A Stable Life
Not knowing much about animals was a major drawback when we decided to approach Animal Planet about filming our own original work. We had produced a one off for them called 'The World’s Favourite Animal' and while it was hugely successful, it didn’t require much filming as it was a commercial countdown programme with presenter links and archive footage. We were after a full production, so we cheated and asked them what they wanted. 'Anything to do with horses' was their reply. It sounded simple enough but coming up with an original format was the challenge.
We decided that an observational documentary following life on a stable would be aspirational to Animal Planet’s 15-35 year old female viewers. That counted out an elite racing stable and led us to seek what we called ‘an ordinary stable with extraordinary characters’.
Several stables were considered before we decided on Caldecote Farm. Ed and Nadia made an immediate impression. When you think you might have found the right place, forget it, you haven’t. When you find the right place you simply know. Nadia was as charming and sexy as you could wish while Ed was immediately light and funny.
It wasn’t just them but the whole yard; Harry the Groom, Bob the Farrier, the Liveries… they were all fun and welcoming. The characters were complete when we met their top two stallions, Doc and Boy. Doc was a nutter heading for the chop while Boy had the potential to be an Olympic champion.
We spent 18 months filming two mini series of 6 episodes and 7. The crew had to be mobile and cost effective and consisted of a cameraman, a soundman and a producer/director. Key to an observational programme is to not get in the way, and we spent a lot of time trying to balance our need for shots with the stables’ need to get on with their daily jobs. It was a real insight for the crew and we hope that has come across in the programme.
The show followed the fortunes of Ed and Nadia as they tried to find a way of breaking into the big time by unearthing a wonder horse. We track them around the country show grounds as they try to turn talent and potential into wins and then the big payday. The journey was fraught with highs and lows and eventually the pressure takes its toll on their relationship and in episode 7 of 13 they divorce. Ed moves into the lorry but the business goes on. The series ends with Nadia buying her own stallions in Holland while Ed takes over the farm and Doc and Boy’s fortunes.
Our special thanks to Ed and Nadia for their patience and understanding during filming, while they went through some very personal experiences.
Adidas
Series of eight commercial bumpers produced for Adidas' 'Own Your Own Pitch' viral campaign.
Using football stars in an untraditional way, we created a theme in which footballers are filmed playing different roles. Featuring Beckham, Del Piero, Rui Costa, Raul, Zidane, Kahn and Ballack.
Aero GP
The first aerial, non-choreographed motor sport where the world's elite military and civilian pilots pit themselves against one another in live air-to-air combat, bombing runs and low-level, tight circuit racing.
We helped develop and format this thrilling and intense championship for mainstream television.
EA Sports
Production of EA Sports' 4x4 FIFA 2005 Grassroots Football Sceme.
We were approached by EA Sports to produce a film of their involvement in helping children to be more pro-active, whilst playing their games. This involved filming several EA Sports events across the UK and integrating what we shot with high-end graphics.
Farm Life
After the success of 'A Stable Life', which had attracted six times the viewers for Animal Planet’s prime time 6pm Sunday slot, we decided to go farming.
Animal Planet had said they needed a farm programme for their schedule and envisaged someone milking cows at 5am with a bit of mist. The search began but the initial investigations were somewhat depressing. Farming is not in a good state and this was evident from the initial meetings we had with various farmers.
Some wanted to know what would be in it for them, others shied away, while behind it all we were interested in where all the characters had gone and how we would find a farm with multiple story lines. The general view of farming is of specialisation on a large scale with a heavy reliance on machinery with a minimum of labour.
When we stumbled across Warborne there was a wow factor. An organic farm tucked away in the New Forest, run by a young family with 23 staff, all full of life and energy; what a beautiful contrast to the sterile profit-driven ways of modern factory farming.
We quickly made arrangements to shoot a five minute pilot promo. Animal Planet loved it and commissioned a 13 part series. And so we set out on an 18 month-long project that was to prove as aspirational for the crew as we hope it will be for the viewers
We shot 6 days a month for 13 months from December 2006 to December 2007, to take in the seasons and a complete farming cycle. Our first day was so extraordinary that we shot nearly a whole episode there and then! The weather was as misty as Animal Planet had hoped and it was cold and frosty, adding to the feeling of natural beauty. George the Farmer was a unique character who not only farms but is also a house husband and looks after his three children, while his wife Kate works as a surgeon at the local hospital. The kids joined George picking veg and it set out all we hoped to achieve, combining farming and lifestyle.
