Billy Abbott

"In a perpetual battle with myself to consider what is ostentatious in lighting when shooting music videos, we struck the balance between a documentary-esque observational approach with stylistic moments to celebrate the story. "I knew I wanted there to be a visible presence of light, often not directly interacting with our characters, to play on the idea of not being seen. I worked with gaffer Alex Cullen to design lighting using entirely LED fixtures which helped us move faster, more efficiently, and with a leaner crew." DP Billy Abbott reveals how a custom mirror-ball rig, 400 FPS slow-motion and full-LED lighting shaped the Bailey Lanes music video "Little Bit Brighter" - a tender story of grief, dance and redemption. Read more on our website.

GOOD HEALTH GOOD WEALTH - THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE’LL BE MILLIONAIRES Moving mountains with great people. Shot on Alexa Mini with a Cooke Varotal 18-100 and Leica R Primes. @goodhealth.goodwealth - ‘This Time Next Year We’ll Be Millionaires’ Writer / Director - @theonlyalexdo Producer - @cerysimo Executive Producer: @oxaliciaxo Production Company: @irl.group.production Cinematographer - @justbillyabbott 1st AC - @alastair_searles 2nd ACs - @kateklvrnv , @abililyjones Camera Trainee - Athee Sukumar Key Grip - @josh_harrison89 Gaffer - @victorwongdp Spark - @viola_lighting_ Spark Trainee - @lkay_gogetta Production Assistants: @ruthmaku , @votvort Post by @bubble.tv_ Post House EP: Sam Phinikas Post House Producer: @theillogicallibra Editor - @donguh VFX - @mellem_tim Colour Grader - @nicholas_paul_dalby CAST: @brucebreakey @hollyhawgood SUPPORTING ARTISTS: @simondooooooooooooooooooooo @aaron_sulligram_ @nathansullivan1882 @rubysullivann @craiggsmithh92 @gutterboysuk @fabien_kelly @iana.eastmond @harry_patten1 @fergusdevlin @lkay_gogetta Athee Sukumar @ruthmaku @votvort Big Up to Eugene and the family at Cosy cafe Special Thanks to @wildislandfilms , @sunbeltrentalsukifilmtv , @hazefilmsltd , @thejgagroup

Little Bit Brighter is the latest feature on our Shot on Cooke showcase. Shot by Director of Photography Billy Abbott (@justbillyabbott ), the music video makes stunning use of Cooke Panchro/i Classic FF lenses, chosen for their unmistakable "character and grace". Discover the full behind-the-scenes story and watch the complete video via the link in our bio. #ShotonCooke #CookePanchro #CookeOptics #MusicVideo #Cinematography #BehindTheScenes

For Little Bit Brighter, we teamed up with @nanlux_global and @prolightdirect to test the Nanlux Evoke 5000B and 2400B lighting kits for some of the most dynamic and challenging scenes. DOP, Billy Abbott @justbillyabbott talks about the process of working with the lighting units and why the LED technology is perfect for these setups Talent: @nataschamair Director: @nikitus Gaffer: @alex____cullen BTS: @chris_skarratt BTS Edit: @byronic_isnt_it #nanlux #evoke5000b #ledlighting #filmlighting #filmmaking #filmlights #lightinginnovation #setlighting #cinematography #behindthescenes #bts #onset #lightpower #dop #gaffer #director #cinematographer

JIANBO - CRADLE 2 THE SKY @jianboforever ft. @mrskydaddy - Cradle 2 The Sky Directed by @theonlyalexdo Production Company: @torrianogroup Producer: @danielpcoen EP: @billy___king 1st AD: @b.plimley Director of Photography: @justbillyabbott 1st AC: @etaishomri 2nd AC: @joshw.mov Steadicam Operator: @ozzyspoon Gaffer: @stephenallwright Sparks: @elia__longo , @joesavagemyc Art Director: @_amyarchiving Costume Designer: @ebonytlynn Butler: @char_keen BTS Photographer: @humothy Editor: @bencowanedit Colour Grading: @francisqureshi Titles: @jojml Special thanks to: Shuttleworth House, @mcx_films , @thequarryedit , @wildislandfilms

