Simon Atkins - About me

Simon Atkins About me

My Skills, Qualifications and Background

About me

Documentary Director/Producer and Lighting Cameraman

Trained at the National Film and Television School, I have been working freelance for the last 12 years for UK and international broadcasters.

I specialise in strong characters, the drama of real-life stories and emotional impact.

In the last few years, I have worked on adventure programmes in the Amazon and Himalayas - environmental issues and human rights in Indonesia, Iraq & South America – and current affairs in Africa.

Nepal Himalayas

Motivation and Approach

Reality can be so much more fascinating and surprising than fiction. I am passionate about people and the experiences and issues that shape their lives.

I am particularly interested in finding new ways to bring together the appeal of a good character story with the substance of more issues-led programmes.

Style

As a director/producer my style is characterised by intimacy and warmth - getting at the real story behind the characters and action. It is contemporary and engaging. I usually shoot camera myself, bringing a strong visual sense to my work, and am experienced in a wide range of formats from High Definition to DV.

Huaorani Indians, Amazon, Ecuador

Industry Qualifications

Hostile Regions & First Aid Training Courses - CH4/AKE (2 courses)

NATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOL (1994)

NFTS Associate & Diploma - postgraduate professional training over four years — Documentary Director/Producer — Camera & Lighting training

MEMBERSHIPS

GTC - BECTU

Filming hyacinth macaw chick
poachers in Brazil

In the upper Amazon, Peru

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Filming in the mid Atlantic

Education

SELWYN COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY

MA degree - Natural Sciences
Class 2:1 Hons.

4 x A-Levels at "A" Grade

Personal details

Fit and immunised for world travel - UK & Australian passports
(Work Permits in UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand)
UK Driving Licence (4WD experience)

REFERENCES - Please ask me for contact details

Climbing Chimborazo, Ecuador, 6,300m

LINKS

National Film and Television School
AKE Surviving Hostile Regions Training
BECTU
GTC

Other professional experience & skills

COMPUTER & IT SKILLS

Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Power point, Explorer etc.
Website Design (Dreamweaver)
Image & Photo manipulation (Photoshop)
Video Editing systems & software - Avid Xpress, FCP

Simon Climbing in Cairngorms
Climbing in the Scottish Highlands

Cordillera Blanca, Peru

DEVELOPMENT & NGO LINKS

At the start of my career in I worked with the VSO aid programme, teaching science and maths in a rural Zimbabwean school. Since then as a programme-maker, I have always followed international affairs, environment and development issues closely, and sought to establish strong relationships with the NGO community.

For my film 'Parks or People', I received an award and fellowship in Rural Communications from the Arkleton Trust - and for my film 'Simukai' I was awarded a major grant from the European Union to communicate third world development issues to us in the North.

Co-author, Guide to Namibia & Botswana, (Bradt Publications, 1994)

MOUNTAINEERING: Rock and Ice Climber and Alpine Mountaineer - 20 years experience over six continents

Waterfall Ice, USA

South Wales, UK

French Alps

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