Mark Robertson – Editor
e – m - 07939 100709
I have worked across a broad range of programming and can draw on over 18 years of experience. I still thoroughly enjoy the editing process. I’m comfortable writing commentary, dealing with GFX or simply telling stories. I can offer clients versatility with a calm, committed approach and am happy to cut on any platform.
Credits
Secret History: The First Brit 1 x 60’ Channel 4 / Plimsoll Prods.
Cheddar Man is the oldest complete skeleton to be found in Britain. With little still known about him the Natural History Museum attempt to extract his DNA to discover the truth about not only his origins but also our own national identity. New science allows extraordinary discoveries and reconstructive sculpture puts a face to the first modern Brit.
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Tribes, Predators & Me 1 x 60’ BBC 2 / NHU
Wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan, appears on the other side of the lens and travels to Ethiopia in search of the “Hyena People”. With more hyenas than any other country on the continent, he visits the tribes that live alongside and even embrace the feared and perhaps misunderstood carnivore.
Natural World – Nature’s Wildest Weapons 1 x 60’ BBC2 / NHU
Why do some species evolve massive antlers, horns and tusks whilst others do not? What does the animal arms race tell us about our own weapons? Biologist and author Doug Emlen explores many armed creatures from Elk to Crabs and visits a nuclear missile base on the way in an attempt to answer these questions. A highly stylized programme for the longest running natural history strand, with an electronic music score by Paul Hartnoll of Orbital.
Japan’s Northern Wilderness 1 x 30’ BBC 2 / BBC Worldwide
Steve Backshall and his wife, two-time Olympic gold medal-winning rower Helen Glover, explore the landscapes and culture of northern Japan. In this second of 2 programmes they climb to an ancient Yamabushi temple on Mount Haguro and experience a 300 year old martial art used by the Samurai.
Yellowstone – The Toughest Spring 1 x 60’ BBC2 / NHU
Presented by Kate Humble and Patrick Aryee. Yellowstone’s spring is brutal on its residents. The snowpack on the surrounding mountains is poised to charge into the valleys. The team follow wolves, beavers, owls and bison as they all endure one of the harshest seasonal changes on the planet.
ORBI ‘The Magic Hummingbird’ 1 x 20’ BBC Earth / Sega Japan
A collaboration between SEGA Japan and BBC Earth offering a unique approach to natural history. The film creates a magical forest environment from a wealth of existing BBC Natural History Unit archive material. The rushes are joined in a mosaic in the offline, forming unique images to then fill the 45metre wide screen. This gentle narrative for a family audience follows a hummingbird on a journey to help him overcome his fears, whilst meeting creatures that would normally never share the same habitat.
More explanation & pictures: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-08/20/the-story-of-orbi
ORBI ‘The Hungry Penguin’ 1 x 20’ BBC Earth / Sega Japan
This film follows “hot” penguins in South Africa as they leave their island habitat on a hunt for fish. On the way they are inspired by dolphins, scared by traffic and have a showdown with some heavies at the local fish market. Shot specifically using 6K and then heavily composited in the edit. A further development of the immersive cinema format. For cinema / installation sites in Japan and the Middle East.
Natures Miracle Orphans 1 x 60’ BBC1 / NHU
Factual series presented by Patrick Aryee that traces the trials of orphaned animals on their journey back to the wild. An orphaned baby Howler Monkey must find his place in a troop after being abandoned in Costa Rica and a cheetah must learn to develop her hunting skills so that she can one day be released.
Predators Up Close - Lions 1 x 60’ Plimsoll / Discovery Int.
Ex – Navy S.E.A.L Joel Lambert, travels to Africa with a zoologist, the world’s best night vision camera and a specially designed “pod” to study lions as close up as possible. Combining blue chip wildlife photography with the challenges of tracking in the wild, the team try to understand what lies behind the awesome power of one of natures greatest predators.
River Monsters – ‘Deadly Science’ 1 x 60’ Icon FIlms / Animal Planet
Jeremy Wade, fisherman and “cold - water detective”, analyses some of his more extreme catches and reveals the scientific research behind the behemoths he wrestled from the world’s waterways.
Wild School 1 x 60’ BBC Earth / Worldwide
Howler Monkeys in the rainforests of Belize don’t always get to hang out in the canopy and sometimes need a helping hand to get back to the trees. This film, using both specially shot and archive material is aimed at a younger audiences. It follows the dramatized story of “Ruby” an abandoned howler as she makes her way through “wild school”. Also edit produced.
