GBCT: The Guild of British Camera Technicians

16/04/2026

15/04/2026

SPOTLIGHT ON GBCT MEMBERS

Stepping Up: Amy H C Wilson's journey from 2nd AC to Director of Photography
Making the leap to Director of Photography rarely has a single moment of confidence or certainty. For Amy, it was a long, thoughtful journey shaped by years of assisting, self-doubt, preparation, and ultimately, commitment.

Amy admits she wanted to make the move around five years before she actually did. Yet despite this momentum, the decision to formally step up took time. Amy admits she wanted to make the move around five years before she actually did. “It’s terrifying, especially financially,” she says. “You overthink everything – where your life is at, what the industry looks like, what support is around you.”

That turning point came after working on The Diplomat: Series 1. The seven-month shoot was a period of reflection. “I kept thinking,”maybe this is the last one,’” she recalls. By the end of the series, something clicked. “It was such a brilliant job, I felt it was time to end my assisting career on a high and start the next step”. As the months rolled into Christmas, she knew the time had come. She stopped actively looking for assisting work and finally made the ultimate commitment: selling her kit. “That was the proof to myself”

Read Amy's story in full on the GBCT website: https://www.gbct.org/post/spotlight-on-gbct-members

24/02/2026

Happy Birthday Don Lord - 24 February
A GBCT Article by Sarah Hayward

Don came from a family of aviation enthusiasts. His father took him to Hendon to watch flying displays during the 1930s. His eldest brother was headhunted by De Havilland to work on the Mosquito, a British multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War and his second brother was called up to join the RAF and work on Halifax bombers.

Apart from planes, Don was interested in photography and had his own darkroom and equipment long before he joined the film industry.

A 3 day job running a generator at Brighton Film Studios led to a full time job as an electrician, working on various productions including Doctor at Large (1957) and A Night to Remember (1958). His aviation interest made him their go-to cameraman when it came to filming from aircraft and helicopters. By 1964, he was credited on IMDB as a Camera Assistant and by 1986, he was a Cinematographer with credits for Emanuelle in Soho (1981) and Screamtime (1983).

Do wish Don a very Happy Birthday and read the full story here on the GBCT website https://www.gbct.org/post/happy-birthday-don-lord-24-february

24/02/2026

Colors in Motion with ARRI: From set to Film Lab
Thursday 5th March. Two sessions: 1pm & 3pm
Held at CVP at 89 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 6RN

In this exclusive session dedicated to the Art of Cinematography with ARRI, we will explore the creative and technical aspects of low-light shooting with ARRI cameras, dive into the nuances of ARRI’s unique color science, take a closer look at the new codec ARRICORE, and introduce FilmLab as part of the workflow.

The second session will be followed by networking drinks.

About the speaker
Igor Barbosa is a Senior Technical Product Specialist for Camera Systems at ARRI, where he has spent over 10 years now. With a background in imaging science, he translates complex camera and color science into practical tools and workflows for DPs, DITs, and colorists. He is currently pursuing a PhD focused on colour in imaging science and machine learning.

Register via the GBCT website here https://www.gbct.org/post/colors-in-motion-with-arri-from-set-to-film-lab-5-march-at-cvp

02/02/2026

Welcome to 'Lollywood': Why London is the new Hollywood

Almost as many films were shot in London as LA in 2025 — with big movie money pouring into the capital and a state-of-the-art studio system, Tinseltown is losing its blockbuster grip, reports Laura Martin for THE STANDARD.

According to the BFI Research and Statistics Unit, a total of £6.5 billion was spent on film and high-end television production in the UK from October 2024 to September 2025, while Film London says there was £10bn of inward investment in the London film industry over the past five years. On any given day, the organisation adds, there are approximately 27 film crews filming on location in the city; right now that includes films like Sam Mendes’ The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event and Avengers: Doomsday, and buzzy shows such as Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s new Tomb Raider series. According to industry data provider Luminate, the UK has now become the most popular place outside of America and Canada to make films; 71 live-action films and TV series were shot here last year.

Cult favourite studio A24 has increased its presence in London, from adding executives from the BBC to its teams; to taking over cultural landmarks in the capital, like last year’s A24/7 week-long event at the Prince Charles Cinema. It’s no coincidence that Charli xcx worked with the studio on the aforementioned The Moment.

American producer of The Moment, David Hinojosa, told Screen Daily at Sundance last week: “I love shooting in the UK. I’m literally trying to rewrite movies so we can do it there. It’s a culture that appreciates film. And it knows how to support the industry.”

Read the full article in the GBCT website here https://www.gbct.org/post/welcome-to-lollywood-why-london-is-the-new-hollywood

30/01/2026

James Friend ASC BSC Masterclass for Sony - Professional Europe

Step inside the creative world of Academy Award–winning DP James Friend ASC, BSC in this exclusive, first-of-its-kind masterclass. Go behind the scenes on his short film The Transaction – shot entirely on the VENICE 2 – and follow James through every stage of the filmmaking journey, from the first page of the script to the final colour grade, across ten immersive, never-before-seen episodes.

Find out more in their 10 masterclass episodes: Script to Screen, Choosing Locations and Crew, Blocking and Actors, Lighting Breakdown, Camera and Camera Movement, Using Lenses, Filming in Cars, Post-Production and about his recent short film The Transaction.

