photo tim

The Coaly Tyne

2012-02-08T12:26:00.005Z

It's a strange old job this actoring lark. We spend our days slogging away with castings, learning sides and trying to keep the tools sharp, but every now and then all the hard work pays of and you get the chance to work on a unique project.

Got a call from my wonderful agent Mia Thomson saying I had a meeting for a weeks workshop up in Newcastle, working on a new project "The Last Ship". It was for a casting director I've worked for before, and oh yeah and it was being written by Sting. You can imagine, one minute your playing Henry VIII and the next you auditioning for a bloke who wrote the sound track to your youth.

Did I mention the learning sides thing, half a rain forest came over the email, thankfully Rehearsal 2 on the ipad has saves me so much printing, fantastic app.

Long story short, recalled, got the gig playing Mickey. Up to Newcastle and the Live Theatre.

Through the whole casting process I did catch myself thinking, holy crap .. that's Sting.

He and the producer Jeffery Seller had assemble an astounding creative team, Brian Yorkey on book, Rob Mathes as musical supervisor, his wonderful assistant Dan Lipton and the great Joe Mantello directing. Wonderful.

The cast wasn't half bad either, Emma Williams, Jimmy Nail, Val McLane and Julian Forsyth and those were just a few I hadn't worked with before. At this point I have to send shout out to Hal Fowler, GSA reunion and Mark Roper who played the Governor in Jailhouse Rock, fantastic to see you again boys.

The intensity of work was crazy, by 20:00 on the first day we had learned the show musically and by dinner time on day two we had table read the script and were getting down to cutting and rearranging. This sort of process is why I love what I do, everyone on the project working their arses off to see a fledgling project grow and take wing.

To be honest, during the week I'd occasionally look across the floor and see Sting just sitting there, riffin away on his guitar, WOW.

Then the band turned up on day 3, Ira Coleman his current bass player, the astounding Kathryn Tickell on pipes and violin. Peter and Mike also joined the line up and the amazing Julian Sutton on squeezebox.

The week culminated in two "Script in Hand" development performances to an invite only audience.

It worked!

The story was clear and engaging, the songs soared and everyone was wrapped up in this story of love and struggle set against the backdrop of the Wallsend shipyard closure in the 1980's.

Where it goes from here, who knows, but what a privilege to have worked on it with such wonderful people.

the scenery on the way back wasn't half bad either,

Laters.

恭喜发财

2012-01-23T09:41:00.003Z

Tony

2011-12-27T23:24:00.001Z

Huge Heart (many stents)

It Never Rains In Southern California

xxx

Ho Ho Ho

2011-12-24T10:39:00.001Z

All shades of wrong!

Ho Ho Ho... Merry Christmas

Have a watch

2011-11-22T23:30:00.001Z

This is a project that is dear to my heart:

Please watch, download and enjoy:

http://www.theworkers.org.uk/lets-work-together-the-video/

Laters

T

This is for all the Producers, Artistic Directors and PR People

2011-11-14T19:28:00.000Z

Latest Promo.

** Free Theatre Production Shoot
** Free Webpage Contact Sheet
* Quick Turnaround

** Only pay for the images you want **

FTP or Disc delivery is included for free.

Call Tim on 0780 329 3251 for details

Laters

http://www.timparker-photo.com/index.html

Tell The Story

2011-11-07T17:31:00.001Z

I love a challenge, ask anyone, but when I was recently asked to shoot a wedding, I had nightmares.

I can walk on stage at Drury Lane in front of 3000 people without a shudder, sit behind a drum kit at The Albert Hall, (even with it's notoriously bad fold-back) and kick it, I can even walk out of my trailer, do 15 takes because of helicopter noise, and love every minute of it.

But ask me to shoot that "I DO" moment and I'm losing sleep for a week.

So how to cope?

I always like to start with a bit research and planning, in fact I love it. In this case meeting the couple, scouting the venue and having a chat with the registrar. Then it's time to have a long hard look in your tool bag and see where you're at. Learning new techniques and challenging yourself keeps you on point and your work fresh.

