Before I began writing “about me” I asked my friends, family and colleagues; what is it that you want to know about someone, when you read their biography? The response was simple; “who they are, and what they do!”
Well, I’m a film producer and director who travels a lot and loves his work.
Every day I meet fascinating people who have great stories to tell and ideas to share.
And that’s why I produce film. It’s the most powerful marketing and advertising tool in the world.
For as long as I can remember, photography and film has been a constant fascination to me. The interaction of light on an image and the way it’s captured can create an indelible impression on the mind.
I grew up the son of a Scottish farmer, during a time when horses were still shod at the village blacksmith and boys swung lazily from summer trees, listening to the clang of the anvil and roar of the forge.
But living in a close knit agricultural community where hard work and toil was the currency by which you were measured, wasn’t always easy. Sharp winter mornings, hacking turnips from frozen fields – with fingers numbed beyond all feeling – and harvesting any fodder for hungry cattle, was often a rigorous business.
However throughout my childhood the need to take photographs and capture the essence of the light on our countryside and rivers was as essential to me, as it was a constant source of consternation to my beloved parents.
By the time I completed senior school years I knew my die was cast and I would never follow the conventional path of my peers and undertake a university degree in agriculture.
Instead I headed west to North America and joined the Hudson’s Bay Company becoming one it’s last Scottish fur buyers. There I had the freedom to take photographs to my heart’s content and meet the last of the old hunting generation amongst the Cree, Chipewyan, Dogrib, Blackfoot and Inuit communities.
It was there that I became in involved in community radio and my interest in broadcast journalism began.
A return to Scotland a number of years later also coincided with the increased mechanization in farming and reduction of people working on the land. It also saw the birth of my sons Donald, Douglas and Ciaran.
As the dependancy on chemicals and artificial fertilizers grew I wanted to move in the opposite direction and convert to an organic production base. My Father, understandably, thought not!
Once again I found myself in Northern Canada taking a three month sabbatical and documenting the Journals & Letter’s of Sir Alexander MacKenzie. He was the first European to cross the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific – via the Arctic – and forge a route over the Rocky Mountains.
I produced five radio programmes from that journey which were broadcast by the BBC and they wanted more!
After several years freelancing I joined the corporation, working my way up through the ranks to become a BBC TV Series Producer.
It was a rich and hugely beneficial experience, extending my global travels from Perth to Patagonia and Africa to the Arctic, alongside many talented journalists and creative directors.
Four years ago I took the bull by the horns and established my own independent film production company.
The learning curve with blue stone has been colossal yet the rewards, fantastic.
And, not all riches are measured in dollars!
Contact me : rob@robbryce.com
