Helicopter Filming Paddy was a fast jet fighter pilot in the RAF. This has given him a 3-D awareness that is very useful in film making. He is often asked, therefore, to take charge of important helicopter filming sequences. He knows what the helicopter can do. And, of course, he understands the camera's limitations intimately. So, as co-ordinator between pilot and cameraman, he can utilise an expensive facility to achieve spectacular results very quickly, effectively and cheaply. To give some idea of this efficiency, two sequences of helicopter filming were required in the wilds of Arizona for the launch of the Rover 75 - one in the full daylight, one at dusk and sunset. The chopper pilot was a 'Vietnam Vet' and Paddy got on like a house on fire with him. They briefed thoroughly and then got airborne. The aerial understanding was instinctive. The helicopter wheeled, soared and cavorted round the car to Paddy's three-way intercom orders while the cameraman filled his boots with a string of high quality shots with hardly a pause between each. In just 45 minutes the first sequence was complete, enough for a film on its own. While the helicopter stayed for the dusk shoot, the crew went off and filmed in-car test shots. Then as the sun was dropping the helicopter took off again and another well-briefed, continuously co-ordinated and carefully choreographed sequence was filmed. One shot was particularly memorable. The car was travelling with all its lights on at 80 mph kicking up a huge cloud of fine dust behind it. The helicopter was a few feet behind it, crabbing to get the side mounted camera looking forward and right behind the car. The chopper dropped down to three feet in the dust cloud, clipping the brush either side of the track. Then it pulled up out of the dust cloud to reveal the Rover 75, the desert lit by its full lights and the most glorious sunset behind it. A very special image achieved with no fuss at all. Other special helicopter memories include a storm sequence in the North Sea oil fields. The chopper was literally flying up and down the waves ten feet above the heaving, frothing mass. At one point while filming sideways as a massive roller smashed into a rig, Paddy asked the pilot to go a little lower. The pilot wryly asked Paddy to look forwards and reconsider that request. Towering 60 feet above the helicopter and bearing down on it was another absolutely monstrous wave! 'The Rover Symphony' and 'South West Water' are two award winning films by Paddy set to music and almost entirely based on his exquisite helicopter footage.

Editing Knowledge Ever since his introduction to films and TV at the BBC, Paddy has attached great importance to the process of editing. It is where he has learnt most about directing - what does and what doesn't cut together. Indeed, in the early years he sat beside his editors on almost film, way beyond his edit contract and with the deliberate purpose of learning. The result is that now he plans every shot down to almost every cut. Improvisation is used only if a new idea is better than what was originally planned. This means a very efficient programme of filming with a low shooting ratio and the minimum of waste. It is also a very cost effective route to a quality product.   Musical Appreciation Paddy comes from a musical family and plays the piano. His taste is wide ranging from classical to modern. He has become well known for his musical input to productions. He enjoys collaborating with composers to achieve the right atmosphere when the music budget allows. But he also delights in searching out music from libraries that fits as if it was composed for the film. So, music is a very important part of Paddy's films and videos.   Experimentation Paddy has experimented successfully with all sorts of styles, symbolism and simile. 'The Spare Tyre' used traditional mime in an all white studio set to tell its story. Paddy worked for two weeks with mimist Desmond Jones to develop his idea. Desmond is one of Marcel Marceau's star proteges and taught mime at the National Theatre. This charming, soft sell publicity film was a multi award winner. 'Shelley' was a take-off of the famous comedy TV series and featured Hywel Bennett, Nicholas Smith and Jackie Piper. It also won a hatful of awards. Paddy has also woven dramatic punctuation into his films with world championship juggling, gymnastics, archery, lasers and, of course, the elements. Poetry has also featured strongly in his films. His launch of the Rover 75 included some of his own hip-hop verse. 'Aspiring to Greater Heights' is almost a genre construction film - scaffolding set to Paddy's poetry and music.

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