About Me

Welcome. If you are looking to make a video on any scale of production, I believe my experience and contacts will be of benefit to you. I am a self-shooting video Producer and Director based in London with my own equipment and editing capabilities; with over 10 years experience as a videographer.

After earning my Film Production degree in 2004, I’ve constantly been developing new skills whilst working for the largest advertising agencies, including JWT, AMV BBDO, Grey and RKCR/Y&R.

I worked at the BBC for 3 years in my early career, which allowed me many creative opportunities and responsibilities including Directing TV for BBC2, and formal training in multi-camera TV Directing; professional lighting; working with children; and health and safety.

Since I became freelance in 2011, I’ve co-developed, produced and directed a successful TV show about video games that was bought by Challenge, a Freeview channel. I’ve been Director of Photography and editor on TV shows for London Live; and I was channel manager & producer for SBTV’s dedicated technology channel for Jamal Edwards; working alongside well known tech brands as partners such as Google, Microsoft & Samsung.

In recent years I’ve been very fortunate to work on many great marketing campaign videos, for well known brands such as Airbnb, EE, Mitsubishi, STA Travel, The Kraken Rum, Lenovo, 3 Mobile, EA, Movember and The Army to mention just a few. I have also done filming and editing on many videos for BAFTA and The BFI London Film Festival.

As a filmmaker I can work alone or form teams with multiple crew depending on what is suitable for your brief; I also work closely with a number of  London based production companies for larger scale marketing and corporate films when needed.

Perhaps you are in need of a Freelance cameraman / videographer and editor for advertising on social media or a corporate video or perhaps for your next event? Then I believe you’ve come to the right person. Working together I can meet your criteria and surpass your expectations.

So If you are thinking about a potential video project or just want to discuss ideas and seek some free advice please get in touch.

Thank you for taking the time to look at my page.

 

 

 

 

My Work

Airbnb & STA Travel

Aurora London - Behind The Scenes Photoshoot

Aurora London - Meet the Founders

The Kraken Rum - Portside Flip

Model Showreel

VYOM London

BAFTA Film Awards

Kanpai Japan

Movember

BFI London Film Festival

The Kraken Rum - Camden Rocks

The Kraken Rum - Black Christmas

3 Mobile - Star Wars BB8 Race

VISA - Formula E - Paris

Rosewood Hotel

Army & Talksport - Tank Training

Lenovo - Marrakech

STA & Visit Britain - Coasteering

London Triathalon - Positiv

Svalbard: An Arctic Adventure

EA - Dragon Age: Inquisition

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    Airbnb & STA Travel

    Working with producers at Formidable, I Directed, shot and edited this video. It was a first for Airbnb in partnership with STA Travel, to make a video not using actors but real contributors and documenting their trip.

    Featuring travel bloggers 'Hand Lugguage Only' we set out to capture the benefits of using Airbnb with STA Travel, by gaining local knowledge from their hosts to have a unique travel experience.
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    Aurora London - Behind The Scenes Photoshoot

    A behind the scenes video I made for Aurora London at the photoshoot for the Autumn / Winter 2018 collection of their beautiful bags.
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    Aurora London - Meet the Founders

    A video I made for Aurora London to introduce the founders Devina Dicarlo and Sarah Auerbach and their amazing bag designs.
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    The Kraken Rum - Portside Flip

    This is one of 6 cocktail making videos made with expert mixologists for The Kraken Rum's society The League of Darkness. If you would like to see the other 5 videos, get in touch with me via the contact form.
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    Model Showreel

    In this shoot wanted to test the Zhiyun Crane 2 gimbal with my Panasonic GH5 and wanted to put a short video together showing some of the different techniques.