More info on the GBCT website at

Step inside the creative world of Academy Award–winning DP James Friend ASC, BSC in this exclusive, first-of-its-kind masterclass. Go behind the scenes on his short film The Transaction – shot entirely on the VENICE 2 – and follow James through every stage of the filmmaking journey, from the f...

29/01/2026

A big Happy birthday to Brenda Loader, 29th February, GBCT member for nearly 30 years and now retired after a long, varied and illustrious career.

GBCT Article by Sarah Hayward

Brenda started in the Drama Department of the BBC, where she was Verity Lambert’s secretary for 2 years. When Verity left to work on Budgie, starring Adam Faith, she recommended that Brenda take the BBC Production Assistants (P.A's) Training course, which she duly did.

Brenda went freelance in 1978 to work on Danger UXB. Her 2nd job and first feature was Monty Python’s Life of Brian. It was a baptism by fire, not solely due to the searing Tunisian heat. The shoot took twelve weeks and was great fun, as well as a brilliant and terrifying experience in equal measure. She smashed it, of course, and worked steadily thereafter.

Another great experience was Give My Regards to Broad Street, written by and starring Paul McCartney. It garnered the 1985 BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for Best Song, but was otherwise expensively unsuccessful. The shoot at Elstree Studios went on for over a year and The Lyceum Ballroom was entirely re-constructed on one of the stages. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was shooting on the adjacent stage and Harrison Ford was a regular visitor.

Brenda’s still embracing new adventures and is currently exploring Chile and Argentina for a couple of months.

Wishing you safe travels, a great time and some very fine Malbec tasting.

Cheers to you, Brenda! 🥂

This is just some highlights. Read more about Brenda's amazing career journey here https://www.gbct.org/post/happy-birthday-brenda-loader-29-january

28/01/2026

Dan Ming, 1st AC and GBCT member, was on podcast The Op, where he spoke of starting at the beginning and moving his way up. Plus discussion about recent projects. His recent credits include: Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar: The Way of Water, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Barbie and FI, with Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu's latest film Digger, starring Tom Cruise, currently in post production.
https://open.spotify.com/show/7h61GOEridwIzhxBA5nQR1

The Op is a podcast hosted by Dave Chameides, an experienced camera operator with 35 years of experience and two Emmy Awards. The podcast focuses on operating and the art of visual storytelling, featuring interviews with various professionals in the film industry, including Directors, Producers, and Cinematographers. It aims to provide insights into the craft of camera operation and the challenges faced by storytellers in the industry

23/01/2026

Happy Birthday Mike Bulley! - 23 January

Faints, Farts & Dracula's Castle!
Article written by Sarah Hayward

Read this lovely insight into Mike's camera department life: from his early days as a clapper loader shooting an untold number of TV commercials with both Tony and Ridley Scott.

Mid- seventies Mike was called out to Switzerland to work on a feature called “Silver Bears” and met life-long friends Roger McDonald and Mike Roberts.

Mike Roberts guided him through that period, working with his DOP Ted Moore on a number of films including “Clash of the Titans”. Another great DOP he learnt from was Chris Challis, whose credits include Force Ten from Navarone. He could have stayed as an assistant forever, but finally took a leap of faith and became a DOP, with the encouragement of some of the aforementioned directors.

Shooting a Grundig TV ad for Spots at Shepperton...
'They had Dracula’s castle exterior silhouette and an interior set. A young couple’s car had broken down at night near the castle. They enter to find a TV on and sit to watch. Dracula does away with the husband, the girl faints and has to be carried upstairs by Dracula. Now it might have been the catering that caused the problem, but as Dracula bent to lift up the actress, he let out an almighty fart. Well, the electricians, props, camera crew etc., lost it and it took a good ten minutes to restore order. Every time Dracula went for another take the sparks couldn’t contain themselves'

'Thanks to everyone I know for the camaraderie fun and laughter for the last fifty plus years'

Do wish Mike a very Happy Birthday and read more in this article on Mike's life on the GBCT website here https://www.gbct.org/post/happy-birthday-mike-bulley-23-january

21/01/2026

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon give new film’s 1,200 crew members back-end bonuses
Inga Parkel for The Independent

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon know that a collaborative on-set environment is key to motivating all those involved, which is why they brought back an old-school back-end bonus model for the 1,200 crew members working on their new movie, The Rip.

Directed by Joe Carnahan, the crime thriller, out Friday on Netflix, will see the famous duo reunite on screen as Miami cops who become distrustful of those around them after discovering a stash of millions in cash.

“The more people that watch the movie, the more levels it will hit,” Affleck said that what was most important to them was that the monetary success be shared with the “1,200 crew members, every standby painter, greensman, camera operator.”

“Not that we could suggest that you just leave it on, unless you’re a good person. You would never say to turn on the movie and put it on loop. But if you happened to do that, crew members would make a lot of money.”

What an interesting new "model"!
Read the full article on the GBCT here

Longtime friends and collaborators have reunited for their newly produced movie, ‘The Rip’Inga Parkel in New York, Thursday 15 January 2026Ben Affleck and Matt Damon know that a collaborative on-set environment is key to motivating all those involved, which is why they brought back an old-school...