ASHLEY SINGH - SOUL TIED Working with talented people to film some lovely visuals for beautiful sad music by a brilliant East-London independent artist. Adjective central. Superlative work by @nikitus and @onlychildcollective to make this shine. Shot on Alexa 35 with Cooke Speed Panchros and Soft FX filtration from @theunitbag and a very old variable FPS DV Camera. Artist: @ashleysingh___ Production Company: @onlychildcollective Director: @nikitus Director of Photography: @justbillyabbott Producer: @smmithsmmith Executive Producer: @daynuhhhhh Production Manager: @mayjayday Focus Puller: @alexrawsonfocuspuller | @theunitbag 2nd Assistant Camera: @zainabxmahmood Gaffer: @alex_lamph Spark: @lawaizazahid Set Dresser: @jimartdepartment BTS: @ebonyaboagye Talent: @e.l.o.i.s.e.a.n.g.e.l Editor: @jademarie_m Colourist: @finlayreid_colour | @goldcrest_films SPECIAL THANKS The Unit Bag: @theunitbag Fleur Capocci: @fleurcapocci Goldcrest Films: @goldcrest_films

RUE - I DO NOTHING Anamorphic fun back down in the South West with a beautiful set of Kowas from @sunbeltrentals A full crew from Devon/Cornwall on this and no one drove their tractor to set… disappointing. Artist - Rue @itsruetoyou Production House - @wearepaenji Director - @nikitus Producer - @jacob.saul.film DOP - @justbillyabbott Gaffer - @neal.megaw Grip - @cornishkraken Spark - @_aidanbrook Camera Assistant - @filmfiftysix 1AD - Sinead O’Toole Choreographer - @callhimherbie Colourist - @theodoreswaddling Production Assistant - Adrian Peacock Production Assistant - @_artbymack_ MUA - @emua01 HMUA - @layla_haireducator Dancers - @ellerosegalvin_ dani_tua @danhillmanmusic @jejgalvin @mayes5958 @its_bellaesposito @jemmacarlinwells @smithwightmanofficial @donald_craigie @_amywatkins_ @fernamber @snake_holmes4 @keep.it.reel.uk Special thanks to @brightsideroadside

HAUNT THE WOODS - SAID & DONE This was one of the most authentic shoots I’ve been on, running off to Norway for a few days with some lovely people and a set of old, un-tuned and occasionally radioactive-green (😬) Cooke Speed Panchros. The sun never gets particularly high in the sky during winter in Scandinavia and therefore we could operate with light similar to golden hour for most of the day, sculpting with textiles and removing rather than adding light. Admittedly, good fortune is the blessing of any natural-light-video and we were lucky to have the golden orb out for most of the shoot. Trust me, that doesn’t always happen in Norway in December… Director @nikitus Cinematographer @justbillyabbott Colourist @filmfinished @company_3 PA @rejasuund CAST @rebekka.loining @rebeccawigsnes @kevin_andersen00 @hauntthewoods @spinefarmrecords

