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James Bayliss-Smith

Documentary Cameraman & Filmmaker

Documentary Cameraman & Filmmaker

Credits

Download CV

Professional Experience and Filmography

2018 BBC Rituals Series; DoP

Travelled to Papua New Guinea to shoot for the BBC Natural History Unit on a landmark series, called Rituals.  It’s a follow up to the critically acclaimed Human Planet series.  I filmed a brutal scarification ritual for one of the stories in the initiations episode with director Simon Bell.

2017 BBC Springwatch; Wildlife Cameraman / Filmmaker

Produced and shot and directed one of Springwatch’s “Cameraman Diary” films about my grandfather who was a renowned bird photographer.  Filmed behavioural sequences with migrating Dunlin on Hilbre Island in the Wirral. WATCH

2017 Channel 5 - ‘Great Britain’ (working title); Wildlife and Sync Cameraman.

Filmed Sand Lizards and Smooth Snakes with Reptile specialist for a contributor driven sequence for Channel 5’s new landmark UK based natural history series.

2016 Kickstarter, DoP/Director/Editor

This project (password: tailfin) involved lots of aerial work and gimbal and slider shooting.

2015/16 National Geographic, DoP and Director

Filmed and directed a segment for National Geographic series ‘China from Above’ in June 2014, then went on to shoot seven stories for the same programme during a three-week winter shoot in early 2015. You can watch a sample in ‘The Fujianese Seaweed farmers of Southern China’ with the password: kelp.

2014 Tibetan Polyandary - DoP

Spent an unforgettable week living with a Tibetan farming family that practiced polyandry. I was shooting a documentary teaser with award-winning Australian director, Celeste Geer. She is using the material to try and secure further funding.

2011-14 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Lighting Cameraman and Editor

Full-time cameraman and editor at the ABC’s Beijing news bureau. Three years shooting and editing news features and breaking news. Click the following links for some samples of my work: China’s Massive Water Diversion Project, Tianjin’s Snow Polo World Cup, Beijing’s Winter Olympic Bid, China’s Female Imams.

2010 CCTV News (English), Producer/Director/Editor/Camera

Spent six months as a ‘Foreign Expert’ at CCTV’s English language news channel producing documentaries for their reporter-fronted documentary series ‘Rediscovering China’. I was the first foreigner ever allowed ‘behind the camera’ in the features department. See further entries below for the films I made while I was there.

2014 Punt Wars, 76 minutes, Fluvial Films, Producer/Director/Editor/Camera

Filmed and directed a feature-length observational documentary about the Cambridge Punt Wars. This was a long-term independent ‘passion’ project. The production was awarded grant funding from Screen East in the UK and is currently in the latter stages of post-production. See the ‘Punt Wars’ page for more information.

2010 The Grape Wall of China, 27 minutes, CCTV News, Producer/Director/Editor/Camera

Documentary about the Chinese wine industry made for reporter-fronted documentary series ‘Rediscovering China’. Watch the complete film.

2010 Yushu, Rising from the Rubble, 27 minutes, CCTV News, Assistant Producer/Camera

Documentary about the aftermath of the Yushu Earthquake in Tibet. Made for reporter-fronted documentary series ‘Rediscovering China’. Watch the complete film.

2010 Expo’s Meaning with Robert Lawrence Kuhn, 5 x 27 minutes, CCTV News, Researcher/Assistant Producer

Worked on a five-part documentary series about Shanghai Expo presented by ‘friend of China’ and Chinese Government advisor, Robert Lawrence Kuhn. Series website here. Visit the series website.

2009 Black Fortress of Opium, Current TV, Producer/Director/Editor/Camera

Documentary about the Opium Poppy farmers of Turkey who cultivate the plant legally for its medicinal use. This was my second commission for Al Gore’s television network Current TV. Watch the complete film.

2009 Why Aren’t I a Millionaire? 8 minutes, Current TV, Producer/Director/Editor/Camera

Produced a short comic documentary about turning 30, commissioned by Current TV (and subsequently chosen as the best film) for their quarter life crisis season. Watch the complete film.

2007 Lost Vagueness, independent documentary, Assistant Producer/Camera

Was camera operator during a ten-day shoot at the Glastonbury music festival, filming a behind-the-scenes documentary about the ‘Lost Vagueness’ creative collective.

2005-6 The Battle for Broadway Market, 60 minutes, More4, Assistant Producer/Camera

Four months spent assisting director Emily James, helping shoot an observational documentary for More4. The film was about the process of gentrification that is taking place in Hackney. Watch the complete film.

Technical Skills

Camera Operation

Can confidently shoot using a variety of cameras in a multitude of situations. F5/F55/FS7/RED/C300/C100/GoPro.

Sound Recording

Can competently record and monitor interview audio and location sound onto camera using both shotgun microphones and radio mic setups.

Editing

Professional working knowledge of Final Cut Pro X (three years of weekly use).

Lighting

Can confidently and quickly light contributors for interviews using classic three/four point setup or simpler setups with available resources.

Drone Operation

Please take a look at my drone page

  • Award-winning cinematographer (Australian Cinematographers Society award)
  • Hostile Environment Trained by the ABC in Sydney
  • Experienced FCP X video editor (3 years of professional use)
  • Documentary Filmmaker
  • BA International Relations with East-Asian studies, Leeds University
  • British and Italian passport holder
  • EU and Chinese driving licence
  • Global Citizen USA iVisa until 2021

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