Starting as a foley technician in the 1970's, I have had the opportunity to experience this industry from the bottom up.  Of course, in today's very specialized world, this may seem somewhat wasteful in terms of time, but in terms of experience it is invaluable.  When I started running my own production company, I found that having a good working knowledge and understanding of other people's roles in the production process a great help in both planning and directing.  The only function I couldn't  undertake on a shoot would be make-up.  My experience has also given me a good technical background of the equipment and processes.  If I am working on a shoot, and a crew member doesn't turn up, I have no hesitation in taking over that persons function until such time as a replacement arrives.  If it is a runners job, or a sound person it makes no difference.  In the end the successful completion of production overrides any ego one may have about ones position in the crew.

My love for taking pictures led me to be sought out as a Director of photography as well as a Director.  I am fortunate that for me, the production process is an entirely logical event.  Having had my primary experiences in sound has also allowed me to treat sound in a very different way to many of my colleagues.  For me, sound is not a poor cousin of pictures.  They have to interact and enhance the experience of the viewer.  I probably learned more about taking pictures once I started editing my own material.  Editing allowed me to take a good long hard look at my camerawork, and see where I could improve my technique.  My own favourite project was the programme, "The Fight for Survival".  This programme was on Cheetah and Wild-Dog conservation.  I made great friends with Gillian (The cheetah at the top of the page).  Although she was a wild animal, reared in an open space environment, we connected in a way that developed trust.  When she gave birth to 4 cubs, we were nervous about trying to see what they were.  When I was standing near her den and she came and pushed herself between my legs, I knew that she regarded me as a trusted friend and I immediately moved over to her den.  Her three day old cubs were there and I took pictures.  One of them was a King Cheetah, which was exciting.  (The King Cheetah is a coat aberration due to a gene sequence).  This was one of the less than 200 King Cheetah in the world at that time.  Gillian came over and nuzzled me in the side, and I moved to let her go to her cubs.  Gillian died in 2002 of renal failure, I felt that I had lost a lifelong friend.