ORBI ‘A Turtle’s Journey” 1 x 20’ BBC Earth / Sega Japan
This film explores island habitats such as Madagascar by way of a Giant Sea Turtle returning to lay her eggs. Using HD & 4k+ rushes from the NHU archive, huge seamless shots are created to tell the story across the 45 metre curved screens in Japan.
Prom Queen Divas 1 x 60’ Channel 5 / Oblong Films
Film following a handful of school leavers, as they prepare to have the biggest night of their young lives – Prom. With fake tan, killer heels and teeth whitening being the order of the day, tensions run high and all that, is before the limos arrive. A light-hearted film that explores the whirlwind of issues the modern teenager faces when they leave school and step onto the red carpet.
Cutting Edge - ‘CCTV Wardens’ 1 x 60’ Channel 4 / RDF
Obs Doc examining the plight of motorist in ‘Britain’s most congested City’ – Bristol! The film whimsically shows the frontline in George Ferguson (the self proclaimed ‘Electric Mayor’) and the council’s battle with Bristol’s car drivers.
ORBI ‘The Magic of Yellowstone’ 1 x 20’ BBC Earth / Sega Japan
Collaboration between SEGA Japan and BBC Earth. Produced specifically for one of the biggest cinema screens in the world. The film focuses on the unique wilderness of Yellowstone Park, in which its geysers, wolves and bison all feature. Compositing carefully selected rushes from the original NHU series in the edit created an epic film that presents a “hyper-real” version of the natural world across a 45 metre curved screen in Tokyo.
‘Man, Cheetah, Wild’ 1 x 90’ Discovery US / Tigress
Feature length documentary special, following Kim Wolhuter a Bushman and wildlife cameraman as he gains the trust of a family of wild cheetah in Zimbabwe. His skills allowed incredible access to the animals, even whilst hunting. The film focuses on the methods he employs to gain their trust as well as other up close encounters with the inhabitants of the Malilangwe Reserve.
Timeshift
‘Full Throttle’ – British Bikes 1 x 60’ BBC4 / BBC Bristol
Documentary series focusing on elements of the UK’s social and cultural history. ‘Full Throttle’ uses archive and new footage to prove why British motorbikes, their riders and the scene that developed over 50 years has left a legacy of biking cool that’s recognized globally. The programme journeys from Lawrence of Arabia, the original “ton-up boy’ in the 1920’s, to the café racers of the 50’s and the vicar that tried to salvage their tarnished reputation.
‘Nigelissima!” 3 x 30’ BBC2 / BBC Bristol
Sumptuous series and the return of the cook Nigella Lawson to the BBC, in which her love of Italy provides inspiration for dishes cooked a little closer to home.
‘Betty & The Big Cats’ 1 x 60’ Nat Geo Wild / Icon Films
Betty White is one of the most adored (and at 93, oldest) celebrities in America. Best known for her role in ‘The Golden Girls’ she has also been on the board of LA Zoo for the last 4 decades and is an ardent conservationist. In this special for Nat Geo’s Big Cat Week, Betty visits 3 top US zoological parks. She whispers to mating lions, watches a dog race a cheetah and prepares a ‘Deer Urine Burrito’ for 2 tigers she has known for years. A highly stylized look with GFX devised in the offline helped add to the madness.
‘Naked & Marooned’ 1 x 60’ Discovery UK / Tigress
The 2nd of 3 programmes documenting the experiences of a man marooned on a tiny Pacific island for 60 days with no clothes, tools, or equipment other than a camera kit. Ed Stafford, explorer and first man to walk the length of the Amazon, struggles with the basics of human existence. Film has a personal and pared down visual / editorial style to echo Ed’s experience opposed to a more traditional ‘survival’ strand.
‘Nigel Slater’s Simple Cooking’ 2 x 30’ BBC1, BBC Bristol
Cook Nigel Slater explores classic culinary pairings and travels the country discovering less well know foodstuffs.
BBC Earth / Orbi - ‘Iceworlds’ 1 x 20’ BBC Earth / Sega Japan
A BBC Earth cinema short in partnership with SEGA creating a film to act as the centrepiece for a new installation in Tokyo. Using BBC NHU rushes, the film charts a year at the earth’s poles. Shown on a massive curved screen 45x9 metres it is the first of its kind. Created using new editing workflows on the Adobe Premiere / After Effects platforms.
‘Bush Pilots’ 2 x 60’ Dave / UKTV - RDF West
Dave’s first Obs Doc commission. Adventure series following a community of rookie pilots based in Botswana flying tiny planes over the Okavango Delta.
