chastised a few days later when the prospective bride complain, although she didn't say a word to me at the time, some people can stab you in the back, just when you're least expecting it - still it was a short day -

Friday 22nd

2009-05-24T02:02:00.000-07:00

Had meetings all day - started in or near Surbiton - where 'the Good Life' is - met Matt and Max in a private house he's hired for doing a commercial next week for 'Pounds to Gold' - you can work out what that's all about - it's another production for Guerilla Vision in Fulham. Then went and met Stephen in Chiswick to pick up a final edit of a music video we shot earlier this month - I'm doing the grade on it.

then back to my office in Kennington hwer had arranged to meet Devish to director of a promo I'm D.O.peeing on Monday, he's full of ideas about how what and where were going with it, sounds like it's going to be hectic and a Manic Monday! then did the social thing with Joaquim in the evening at the Tristan Bates theatre wher a director (Matt Roberts) mate was having his play - really good production, cast are fantastic really well written and of course directed!

First Blog!

2009-05-21T11:02:00.000-07:00

well here goes finally got round to starting a blog - don't really know if this is for me and how well I will keep up dating it, but I have a lot going on - usually- and as much as anything would like to keep a diary of the work I do and people I meet.

If you've got here (however) drop me a line about anything you like although my favourite subjects are film and video (urgh! what a nerd!)