    Featuring Actor/Model - Malcolm Modele, see his profile here:
    www.imdb.com/name/nm7017116/
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    VYOM London

    A 60sec video I shot and edited for VYOM London Vegan Shoes to launch their brand. I also made a longer more detailed video for the brand for that helped attract investors which you can also see by clicking on the link below:
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    BAFTA Film Awards

    I have had the privelage of filming the BAFTA film awards for the key sponsor EE for a few years. Working with Formidable producers we were given exclusive access on the Red Carpet, and needed to turn around videos such as this one very quickly for their social media.
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    Kanpai Japan

    In the summer of 2015 I explored Japan for a month with my camera. It was a country I had always wanted to go to, but I never realised when planning the trip how amazing it was going to be and what effect it would have on me.

    This film is a love letter to the place and the people I hold close to my heart. The way they respect one another is an example to us all. After being featured on multiple websites and reaching the top 10 videos on Reddit, this video has received over 70K views which I am very proud of and grateful.
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    Movember

    The Movember Foundation is the leading global organisation committed to changing the face of men's health. In 2017 I was hired to make multiple videos for the charity with content from around the world.

    This video is trailer to a much longer documentary about their dedicated fundraisers designed to inspire others to take up their own challenge for a good cause. To see the full length film click the link below:
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    BFI London Film Festival

    This is an example of one of the many videos I made for the BFI London Film Festival, working with Formidable producers. During a film festival as grand as this, there a lot videos to deliver within a tight deadline including red carpet interviews, panel discussions and on stage introductions.
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    The Kraken Rum - Camden Rocks

    As the major sponsor for the Camden Rocks Annual music festival, the brand wanted a cool video to show off their very popular black ice cream and drinks whilst capturing the buzz and excitement of the event.
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    The Kraken Rum - Black Christmas

    Video I shot and edited for The Kraken Rum, to promote their London Black Christmas event, where the black food, drink and decorations make the visitors feel like they have stepped in to a Tim Burton movie. This is a good example of the events work I do for brands.
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    3 Mobile - Star Wars BB8 Race

    In the build up to the release of the highly anticipated film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 3 Mobile wanted a fun sharable video for their social channels.
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    VISA - Formula E - Paris

    I have made videos for VISA for a few years now, working with Formidable producers. By far my favourite experiences have been at the Formula E events, which is a growing worldwide racing sport. As a major sponsor, VISA award a trophy and league points to the Fastest Lap of the race.
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    Rosewood Hotel

    Working with producers at Formidable, I shot and edited videos for The Rosewood Hotel, raising money for the children at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
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    Army & Talksport - Tank Training

    This video is a short episode of an 8 part series for the Army to help encourage recruitment. Made for Talksport, presenter Max Rushden followed players from the Canvey Island football club, as they take up the challenge of real Army training.

    After completing phase 1 of training with marching drills, assault courses, team building exercises and marksmanship the players move on to phase 2. Filming in potentially dangerous situations, I directed a team of 4 to cover the action with multiple camera angles and Go Pros attached to the tanks.
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    Lenovo - Marrakech

    This video I filmed and edited features popular YouTube vlogger Oli White traveling around Marrakech. Working with Formidable, we set out to show how many different activities you can do, within the 18 hour battery life of the Lenovo YOGA Tablet 2.

    Putting the tablet through its paces whilst filming in a difficult environment was a challenge but worth the look of raw authenticity. Multiple length versions of this video were created including shorter pre-rolls, the full length 10 minute version which achieved over 250K views, and this succinct 4 minute version.
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    STA & Visit Britain - Coasteering

    In 2014 after making a number of videos for STA Travel around Europe it was time to turn our attention to the UK for a partnership with Visit Britain. Working with Formidable producers, we set out to document our road-trip with US rapper Astronautalis, documenting his experience of Britain as a tourist for the first time.

    Simultaneously a second team documented a separate trip around Scotland and the North where we would join both crews at the end meeting in Manchester. For each destination I shot and edited a bespoke video from London to Brighton to Bath to Dale to Liverpool to Manchester and ending on a canal boat trip around the North of England. This ambitious video was shot in the middle of the trip using a Drone team, GoPros and myself filming on the rocky cliffs of the Pembrokeshire coast.
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    London Triathalon - Positiv

    Positiv is a new energy drink that uses natural ingredients intended to be a healthier alternative to the better known drink brands. Therefore their sponsorship of the London Triathlon was a good fit for marketing.