‘Wild Case Files’ 1 x 60’ National Geographic US /
Tigress
Series investigating more leftfield stories from the natural world. Highly stylized look to the stories mainly created in the offline. Editorially, a combination of science, anthropology and ‘whodunnit’.
‘Beautiful Freaks – Namibia’ - 3D 2 x 60’ Discovery & Tigress
Wildlife Documentary following naturalist Nick Baker’s journey through Namibia. Exploring the evolution of its endemic creatures and how they have developed to cope with the extremes of environment. Offline edit provided first assessment of the 3D rushes prior to any depth grade / fixing. Separate 2D version also cut.
‘Village SOS’ 2 x 60’ BBC1, BBC Wales
Filmed over the course of a year, rural villagers strive to regenerate their villages.
‘Misbehaving Mums to Be” 1 x 60’ BBC3, Prospect Pictures
A team of specialist midwives attempt to help pregnant women with addiction issues before they give birth.
‘Emergency Bikers” 5 x 60’ Channel 5, RDF TV West
Fast paced documentary focusing on motorbike paramedic and police units as they respond to calls across the country. Offline edits given strong role in developing editorial to assist in prompt programme delivery.
‘Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers’ 5 x 30’ BBC1, BBC Bristol
Flagship cookery series with Britain's ‘best loved food writer’. Making humble but delicious dishes and exploring favourite ingredients.
‘Nigel Slater’s Christmas Suppers” 1 x 30’ BBC1, BBC Bristol
As above - with bells on.
‘Weird Creatures’ 4 x 60’ Animal Planet, Icon Films
Natural history series tracking naturalist Nick Baker’s exhilarating attempts to come face to face with the strangest of animals in far-flung corners of the earth.
Episodes: Marsupial Mole, Pygmy Sloth, Anteaters, Slow Loris.
‘Instant Restaurant‘ 6 x 45’ BBC2, RDF TV West
Factual entertainment show challenging cooks to transform their homes into restaurants for a night then welcome strangers to taste their efforts.
‘Everest, Beyond The Limit’ 1 x 60’ Discovery, Tigress Prods.
Documentary series following the attempts and ascents of the world’s highest peak with all the drama, pain and sherpas that go with it.
‘Farm Camp’ 1 x 30’ CITV, Handle & Spout Prods.
Children try to make it as farmers, whilst looking at where food really comes from.
‘My Life As An Animal’ 2 x 60’ BBC3, Love Prods. West
Two volunteers immerse themselves in the lives of pigs by living with them for 4 days, studying the behaviour and lifecycle of the animals to see what we can learn about ourselves.
‘Young Mums & Dads Mansion’ 2 x 60’ BBC3, Love Prods. West
A group of strangers, all single parents, live together with their children for four weeks to see if by supporting and helping each other they can turn their lives around.
‘Flog It!’ 8 x 45’ BBC1, BBC Bristol
Classic daytime entertainment with members of the public bringing their antiques to be viewed, valued and then sold (or not) by a team of experts.
‘Michaela’s Zoo Babies’ 1 x 60’ Five, IWC Media
1 x 30’
Wildlife documentary series which follows young animals and the roles of their keepers in zoos and wildlife parks across the UK.
‘Great British Menu’ 2 x 30’ BBC1, Optomen Television
Top British chefs source the perfect ingredients and compete for the chance to cook a four-course banquet for their peers.
‘MasterChef’ 8 x 30’ BBC2, Shine Ltd
Much loved cookery competition where amateur cooks compete to impress Jon & Gregg and win the coveted title.
‘Celebrity MasterChef‘ 1 x 60’ BBC1, Shine Ltd
3 x 30’
MasterChef but with celebrity cooks trying their hand. Newsreader Michael Buerk’s ‘strawberries topped with nuts’ being a curve-ball highlight.
Additional projects for
MTV, Disney Channel, Playboy TV, Jetix, Fox Kids
Corporate
Clients including: COI, Nokia, Vauxhall, 02, Cadbury’s, Shell, RBS, Lloyds,
Jack Morton, Fitch, Sony, Toyota
Employment
Senior Staff Editor - DGP, 12-13 Greek Street, London W1D4DL
Staff Editor - Technicolor Network Services, Chiswick Park, London W4 5AN
Referees
Charlotte Jones, Executive Prod. - BBC Earth
Peter Fison, Director - Natural World
Steven Clarke, Series Producer, Plimsoll Productions