Farm Life was to be something new and exciting and such was the impact of the first draft of Episode 1 that Animal Planet gave us a tenfold increase in our voiceover budget to go and get a 'name'. We were delighted to sign up Oscar winner Jim Broadbent and he gave a lightness yet gravity to the series and proved to be the finishing touch, the cherry on the cake. TX date has been pushed back to November 2008 from April and we can’t wait to see how viewers and the media react to the organic utopia we stumbled across.
Guca
A co-production with O Films, Guca is a feature length documentary set in rural Serbia.
200,000 people invade the sleepy village of Guca for a week of music, drinking, dancing and utter madness - all to the sound of Serbian and Roma gypsy trumpet bands, competing against one another like wild-eyed Mexicans in a stand off.
The film was nominated for the Best of British Feature Documentary Award at the BritDoc Film Festival (www.britdoc.org). It is currently screening at various cinemas in London and has recently been released on DVD.
To buy a copy of the DVD or for more information, see www.gucafilm.com.
Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand is a UK-based charity with a focus on child labour elimination, education, and the empowerment of women in India. We filmed several of their programmes in India and produced a corporate film highlighting their good work.
Majestic
English speaking commercial for international broadcast across Europe.
Majestic, the official supplier of all MLB clothing, approached us with a brief to produce an advert to promote their distribution of the entire MLB team collection in the UK and across Europe.
We took care of the concept creation, production and post-production of three commercials of 15", 30" and 45" length.
McDonald's
Since 2003, RES have provided full production services to McDonald's through agency Leo Burnett. Our mission brief has been to capture McDonald's involvement in grassroot sports across the home nations.
In early 2006, we were commissioned to produce a film illustrating McDonald's involvement in football since 1994. 40,000 copies were distributed on DVD countrywide.
P1 Motorsport
As the wind tore down the media centre off the Valencia Race Circuit destroying trucks, parked cars and disrupting the first test of the season of the Renault World Series, we thought things couldn't get off to a worst possible start.
We had two days to film a promo for P1 Motorsport and with the whole paddock in near mutiny over the chaos caused by the winds we had to work fast and quick to capture as much of the action, excitment and colour of the cars and the two pilots, Giedo Van der Garde and Pippa Mann.
Shot on Varicam with a Pro35 adaptor and various prime lenses, we were given carte blanche to come up with a film which could be presented to potential sponsors and for all year round marketing purposes.
Powerboat P1 World Championship
We are very proud of our association with the UIM Powerboat P1 World Championship.
A relationship spanning over 4 years, we filmed and delivered top Powerboat programming to over 40 countries worldwide.
Production on P1 involved live event production with onsite post-production and a magazine programme for each of the 12 Championship races of the year, as well as two further programmes and a full graphics package.
Reebok
We were commissioned by Reebok, official producers of NFL Jerseys and NHL apparel, to create two commercials. Working with two divisions within Reebok, our aim was to advertise the full line of both American Football and Hockey apparel on sale to the European viewers of the North American Sports Network.
Working to a blank sheet, we conceptualised, scripted, casted, produced and post-produced two 45" adverts for broadcast on NASN.
The Art of Combat
[IN DEVELOPMENT]
The ultimate journey into the world of martial arts.
The Art of Combat will take the viewer on a martial art expedition around the globe, visiting countries in Asia, Europe, North and South America.
A co-production with Brazilian production company 'Canal Azul', this captivating and compelling 13 x 52' documentary series is currently in development with an aim to begin production in the last quarter of 2007.
The High Definition series will look beyond the combat aspects of martial arts and uncover its origins, different cultures, intriguing philosophies and unknown secrets.
From Chinese monks in 500AD, ancient myths and supernatural powers, to the 2007 Ultimate Fighting Championship in the US, the reality of unconditional commitment and Dim Mak (death touch), The Art of Combat will explore the world’s most dangerous combat arts and examine the massive impact martial arts is having on 21st century society.