    As well as the Blenheim Triathalon for which I also made a video, this London shoot was an intense day of filming with a fast turn around edit. I think this video does a good job of capturing the determination of the competitors, the fun of the day for their families and the favorable presence of the brand.
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    Svalbard: An Arctic Adventure

    This is a short trailer for a nature & travel documentary I filmed and edited. In 2011, I voyaged with my father to the high Arctic, circumnavigating the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.

    It generated interest from the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival in New York as well as offers from TV Networks in California. This film illustrates the stunning landscapes, the magnificent wildlife and the spirit of adventure found in the Arctic. If you would like to see the full 1 hour video click the link below:
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    EA - Dragon Age: Inquisition

    Twitch is the world's leading Live video platform and community for gamers where more than 45 million people gather every month. For the launch of video game Dragon Age: Inquisition, EA wanted a large scale medieval themed competition, with 4 teams lead by key influencers to be broadcast on Twitch.

    Working with Formidable & Indigo Pearl, I directed and edited this 3 camera shoot at Heaver castle presented by Radio 1's Julia Hardy, in which key influencers took part in Archery, Pulling a Boar, Axe Throwing and building a catapult. The video was streamed in 15 minute parts in the 3 days leading up to the launch of the game. This is the full 45min version was released to accompany launch day promotions.

Testimonials

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with David over many years and he’s an incredibly hard working and creative individual. Be it the planning, shooting or editing he’s an excellent person to have on the team and always comes with great ideas, meticulous planning and seamless execution.’

Pete Gibbons, Creative Director at Formidable

“David was a member of our production team for over two years, and consistently delivered great ideas, creative camera work, and excellent editing – all with incredible enthusiasm, and lovely working manner.  The pride he takes in his work shines through. I have since worked with David as a freelancer, as he is always an asset to any team.’

Beth Garrod, Former BBC Producer & Director of Social Responsibility at VIMN

“David is fantastic to work with! A really friendly, professional film maker who always delivers the highest quality videos. He really understands how to produce for an online audience and always takes the time to fully understand the unique objective of each shoot. He works incredibly hard on everything he produces and is always happy to go that extra mile. As well as having a great eye for filming he’s a brilliant editor and I have recommended him to many of my colleagues.’

Aissetou N’gom, Social Media Producer YA at Penguin Random House

“I have worked with David in my current role and in my previous role at Ladbrokes, and in both instances he has exceeded my expectations. His commitment, reliability and attention to detail is always first class. His talent for ideating a brief and bringing hours of raw footage to life for online audiences is downright inspiring.’

Ceiron Jones, Global Social Media Lead at Movember Foundation

“David Smith is multi-skilled, reliable and a pleasure to work with.’

Ruth Talijaard, Producer at Transmission JWT, Hogarth Wordwide Ltd

“Cow PR have worked with David on several occasions and would not hesitate to do so again. Not only are his rates reasonable and the quality of work sublime, but he’s incredibly creative, a joy to work with and full of good ideas. He’s also incredibly calm in a crisis, and his good nature has helped us through any issue from malfunctioning phones to tricky to manoeuvre droids!’

Jack Clothier, Digital & Creative at CowPR

“David has collaborated with Milky Films for many years as a Director and cameraman on numerous projects in the past. As a true British talent with great ideas and a great deal of commitment and passion towards his work, David’s thoughtfulness, creativity and the sheer attention to detail has always made him an invaluable asset for our team and we’ve had the pleasure of enjoying his contribution to our work for over a decade now.’

Kaushik Bhattacharya, Managing Director & Founder of Milky Films

Contact

Phone:  +(44)  07739 785 388

Alternatively get in touch with any questions via the contact form below. Thank you.