Our talented Researcher Emily Doyle will be dancing at the closing ceremony of the Olympics this Summer. After successfully beating off huge volumes of competition in a rigorous assessment process involving an online application process followed by two auditions, she received the news this week that she will be performing in the Summer.

Emily studied Professional Theatre and Dance at the London Studio Centre before joining the Halo team in 2010. She is a hugely talented dancer, and also performs with Streethouse Studios Group in her own time. This group are doing incredibly well, winning the recent title of Over 18′s National Street Dance Champions, and they are off to compete at the European Championships in Paris later this year.

Watch out for her, we will be; good luck Em

Consumer usage of video is increasing at an astonishing rate. Cisco has estimated that video will increase from 30% of Internet traffic in 2010 to 90% by 2013. Online retailers are already using video, and service companies, manufacturing, and many others are also hopping on board.

The message is clear: Consumers expect online video as a central element of a company’s communications strategy. No matter what sector of business you are in, incorporating video is an essential step in preparing yourself for the future of marketing.

Inside Out Retreats opens in Richmond – ex-city banker, Alison Pothier, now works with the corporate and public sector to promote change through personal transformation.

It was a cold winter’s day, and where nicer for Matt and Peter to take shelter than Cheltenham Ladies College… Matt and Peter were filming David Hamilton yesterday; one of the final interviews for Choicepoint. David’s books and blogs cover a range of fascinating and inspirational topics – from the impact of the mind on the body, the effect of compassion and kindness on the heart and the contagiousness of emotions.

Filming Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, Ian Stewart in one of the physics classrooms in Cheltenham Ladies College. A co-author of many Discworld novels with Terry Pratchett, Ian is the last person to be interviewed for the Choice Point film.

Motion Graphics Editor Jake studied Digital Film Production at the University of Gloucestershire and updates us on the new Media School…

‘Peter and I had the privilege of attending the opening of the University of Gloucestershire’s new Media School on 8th December. It was a real treat to revisit my old stomping ground, and update my fantastic film lecturers on my current work at Halo. Whilst being an excellent opportunity for Peter to see the new state-of-the-art facilities, it was also great to have an informal catch up with students and professionals alike. As an industry partner of the university I’m sure there will be more Halo visits to the university in the near future, I certainly hope so!’

Read more about the Media School on the University of Gloucestershire website

UK Dressage rider Carl Hester has ridden horses at an international level for more than two decades and has won a remarkable 51 British titles. Halo Films produced this five part series for Horse and Country TV on Carl. The crew filmed Carl at home, at work and with his family of animals to produce an affectionate five part series on the dressage rider.

Jonathan Rippon, Head of Programming at H&C TV explained, “We know our audience craves the back story on their equestrian stars, and Carl’s personality is a natural fit for TV. It’s our hope that partnerships like this one will help broaden the appeal of equestrian sports and we thank both Carl and Saracen Horse Feeds for working with us on this series.”

The five part series charts the day to day life of Carl, providing insights into his background, his spectacular facilities in Newent, Gloucestershire, his team and his incredible horses.

Researcher Emily shares her story of meeting, filming and befriending Jodi Orton, foster mum extraordinaire, and ultimately becoming one of the family:

When I heard we were flying to Kansas City the singing began in the office (‘Follow the yellow brick road’ and ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ being the favourites) and continued all the way to Kansas via Chicago. After a surprise meeting in the local Warsaw supermarket, We finally met our inspirational Foster Mother, Jodi. We were instantly part of the family, I was immediately given 1 month old DJ to hold and Sam was given to task of childminding 2 year old Gabe and 8 year old Lara, the beginning of our initiation into what would become our American family. We spent every day of the week with the family, sometimes from 7.30am till being fed at the family dinner table at 9pm. I became very fond of all the children from talking to the teenagers about their days at school to running in with the bottle for baby DJ every time we heard a cry. Being in Warsaw for Halloween was an amazing experience and we even managed to rummage through the fancy dress box and find a few spare outfits Sam a Pirate and me a Hogwarts quidditch player. The Orton house was picture perfect and the mini farm made for all the more fun and of course great shots. From visiting the beach to meeting the locals at the local store, we really became part of an amazing family’s life and captured some emotional and heart touching footage for ‘Choice Point’. When the time came to leave none of us wanted to say goodbye, we said our emotional farewells and departed for the airport with many wonderful memories to look back on.

Full Gas: Riding a Time Trial with Fabian Cancellara (Intro)

Riding a time trial is one of the hardest disciplines of cycle sport. As Olympic Cyclist Fabian Cancellara says, to ride well you have to be ready for the pain.