The Football Association
Corporate video for the English football's governing body, covering their International Friendship Programme.
The Ultimate Fighter
'The Ultimate Fighter' has been going since 2005 and has been a massive success over in the US before coming across to the UK. A Big Brother-style reality series were the winner is handed a contract to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it has allowed British Fighters such as Mike Bisping to make a big impact in a sport largely dominated by US contenders.
Bravo have commissioned RES to reversion the US programme for UK Broadcast delivery. Two TUF series are produced every year.
UFC - Britain's Ultimate Fighter
Competing in the UFC is a dream for many people, but for Britain's Michael Bisping the dream came true. Following his success in the reality series 'The Ultimate Fighter 4', UK broadcaster 'Bravo' commissioned a 52-minute documentary charting Michael's journey to stardom.
In the programme, we follow Michael's progress over a period of a year, in the UK and in the US. As the young contender prepares for his first professional fight, we begin to understand the tension, stress, emotions and heart ache that every fighter experiences; but this young man is not just any fighter, he's the next biggest fight sensation to hit the UK.
UFC Live
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a mixed martial arts (MMA) series taking the US by storm since its new owners 'Zuffa' overhauled the brand and introduced strict regulations in 2001.
Since 2005, RES have been reversioning each of the 24 x 3-hour live events from the States to produce a 2-hour as-live show and 2 x 1-hour highlights programmes for UK broadcaster 'Bravo'.
UK viewing figures regularly exceed 400,000 per event.
UFC Unleashed
Working alongside RDA TV, RES delivered 30 x 46min specials from the UFC archive for Virgin Media's Bravo channel.
This also included a full graphics commission to complement the programmes.
Wet Wet Wet
Full production of an EPK and two music videos for the comeback releases of one of the most successful bands in British pop history.
Wet Wet Wet's management company, No Half Measures, approached us in the run up to the Wets' 2007 British tour and asked up to produce an EPK for them. We filmed the band during their warm up concert at Newmarket racecourse on a Sony Z1 with a Mini35 adapter and prime film lenses to give a polished film look.
October '07 and two weeks before the release of their first single 'Too Many People', ideas were floating around as to where to shoot the video... New York, Rome, Paris, Berlin... 'Been there and done it', was the reply. 'Ok, what about Barcelona? The weather should be great and the sun will be out. We could film the band hanging out in and around the back streets of the city?' They went for that.
As we arrived, storms and downpours hit the east coast of Spain. Up against the clock, filming on a Varicam with a Pro35 adapter, a 17mm to 120mm lens the size of a cannon and various prime lenses, dodging the rain and poor light was a serious challenge!!
'Too Many People' reached the top 40 of the british charts.
Two days before their ten day British tour, we were asked to produce another video for the band. They had chosen the track and the release wasn't until February but as the band were in a sound studio rehearsing for their tour, it was the most opportune time to catch them all together before they went their separate ways.
We decided to test the Panasonic HVX200 P2 camera as it allowed us to use the variable frame rate without having to conform it in post. Together with a Mini35 adapter and some prime lenses, we filmed at the band's rehearsals and the five minute breaks in between.
'Weightless' reached number 10 in the UK charts.
Wilson
Wilson, official producers of basketballs, american footballs and baseballs.
We were commissioned by Wilson to produce two 45" commercials for their American sports products, with an aim to appeal to the European market.
World's Favourite Animal
A one hour programme counting down the top ten World's Favourite Animals, as voted by viewers worldwide.
Broadcast on all of Discovery's Animal Planet global networks, production included programme graphics, title sequences and 11 x 1 minute promos.
Sport production has and always will be a core part of our production portfolio.
We are experts in globally syndicated programming and multi-lingual productions and our team are well positioned to deliver any sporting production request, whether it be live or ENG.
With core links to mainstream football, motorsport and extreme sports, we have a proven track record for facilitating and/or producing OBs, sport docos or magazine programming.
RES' increasing market value has seen us slide into documentaries and series programming. 'Factual & Entertainment' is becoming an exciting area of growth and, guess what, we do it well!
