This week @the_stagedoor_studios , we ran a workshop introducing students to an old-school movie VFX technique of simulating a moving car scene using a green screen backdrop đĽđ
We drove an actual car into the studio and used it as the foundation for the shoot, giving students the chance to explore how practical elements can make visual effects feel far more convincing.
The focus of the session was on the idea that great VFX is not just about what happens in post-production. It is about capturing as much as possible in-camera to help sell the illusion that the actors are genuinely inside the environment.
By starting with a real car, real performers, and carefully controlled lighting, students could see how practical choices on set make the final composite feel more believable.
Students paid particular attention to the ambient lighting that would naturally affect the driver and passengers during a journey. They considered how streetlights might pass rhythmically across faces, how brake lights from nearby vehicles could create sudden red glows, and how sunlight would shift depending on the carâs direction and surroundings.
The workshop challenged them to think not only about the look of each light source, but also how those lights would move in relation to the car and the background footage.
It was a great exercise in blending traditional film making techniques with visual effects thinking, showing students that the most effective VFX often begins long before the keying and compositing stage.
#filmmaking #greenscreen #vfx #stagedoorshrewsbury #filmmakers #filmschool #TheatreSchool #shropshire #chromakey #sfx #videography #videographer #behindthescenes #bts #camerarig #doplife #studio #filmstudio
Itâs been a long time coming, but Iâm so excited to finally be up and running in our very own studio space at @the_stagedoor_studios
This weekend was my first time teaching from our own studio space. Seeing it come to life with students in the room made all the hard work worth it.
Having a dedicated space opens up so many possibilities for both us and our students and although thereâs still plenty more work to do, I canât wait to share more photos and updates over the coming weeks as everything continues to take shape! Coming soon!
#videography #videographer #filmmakers #filmshool #theatre #filmmaking #MusicalTheatre #performancespace #directorofphotography #behindthescenes
Itâs hard to believe that itâs been 10 years of creating films and photography for Chester Zoo. A whole decade of stories, moments, and memories and I honestly feel so humbled to have been a small part of something so special.
What makes it truly extraordinary isnât just the place itself, but the people. The staff and volunteers continue to inspire me every time I visit and their passion, dedication, and tireless work for conservation across the UK and around the world is nothing short of incredible. From global conservation efforts to meaningful community outreach and education with schools, what they do genuinely makes a difference.
But for me, it goes even deeper than that. Chester Zoo isnât just somewhere Iâve worked, itâs somewhere thatâs woven into my life. Itâs where we got married, and itâs a place our three little girls absolutely adore. Watching them experience the same magic, curiosity, and wonder that Iâve been lucky enough to capture for so many years makes it all the more meaningful.
Iâm endlessly grateful for the journey so far, and proud to still be part of telling the stories of such an important place.
#chesterzoo #videography #videographer #filmmaking #lumix #directorofphotography #doplife #dop #cameragear #cameraman #behindthescenes #bts #zoo #animals #documetary #filmaker #photographer #anÄąmalphotography #conservation
Full version of our @bbcupload skit for World Book Day! Did this hit too close to home for anyone else? đ
#bbc #bbcShropshire #bbcupload #videography #videographer #filmmakers #lumix #lumixmasters #shotonlumix #shropshire #shrewsbury #filmaker #Comedy #comedyreels #comedysketch #comedyskits #funny #directorofphotography #doplife #dop #sketchcomedy #worldbookday2026 #worldbookday
