Outdoor filming challenges

The hidden pitfalls of the countryside!

Paul takes his crew to the top of a mountain with early video equipment

Early filming outdoors was a constant challenge. First and foremost was the kit. The camera was heavy and came with all sorts of backup. Film stock, camera darkroom bag (for changing film), and carry cases. All necessary because any carelessness could lead to a “hair in the gate.” The description was apt for that hair which got stuck in the aperture would leave (as can be seen in old footage) a tell-tale flickering line on all of that particular roll of film. Together, with sound and lighting, this was not an easy task to take into the countryside, either here in the UK or abroad.

My first disaster was when I was determined not to stop filming at the top of a Lake district mountain. I had bribed a local hill farmer to drive me and the crew in his tractor and trailer. Looking back, it probably was not the best plan but I was determined. The crew entered into the spirit and we enjoyed sandwiches and beer as we toiled up the mountain in the trailer. Unfortunately, the farmer had a tilting window from his cab hanging over the trailer and as I stood up it knocked me out. The crew filmed everything without me as I sat holding a pad over the wound.

Tracking shots were difficult. These required following a subject as they moved along. No drones or specialist camera mounts back then. On another shoot, an inaugural 15 mile run we were sent to cover definitely needed tracking shots. As usual cash changed hands and I found a local man with a pick-up truck who would do the necessary. It would have been fine if the sound man “Cliffie” had not decided to lean out of the back to put his microphone low for, as he put it, “foot sounds.” As he leaned out, he just rolled out of the truck and into the runners, no injuries except to pride.

My next disaster was not my fault but more serious. We were sent to cover powerboat races on Windermere in the Lake District. Now, these craft were fast and we were offered the chance to ride in one before the race. Harmless I thought, what can go wrong? What went wrong was the driver was as mad as a hatter. What we thought would be good footage became a ride from hell. Let me tell you that water, when travelling at speed, is like concrete. As we careered down the lake another boat’s wake crossed our path, and our boat was lifted and slammed down back on the water, hard. We were lifted several feet with it, and we all crashed down in one tumbled mess. The sound recordist broke the base of his spine and was off work for weeks.

And if we were at risk, it was nothing compared to the kit we used. Particularly vehicles. Forest tracks, mountain roads and muddy conditions all contributed to vehicle failures. On one occasion, as I prepared for a six-week shoot, I was determined not to return to an almighty rollocking for the condition of the vehicles. I had found, at some cost, two 4x4 SUV’s that would stand the harshest conditions. Unfortunately, those vehicles were expensive and I was told that under no circumstances could I hire them. “Get one from the company stock, it’s cheaper” I was told.

What I didn’t realise was that the car I had been allocated by the company had just been ‘earmarked’ for a senior manager to purchase for his wife. This was totally in order when the company had finished with them, but I was warned that it should be returned in “showroom condition”.

Six weeks later, after some of the worst weather for a decade and definitely the worst forest tracks I had seen ever driven over, we returned.

There I was again. I had done the impossible and bent the underside of the car. I wasn’t totally sure what this meant but the senior manager’s wife didn’t get her new car and next time I got my SUV’S.*

This marks the end of the Hopeful Traveller. When I began my broadcasting career, I could never have dreamt that I could write a story and it was instantly available to 62 countries, wow! I have always felt that its best to live in the present and only look into the past if something can be learnt. I still believe that. Thank you for reading my adventures and good luck to you all in the future.