In Full Gas, Fabian lets you into his world and tells you how you can ride faster. Hear how important his diet is, how long he spends riding his time trial bike, how much he likes to taper for an event and how he always pushes himself to go that 1km faster.

Halo Films worked with Science in Sport, Britain’s foremost sports nutrition company, to produce Full Gas: Riding a Time Trial with Fabian Cancellara. The DVD is available from the film website: http://fullgasdvd.co.uk/ and it is also available as downloadable tutorials.

Butterfly Tai Chi DVD.

Appearing in the Autumn / Winter 2011 issue of Mind, Body & Spirit magazine, Butterfly Tai Chi offers a system of Tai Chi that can be performed in a limited space and a relatively short time. Tai Chi can help you feel happier, healthier and more energised and this routine is based on 7 simple and elegant movements.

Halo worked with Martin Faulks to produce the film version of the Butterfly Tai Chi book which has sold tens of thousands of copies worldwide.

Martin Faulks has been a student of the oriental martial arts since he was five years old. He has a black belt in the Korean martial art Kuk Sool Wan and is proficient in the spiritual disciplines of China, including Tai Chi, meditation, Qi Gong and the legendry form of Yi Jin Jing.

After studying Butterfly’s Martin came up with his own martial art called ‘Butterfly Tai Chi’ Inspired by observing the almost magical motion of butterflies around fragrant flowers. Seeing how, soon after emerging from their Chrysalis, they moved their wings before flying off lead Martin Faulks to a system of Tai Chi that could be performed in a limited space and a relatively short time –  a form that would involve virtually no movement and, like the butterfly create a significant flow of energy around the body.

Oscar appeared in a few of the Masters promotional videos and was particularly fun to film as well as adding a light touch to some of the adverts. He was extremely well behaved and was very comfortable in front of the camera…  the start of a glistening new career!

The Samaritans sent us some amazing feedback this week on the Freefall Film. The Film was motivated by a desire to help people understand the complex nature of suicidal crisis and encourage discussion about a sensitive subject. These open and honest comments have been captured from the volunteers who have watched the film and are using it as a training resource within their branch. To receive such positive feedback is extremely gratifying and clarifies why we do what we do and we would like to share it…

‘That this film, on the most sensitive of issues, ever came to be produced is testimony to the makers Halo Films and the participants. This is no sensationalised account of suicide; it is no media ‘scoop’ or silver screen hype. It is rather an incredibly moving account of survivors of the ultimate life crisis – suicide. Selected through various helping organisations, each case study takes us on a journey we might otherwise never get to take. What would normally be deeply personal life experiences are revealed in intimate detail – life stories of despair, on through contact with caring voluntary groups, to eventually regain a desire for life – these survivors give reality to our highest hopes within Samaritans, that there will be fewer deaths through suicide. Freefall should be mandatory viewing for the nation.

In a shortened introductory form, it would serve as an incredible training video at every stage of the voluntary listeners’ journey – recruitment, SIT and on-going training’.

Tom, Northumbria branch

‘There have been other films made about suicide, but none has managed so deftly to interweave the stories of those who have been touched by suicide with the evidence and insights of scientists attempting to understand it’.

Jason, Derby branch

‘In my opinion, just one of the strengths of “Freefall” is that it draws the viewer in so that you come to care about the outcomes for the individuals that it features. They have been selected with care for the variety of human situations that they exemplify and for some people it could make unsettling viewing since we see lives go wrong in such ordinary, mundane ways.

I think the film makes a valuable contribution for the general public towards understanding suicide’.

Peter, Samaritans volunteer

Filming Alison

In late November we filmed in one of the most spectacular locations Halo has ever visited. Matt found this fantastically spacious office block overlooking St Paul’s. Named ‘New Change’, we thought it was rather apt for Choicepoint, and filmed an emotional interview with ex-city banker and now transformational leader, Alison Pothier. The photo shows Myfanwy preparing what turned out to be some rather poignient questions!

We’re busy developing a new website! For now just our blog is available so you can see what we’ve been up to, but the full new site will be here in January 2012.

If you would like to look at our old site in the meantime you can find it here: http://halofilms.co.uk/legacy/

Myfanwy met John Paul DeJoria, Co-founder and CEO of Paul Mitchell hair care products in November 2011. As a businessman, environmentalist and philanthropist, John Paul’s rags-to-riches story of struggling against the odds not only to achieve success, but to share his success with others is inspiring. Paul Mitchell were the first beauty company to stand up to animal testing and John Paul is involved in numerous charities, donating time, money and his skills to helping others.

