Chris Purcell an Award-winning Filmmaker & Director, expert in creating artistic factual content for major broadcast, blue chip corporate & public sector clients.

 

Key strengths comprise of: interviewing, directing, shooting & editing content across genres & subject matters to drive inspired storytelling. Global shoot experience. Deep understanding of current technologies (Virtual Production and AI tools). Nurturing creative relationships

with key collaborators including big name contributors & corporate clients.

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Key clients have included:

• Broadcast: ABC; BBC; C4; Discovery Channel; National Geographic; Sky; Plex, Tubi

• Corporate: Airbus; Abbey Road Studios, NASA, Nikon, Rolex, Star Alliance, UNESCO

• Artesian Businesses: Eagle E-Types, Living Voice, Battersea Power Station, Spiritland

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Key Skills:

• Freelance Director

• Freelance DoP

• Editing (Premier, DaVinci Resolve)

• Interviewing / Research

• Lighting

• Green Screen

• AI Filmmaking

• VFX / Animation Supervision

• Nurturing Corporate Clients

• Public Speaking (Toastmaster)

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       Career Highlights:

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• Discovery Channel needed a brand reinforcing mini doc series. As a Producer/Director developed a ‘celebrity epiphany’ concept; created test piece/achieved concept buy in; managed modest budget/led celeb networking strategy; planned shoot to time/budget; researched/ interviewed subjects; established visual style; and directed docs/guided editing. Succeeded in delivering 23 episodes winning 3 gold & 1 silver Promax Awards.

 

• National Geographic Channel needed to produce sponsored content featuring their photographers exploring South Africa. As Director/DP, delivered a mini doc campaign. Researched region/planned shoot; built rapport with each photographer; nurtured relations with client/crew; aligned to client’s messaging requirements; shot in challenging locations. Succeeded in delivering 10 ep series ‘Through the Lens’ to promote South Africa Tourism.

 

• As Director/DP/Editor, originated & produced a short documentary to mark Concorde’s 50th anniversary. With the goal of getting Concorde to “fly” again without resorting the archival footage, assembled production team; created reconstructed flying sequences; secured Concorde-connected interviewees and locations; built relations with Airbus/filmed key Concorde footage; directed/ shot/edited reconstruction scenes & over saw whole VFX pipeline. This film is now displayed at Aviation Museums in the UK and US.

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Relevant Earlier Career 1993 to 2007:

• 1998 to 2007: Discovery Networks Europe: Director / Promo Producer / Channel Head

• 1997 to 1998: Channel Four: Documentary Director

• 1993 to 1996: Dandelion Distribution: Documentary Director / Camera / Editor

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Career History / Experience 2007 to present

Freelance Director, Camera & Editor with numerous broadcast credits for documentaries, promos, commercials, short docs and branding films.

• 12 years experience in shooting and lighting for broadcast / sponsored content.

• 17 years experience using Avid, Final Cut, Premier CC and DaVinci Resolve.

• Creating art-directed reconstruction scenes with actors, pyrotechnics & special effects.

• Experience directing CG and overseeing all stages of VFX pipeline.

• Extensive interviewing experience & coaxing great performances from nervous contributors.

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Selected Production Credits:

Corporate, Commercial & Branded Content credits include:

• Documentary: Rega Research Ltd - 33 and a Third -10mins: Director/DoP/Editor

• Documentary: Royal British Legion - Passchendaele Poppy Pin: 12mins: DoP/ Editor

• Documentary Series : New London Architecture - 8x:5mins: DoP/ Editor

• Documentary: Red Case Productions - The Art in Whisky: 6 mins: Director/DoP/Editor

• Documentary Series: London Air Ambulance - 4x3mins: Director/DoP/Editor

• Branded Content: South Africa Tourism - Through the Lens: 8x60secs: Director/DoP

• Branded Content: Star Alliance - Under Southern African Skies: 2x60secs: Director

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Broadcast Documentary credits include:

• Documentary: Discovery Channel - Blood, Mud and Tarmac: 23 mins: Director

• Documentary: Discovery Channel - Vulcans, Victors & Cuba: 56 mins: Director / DoP

• Documentary: Channel Four - Reflected Glory: 10 mins: Director

• Documentary: Channel Four - Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?: 5 mins: Director/ Editor

• Documentary Series: Discovery Channel - Discovery People: 23 x 90 secs: Director

Director of Photography Credits include:

• Documentary: BBC2 - Neil Armstrong, 1st Man on the Moon: 56 mins: DoP

• Documentary: National Geographic Channel - Hubble’s Cosmic Journey: 56 mins: DoP

• Documentary series: Sky Arts - The Art of Drumming: 5x60 mins: DoP

• Documentary series: BBC4 - The Shipman Files: 4x60 mins: DoP

• Documentary: BBC1 - In Ten Pictures, John Lennon: 1x60: DoP

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Selected Awards

• The Beatles and Us - Venice Shorts Film Fest 2021: Best Documentary

• The Art of Drumming - Royal Television Society Award 2019: Best Doc Series

• Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? - New York Independent Film Fest 2012: Best Short Doc

• Under Southern African Skies - M&M Global Award 2006

• Discovery People - Roger McGough: Promax US Gold 2000

• Discovery People - Sir David Frost Promax Europe Gold 1999

• Dambusters - True Story: Best Documentary: Video Home Entertainment Awards 1996

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Education:

• 1990-93 BA Hons, Applied Photography, Film & TV (2:1): University of Westminster

• 1989-90 Foundation: Northwich School of Art

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