Self-financed documentaries are the future in this industry and we're no different from everyone else: we are trying to maximise our potential. With broadcasters' demand for HD content, our focus is on delivering the highest imagery possible in all circumstances, using the latest technology.
With co-production partners based in most corners of the world, we are able to capture almost anything at a moments notice.
Brand and product filming are central to the world of business television. Our success here lies in our ability to understand a client's brief, then develop and deliver it at affordable costs.
RES have defined themselves as a production team who deliver stunning imagery which is informative and to the point. Getting that brand message across is key to keeping the viewer interested in what they are watching and we do that with the use of both traditional and off-the-cuff filming styles.
Red Earth Studio is a creative production company with a twist. Run by a nice bunch of people with good heads on their shoulders, if you're looking for a dynamic youthful approach to television, you don't need to look any further.
So what are we about? Well, we do pretty much everything in the field of broadcast for starters. Sport and Docos are our core interests, but we now seem to have drifted into brand and advertiser funded programming. Yes, we know they are very different genres, but we seem to have what our clients want, otherwise they wouldn't keep coming back.
Whatever your needs, RES has a track record for providing exciting, entertaining and above all, slick television.
Where are we?... Soho? No thanks! We are Eastside in Shoreditch... yes, that's right... London's sexiest location for bars and atmospheric restaurants, where trendy people with bad haircuts hang out with trousers round their ankles.
Here at RES, we pride ourselves on the ability to fully capture every emotion and portray the excitement of the subject we’re covering. Whether it's mainstream sport or brand-focused filming, we use creative filming techniques, imaginative editing and off-the-cuff cutting edge graphics which combine to make Red Earth outstanding amongst its competitors.
Having a multi-lingual production team, RES is well placed to provide support and production services for any client, throughout the world. We are also experts of globally syndicated programming in multi-language formats.
As far as our production facilities go - some like PCs, pooh-pooh to that... real creatives use Apple Macs. With onsite Final Cut Pro edit suites servicing HD and other platforms, RES is the one-stop shop for a complete production package.
Activate UK
Adidas
Aero GP
Animal Planet
Atari
Bravo
The Commonwealth Institute
CNBC
EA Sports
ESPN
The FA
Hand in Hand
JP Morgan
Leo Burnett
Majestic
McDonald's
Measured Records
NASN
Powerboat P1
Primus Mobiles
RDA Communications
Reebok
Sky Sports
The Victoria & Albert Museum
Trans World International
UFC
Wilson
With the Indie game going the way it is, it's important to have a global reach, not only on a production level, but also in marketing and distribution.
Having associates around the world gives an advantage of combined resources. With this in mind and after many hours of research and negotiating, we managed to hook up with these great names in television.
Concept Creation & Development
Outside Broadcasts
Event Production
Studio Production
Commissioned and Original Programming
International Magazine Programming
Re-versioning and Re-packaging
Branded/Advertising Funded Programming
Corporate Promos
Promo Trailers
EPKs and VNRs
Crews & Facilities
Motion Graphics
Adam Docker
The Creative Director of Red Earth Studio, Adam is one of the three founding partners. He has a cosmopolitan Anglo-Italian make up which saw him swapping Rome for exotic Southend as a young child.
An outstanding director who began as a broadcast lighting cameraman 15 years ago, Adam starting in music videos, films and commercials before making the switch to sport and documentaries - a career choice that would see him filming all over the world.
Adam's expertise is in directing and filming high intensity action - his ability to 'capture the moment' is an particular skill which plays a huge role in creating outstanding and memorable work for Red Earth Studio time after time.
His artistic contribution just about compensates for his dubious blonde highlights which he has finally gotten rid of.
Ces Terranova
Ces is the archetypal "engine room" of the company. He is our second Anglo-Italian founding partner and Managing Director of the company - our Vespa-riding, trilby wearing Sicilian is a man of many talents.
He is an accomplished designer and photographer and is so devoted to the company that he lives only 100 metres from the office.
As MD, he manages to combine overseeing all the day-to-day operations of the company as well as managing our graphics department.
Ces' acute eye for detail is one of his most treasured assets; in fact his eye is so acute, you need a magnifying glass to read from his monitor. If Ces had had his own way with this site, I guarantee you wouldn't be reading this text right now.