Go Ape

Head for heights – Ludo up in the trees filming at Go Ape in October.  The footage is for Choicepoint is our new documentary feature film due for release in February. The film features major visionaries and inspirational figures of our times, every one of whom has overcome challenges and obstacles in his or her personal life or field of endeavour to reach the pinnacle of success.

British Time Trial Champion!

BERKELEY-based film director Pete Georgi won a gold medal at the British National Time Trial Championships in September

Competing for Giant Cycling Club, Georgi brought home the gold medal and champion’s jersey, winning his age category.

Held over a 20.9 mile road course from Great Gidding in Cambridgeshire, Georgi posted a time of 46 minutes, 28 seconds. His son, Castle School pupil Etienne Georgi, continued his cycling success over the Bank Holiday weekend, winning the juvenile section of Sussex Cyclist’s Association ten-mile road time trial at Plaistow, West Sussex.

Etienne’s mother, Louise Georgi, completed the family’s success by winning the ladies’ category. Finally, Etienne and his sister, Pfeiffer Georgi, a Year 6 pupil at St Mary’s School in Thornbury, both took third place in their respective age categories in the season long series of circuit races at Castle Combe.

Mastersgolf.tv

Masters Golf – Europe’s most purchased golf brand - took a huge step in early 2011 by ditching the traditional catalogue format in favour of a digital version with dedicated video footage of every product. Last year’s 120-page catalogue was the last it will publish – working with us on this mammoth filming project we put all the product information on downloadable video. The product videos are now embedded on the Masters website, are available on YouTube and are available also for retailers to embed into their websites or to use in any email marketing campaigns. Included in those fronting the videos is a familiar face, BBC and Sky Sports presenter Sarah Stirk, a very keen golfer and golf columnist. Check out Masters Golf TV on You-Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/mastersgolfTV?gl=US&ob=5

Choicepoint

Sam and Emily spent an October afternoon in Bournemouth filming Brett and his daughter for Choicepoint. The conditions were perfect and as the sun was setting it created a beautiful backdrop for some of the footage on the beach. Brett’s story is of the personal change he has been through, and his work now helps youths from difficult backgrounds.

Apprenticeship…

Apprenticeships are on the increase and we are delighted to be involved in the Creative and Digital Media Apprenticeship! This Apprenticeship has been developed by Skillset, the creative industries sector skills council. Cirencester College, which is part of the Skillset Media Academy, is piloting the scheme in the South West and we are are one of the first media companies to be involved. Andy Bryce joined the Halo team in June, contact him to find out more about the apprenticeship… andy@halofilms.co.uk

Follow Andy’s Blog – Haloapprentice.wordpress.com

Samaritans Annual Conference

We went along to the Samaritans Annual Conference in September to raise awareness of the Freefall film which was shown to the fabulous volunteers within the organisation. We are thrilled that they are using the film for ongoing training and have some lovely feedback:

‘A brilliant film. We bought one for our branch. Would like to see it integrated into ongoing training to nurses, doctors, teachers, police etc for student training’

‘A very sensitive but informative view of suicide. Bought the DVD to watch in branch’

Being adaptable and fitting in…

…must fit in!

Wonderful Foster Mum

Developing close relationships with the people you are filming is essential – Emily and Sam proved how important this is when recently filming Jodi, a wonderful foster mum recently. They developed a special bond which is so evident in the footage of their amazing family and this was to the point that Emily was invited to become an extra daughter!

Duncan and Anthea are very excited about a new piece of kit which will have a huge impact on their workload at the moment. A lot of footage for Choicepoint is being taken on the Canon 5D because of the fabulous picture quality. However matching up the film and audio has always been a very lengthy (and often painful!) process. But thankfully the ‘Lockit Buddy’ has come to play… this new piece of technology, developed in Germany, attaches to the camera and also to the sound recorder and helps sync and merge video to audio by finding the time code.

Cheers Mate!

4D Brachytherapy – Animated Advert from Halo Films Ltd on Vimeo.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

We have just delivered four science based information films to Oncura covering a new prostate cancer treatment. These include two adverts and a tool for physicians training them in the new cancer treatment.

The joys of getting out in the field… Em you don’t look too impressed!

Halo Home: The Old Wheelwrights, Ham, Berkeley, Glos GL13 9QH

Our phone number: 01453 810914

Halo live in a 400 year old building, The Old Wheelwrights, located within the grounds of the historic Berkeley Estate, in the beautiful South West of England.

We have enough room to run several productions at one time, a bar area to use for meetings and even the added luxury of an open fire!