Bio

My television career started in the Camera dept at London Weekend Television in 1976 as a trainee before moving up the ladder to become an operator in one of LWT’s multi-camera crews, working on a variety of shows, both studio and outside broadcasts.

A chance to join Limehouse Studios in 1982 as part of their camera crew was an opportunity I couldn’t miss, eventually going on to became the Head of the Camera dept. Sadly, the studios and building were demolished in 1988 and I had to move on.

I briefly joined Mentorn Films working on Challenge Anneka for which I received a BAFTA nomination for outstanding camerawork in 1990 before leaving to make my name in the freelance world now as a Director of Photography and Camera Supervisor.

Freelancing did in fact take me all over the world working on The Holiday Programme, while still filming more series of Challenge Anneka and other documentaries, but I also continued Camera Supervising on many multi-camera studio shows. Although I had lit and shot many location-based comedies, - around that time I started to light multi camera studio sit-coms in front of a live studio audience as the Lighting Director, and I loved the variety of my two roles.

In 2011, I was honoured to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the RTS, followed by the GTC’s very own TiCA Award in 2015 and then in 2018 I was shortlisted for a Knight of Illumination award by the STLD for lighting Mrs Browns Boys.

I love my job and never happier that when I’m behind a camera or tweaking a light.
My Web site: www.martinhawkins.com