Julien Mignonac
Jules is one of the three founding partners at RES. He is the Executive Producer and in charge of client relations and after-hours bonding sessions.
He was born in France of American mother and French father, but moved to England at a young age.
Julien started his career in commercials, working for HKM Films in New York, before heading back to England to join the London production house BFCS, where he had the great privilege of working alongside world renowned directors Alan Parker and Derek Coutts.
In 1998, he plunged into the world of sports broadcasting producing Futbol Mondial, Champions League, European Tour Golf, Sailing and Extreme Sports.
Michael Lee
Michael is a Producer and Sports Marketing Consultant who has been part of Red Earth Studio since the early days when we all sat rather too close together in a very small room in Clerkenwell.
Over the past ten years he has overseen a huge number of sponsorship marketing projects and produced countless promo videos for The Football Association.
Other clients include McDonald's, Yahoo, Sony Ericsson, Laureus World Sports Awards, Gillette and JP Morgan.
Greg Atkins
If Ces is 'The Man', then Greg is 'The Daddy'. Larger than life and bigger than Ben Hur, he keeps the enfants cordial in the office as the only true blue Brit amongst the highly charged continental contingent.
He's an all rounder who heads up the documentary and programme development, his portfolio reads like a 'What’s That?' of TV.
Working with a team of Producers, he develops all RES proposals from inception to conception. If you've got an idea - he wants to know about it... unless it's lunchtime of course.
David Lengel
In the UK, David Lengel is known for two things: hosting Five's overnight live coverage of Major League Baseball, and rather more infamously, his portrayal of an eccentric wig-bearing photographer in a commercial that aired on the North American Sports Network.
What is less known are his contributions to Red Earth Studio, where he has served as our go-to-producer for all things North American.
David led our ad campaign for NASN, which involved clients such as Reebok, Wilson and Majestic, and resulted in European sales increases of 200 percent.
Nathan Carr
This young man is the real mongrel of the RES group. Family from Armenia, India, Scotland and England, we're not even sure if Nathan himself knows where he's from.
He is the production assistant, researcher and all round pulse of the company. He is proving to be an invaluable member of the team and always seems to have a firm grasp of what's going on...annoying...especially if we're talking about him behind his back.
As of yet, Nathan doesn't have a clear career direction in mind but, if he manages to turn out anything like his bosses Adam, Ces and Jules, you know he's going to be tall, good-looking, funny and smart.
Eduardo Simantob
Edu is our development and co-productions guru. With family origins a mix of Lebanese, Turkish, Spanish, British, Arab and Jewish, he has a different themed Christmas every year.
In order not to offend any of his ancestral contradictions, the genuine Brazilian opted for neutrality and reinvented himself as a Swiss; he resides in Zurich.
With a background in journalism, he travelled the globe as an international correspondent for numerous publications. He then moved into the world of documentaries at Canal Azul, where he was responsible for looking after co-productions and creative development.
Jon Coutts
Jon's American mother claims to be a direct decendant of the captain of the Mayflower (if you don't know what the Mayflower is... look it up!).
He is our number one edit man who is involved in most of what goes on around here and will always adapt to the job at hand and give valuable creative input in an edit.
With a degree in visual art, Jon is able to create stories and edits in a variety of styles. Of course, having a father who's a commercials director means it's in the blood!
While we like to compliment him on his visual work, he's also a talented musician and can often be heard playing experimental funk in dodgy north London bars.
Marc Rowedder
Marc 'vorsprung durch technik' Rowedder is our German long-haired surfer dude who just happens to be a great TV Producer.
His experience working in numerous countries around the world has made him hot property and we're glad he chose to join our band of merry men.
His role here is to help develop and produce documentaries whilst keeping an eye on all productions.
Natalie Heustice
Natalie Heustice is our incredible Production co-ordinator who also, amazingly, doubles up as our Office Manager.
She has now become an integral part of the furniture, infecting the rest of us with her love of Michael Bolton and Labyrinth-era David Bowie, oh and her work is always done to an exemplary standard.
Natalie's energy and ongoing dedication have made her an indispensable part of the RES team.