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Our final M33 film done, this was the scene in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard as the ship was unveiled to the public , 100 years after her arrival in Gallipoli, to use her big guns against Turkish forces resisting the Allied invasion. The bold plan by Winston Churchill to rush Turkey’s capital with a naval assault failed almost immediately; and after troop landings with appalling casualties and no real progress, the Allies withdrew within less than a year. The golden military rule “Never reinforce failure” had been ignored, at a terrible cost. But the commemoration/launch day was a complete success, with the M33 manned, a mini-drama about Gallipoli performed on her foc’sle, the unveiling of an detailed bronze plaque and a service of commemoration (picture) in the dock beneath her bows. And as for the reborn ship herself… see next blog!

So… what would that be then? Camera? Camera skills? Good sound? Luck with the weather? Luck with interviewees? Luck with picture sequences? (Not generally a problem when you’re dealing with ships – cameras just love ‘em.) But there’s one thing more that will make or break you. A good Executive Producer, representing your clients. Well, that’s him up there, in checking mode – Nick Harvey of Seafarers UK, who commissioned our 2015 Seafarers Awareness Week films. You see him at St Katharine’s Dock while we were shooting Anshie Patel linking the film compilations (another must-have: a good presenter. And she’d never done TV before…) Calm, creative, firm and clear about what he needed, responsive and encouraging – Nick was great to work with. So, next task for him: a short course for other Execs on how to behave. And how not!!

It’s what you want when filming out on the water but fat chance of getting it if Father Neptune has other ideas ruling the waves. But you improve your chances of getting good picture if you have a decent-sized boat with enough space to work in. Ideal are launches like the one in the picture above – Wilventure II, one of Williams Shipping’s smart fleet of vessels. The Southampton company is a family firm, well-known and respected round the port. They deserve to be, with Wilventure’s crew consistently delivering where I needed to go for shots as Shieldhall made her way up Southampton water with passengers aboard for one of her regular excursions. Still a big challenge though and all the time you’re conscious of cost and the need to deliver– though the rate was very reasonable. Seemed to work though…

No not a spelling mistake – because Steam Ship Shieldhall’s original role was to take Glasgow citizens for a day out “doon the watter” (down the water) along the River Clyde. As well as dumping effluent, that is. But they’re a hardy lot in Scotland’s second city (or first, as many Glaswegians will tell you.) Er… where was I… this is getting a bit like one of Ronnie Corbett’s comfy chair monologues… oh yes! Filming Shieldhall. One of the classic problems with filming ships under way, is you have get off them to get them on film. And be some way away to capture them in one shot. That’s difficulty No. 1 – solved if you can capture her from shore. If she comes close enough.  But – if you’re to capture them under way – the best shot – you need a boat….

Georgia Atkins is our Merchant navy trainee star, just completing her course at Warsash Maritime Academy in Southampton. We filmed her learning firefighting, automatic bridge controls, first aid, and RIB work. But also, thanks to Suzanne Galloway at the Academy press office in Southampton Solent University, we were able to take Georgia and some fellow students to the Academy’s Timsbury Lake, where ship’s officers learn about handling the huge ships of the 21^st century – using scale models that mimic precisely the sea-keeping qualities of the real thing.  Georgia is literally following in father’s footsteps – her dad was in cruise ships. She had her wow moment when she went to sea with him and watched a cruise ship captain taking his giant ship across the ocean. It clicked for her, and goes on clicking. See the film at https://www.youtube.com/user/SeafarersAwareness

…that’s Anthem of the Seas (picture) latest addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet. For the 5,000 passengers, there’s every kind of amusement from onboard surfing (really), dodgems and climbing walls… not forgetting the extraordinary North Star, a pod on a long arm that can swing you right out over the passing sea! And then – all the food you can eat and a great deal more that you should (one seasoned passenger carries two sets of clothes on his cruises – with one two sizes up for when he disembarks…) But of course you don’t have to do that – just enjoy the ship, which is a technical  marvel. Big thanks to Royal Caribbean’s super Kathryn Neilson for facilitating our visit, and to her son Matt (Second Officer) and Cadet Robert Mackin-Lang for a great day on board. See the film at https://www.youtube.com/user/SeafarersAwareness