CROWS - VISION OF ME Building our world around the thematic of never-ending-routine and the feeling of how easy it is to fall back into one’s habits, myself and Director @theonlyalexdo wanted to emulate a red filter on black-and-white film look. We were looking for slightly-alien skin tones to portray James in his everyday dystopia; and a harsh, contrasty image. I approached @finlayreid_colour at @goldcrest_films with the idea and he created a glorious LUT that we all fell for on set, then tweaked further in the suite. All shot digitally via @sunbeltrentals Brunel University’s legendary brutalist aesthetic brought the whole thing to life… It’s impossible to shoot the Lecture Centre without a bit of a Kubrick nod, though many of our initial chats were referencing ‘Playtime’, ‘ALPHAVILLE’ and ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour’. Big thanks to @onlychildcollective and @coffeetvstudio whose support made this a reality! @crows_band Vision of Me With @coxzilla Produced by @onlychildcollective CREW: Director - @theonlyalexdo Producer - @ello_smmith Executive Producer - @daynuhhhhh Cinematographer - @justbillyabbott 1st AD - @b.plimley 1st AC - @joshwoo.jw 2nd AC - @adam.hatchberry BTS Photographer - @maco.media Editor - @bencowanedit [@thequarryedit ] VFX - @theonlyalexdo + @technickelz [@coffeetvstudio ] Colourist - @finlayreid_colour [@goldcrest_films ] Titles - @jojml Special Thanks: @daneherman , @leethalreppin , @rayaliceleach , @jonnypowell_ , @sorrelh , @callum.wellby.vfx , @_hayden_martin_ , @joshaeiffel @sunbeltrentals , @londonscreenacademy Dr. Gurdeep Kohli & Kimberley Wilson

IZZY BIZU - DUMB A homage to the golden age of MTV music videos, I loved developing a dreamy look to complement the pink tones of our location with Director @theonlyalexdo for @izzybizu I stacked Pearlescent and Ultra Contrast filters with Zeiss Super Speed Mkiis on the Alexa Mini from @panavisionofficial to soften skin tones, bloom highlights and reduce contrast. CREW Director: @theonlyalexdo 1st AD @dpachalski 2nd AD @jacklovell Set PA @mohomouda Set PA @adam.hatchberry Cinematographer @justbillyabbott Cam OP : @sethfmw 1st AC : @luke_gurneyy 2nd AC : @lukaslibutka Gaffer : @mackenziestretch Key MUA @terri_capon Stylist @jessica_kai_ Production Designer @kukis.design Producer @_fyoooo Movement Director / Choreo @danielphuuung POST-PRODUCTION Artwork: @jojml Editor: @bencowanedit VFX: @_hayden_martin_ Colourist: @andikdc Sound Editor: @eod_sounddesign CAST Boyfriend: @sky___walkin Salon Friend: @roadmanprincess Party Friend 1: @danielphuuung Party Friend 2: @kenanki_n Party Friend 3: @aimebfit_ Party Friend 4: @dommcallister Party Friend 5: @keirarose___ Party Friend 6: @sybillovemore Party Friend 7: @aikokoshika Party Friend 8: @sandy_yate_ Party Friend 9: @mackenziestretch Party Friend 10: @_fyoooo Produced by Ample Media Label : @lmeworldwide Location: @simplyg_hair Kit provided by @panavisionofficial & @matteblacklondon

SOUTH FACING We made this little film with few expectations and it has been a joy to see it reach audiences and festivals across the UK. Massive thanks to the dedicated team and wondrous cast! Some intimate moments captured with Canon K35s and a 50mm Cooke Anamorphic. Starring Champion’s dejajbowens @julietgarricks @anthonyjabraham Faith Edwards and @victoriaserra41 Written and Directed by @renequesamuels Producer @cpacks Cinematographer @justbillyabbott Production Designer @annakeziawilliams Casting by @elisa.musson Editor @bencollierldn Colourist @finlayreid_colour Exec producer @olliedeacon Special thanks to @sunbeltrentals @matteblacklondon and @goldcrest_films Made possible by @bfinetwork @film_london @aaliahsimpson 1st AC @montgomeryjhs 2nd AC @cdnursebaker Camera Trainee Subhan Alasadi Gaffer Beau Wilkinson Spark Justis Bernard Lighting Trainee Jadean Antwi 1st AD Matt Coleclough Production Coordinator Maddie Bowers Production Assistant Nireliain Mukoko Production Assistant Jhovanie Jany Grange Nsa-Inyongo Sound Recordist Mario Gennari Sound Recordist Javier Carles Sound Designer Dan Yates Music Supervisor Skip Curtis