Atonement DOP joins Skillset to help map out UK film industry training needs
16 October 2007
Critically-acclaimed director of photography Seamus McGarvey is the newest member of the Skillset Film Skills Strategy Committee, Skillset announced today.
McGarvey, who was born in Armagh, Northern Ireland, is the critically-acclaimed director of photography (DOP) for Atonement, the Joe Wright film adaptation of the best-selling Ian McEwan novel of the same name.
His credits as a DOP include World Trade Centre (dir. Oliver Stone), The Hours, and Sahara.
McGarvey will join other industry heavyweights and creatives in mapping out the skills and training needs for the UK film industry.
Skyline Films producer Steve Clark-Hall has also joined the committee.
Skillset Director of Film Janine Marmot said: "Skillset is delighted to have leading industry professionals join the Film Skills Strategy Committee."
She added: "Seamus and Steve will sit alongside other top film industry professionals in working out how best to tackle the challenges of identifying skills and training needs to ensure that our industry stays at the forefront of global competitiveness, as well as maintains its hard-won and deserved reputation for training the world's best talent."
The Skillset Film Skills Strategy Committee:
- Iain Smith (Producer, Applecross Productions)
- Michael O'Sullivan (SVP International - Paramount Pictures)
- David Blaikley (VP Legal & Business Affairs Europe - Warner Bros.)
- Brian Sinclair (Chairman, Guild of British Film Editors)
- Eric Fellner (Producer, Working Title)
- Joe Dunton MBE (MD, Joe Dunton & Co)
- John Woodward (CEO, UK Film Council)
- Marcia Williams (Head of Diversity, UK Film Council)
- Martin Spence (Asst GS, BECTU)
- Robert Jones (Producer, Material Entertainment)
- Steve Knibbs (CEO, VUE Entertainment)
- Steve Clark-Hall (Producer, Skyline Films)
- Tim Cagney (Head of UK Partnerships - UK Film Council)
- Tim Willis (Director of Film, Pact)
- Dinah Caine (CEO Skillset)
- Kate O'Connor (Deputy CEO, Skillset)
- Janine Marmot (Director of Film, Skillset).
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Notes to Editors:
1. Seamus McGarvey BSC, born in Armagh, Northern Ireland, began his career as a stills photographer before attending film school in London. Upon graduating in 1988 he began shooting short films and documentaries, including Skin, which was nominated for a Royal Television Society Cinematography Award, and Atlantic, directed by Sam Taylor-Wood, nominated for the 1998 Turner Prize. He also photographed and directed over 100 music videos, for such artists as U2, the Rolling Stones, PJ Harvey, Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield and Coldplay. In 1998, the British Society of Cinematographers invited McGarvey to join, making him its youngest member ever. In 2004 he was awarded the Royal Photographic Society's prestigious Lumiere medal for contributions to the art of cinematography.
His credits as a cinematographer include Oliver Stone's World Trade Center, starring Nicholas Cage, The Hours, directed by Stephen Daldry, starring Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Julianne Moore, for which he earned the London Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Technical/Artistic Achievement; the action-adventure film Sahara, starring Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz, for which he won the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Cinematography; Along Came Polly, starring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston; High-Fidelity, directed by Stephen Frears, starring John Cusack; Wit, starring Emma Thompson, directed by Mike Nichols; Enigma, directed by Michael Apted, The War Zone, Butterfly Kiss, The Winter Guest, The Actors, A Map of the World, Charlotte's Web and Atonement starring Keira Knightley.
2. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries covering Broadcast, Film, Video, Interactive Media and Photo Imaging. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. SSCs are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.