As an actor, your technique is the foundation on which everything else sits, you forget that at your peril, the same applies to photography. Media photography especially, requires you to adapt quickly to a constantly changing frame in low light conditions, you haven't got the luxury of metering everything as you would in the studio.

You need to understand your gear, what it can and can't do, and how to get the best from it in any situation. Understanding this frees you up and allows you to focus on the storytelling, as the day itself is a living thing; constantly changing and evolving, every bit as demanding as shooting on a film set.

The mantra has to be:

Trust your prep
Know your gear
Make a plan ... but always, always, be prepared to change it.

After all, who could have planned for a fire crew turning up before the happy couple could cut the cake?

laters

Thank You - Hin Pang

2011-10-15T14:06:00.000+01:00

It's nice to able to report a good thing.

Yesterday I had a mentoring session with Canon UK's Hin Pang.

All arranged by Calumet, I was at first a bit reticent, can something free really be anything more than a chance for Calumet and Canon to sell me more stuff. To my surprise, it was fantastic. No selling from anyone.

I had booked it to chat about the video capabilities of my 5DmkII, but as I'm shooting a wedding next week, I decided to used my session to investigate Location Flash Photography.

I love a challenge; on a film set using available light or in the studio with my Elinchrom strobes, but using a Canon Speedlight on location has always seamed like a dark art to me. Of course, I understand the concepts of ambient light adjustment blah... blah... blah, but there is nothing like having an expert confirm and enhance your skills.

I was blown away as to just how versatile the Canon Speedlights are, they are not just for giving Aunty Mavis red-eye, they add a whole new level of creativity to location shooting.

So, again,

Thank you Hin Pang

... if you get the chance of a Canon mentoring session, I suggest you take it.

Laters

Training

2011-10-05T00:24:00.000+01:00

We spend 5 years...a life time, trying to achieve neutral. It's a journey ... Maybe it will never happen. but hang on ... it's going to be a fantasic ride.
Keep strong, hang on, it won't be long.

T
Xx

When Worlds Collide

2011-09-22T11:32:00.001+01:00

Well I'm back in the land of the living after four days of night shoots, (can you say that? I know what I mean). One days filming left.

Wonderful experience, great story, great cast and crew, and great times. The Addicted is going to be fantastic, no spoilers here though, you'll have to wait for the official launch.

As is my way, not only am I playing Chris Hunter, I also managed to fit in production photographer as well... again, can't release images yet.

The Addicted, coming soon to a blog near you.

Laters
T

this isn't giving away too much ...

Canon 5D mkII

2011-09-12T23:05:00.001+01:00

It's been about a 18 months since I upgraded to the new 5D mkII, last week I took the plunge and upgraded the firmware, thanks Canon Support. Well since then I have been overcome with the power of HD video. And the price of DSLR camera rigs. So, thanks to You Tube, TPP is embarking on a rig quest. Pictures, Videos and ... to follow

Laters,

BBC Comedy Proms

2011-09-09T22:27:00.000+01:00

The power of music, comedy and genius

TPP in the papers

2011-09-08T11:50:00.001+01:00

Hey all, 1st night shoot done, cracking shots!!

It's been a wonderful few days for Tim Parker Photography, not only have my press shots for The Landor Theatre's production of Ragtime - The Musical hit the local and national press, but I've had 2 photos of the Be The Change March published on the Sky News site.

Oh yeah and my images of Mysterious Skin are being used by The Drill Hall for the run 18, 19, 20 September. Book early, great show and tickets are going fast.

The Addicted

2011-09-07T13:18:00.000+01:00

Principle photography begins today on a the new feature for Recoil Films. A lot of night shoots in my future but all is good. I'm playing Chis, a twisted rehab centre director. I can't say anymore because it would spoil the fun.

Great cast, great director, lets make a movie ...

Be The Change March, Brixton

2011-09-03T12:37:00.001+01:00

Be The Change March, Brixton, a photo by photo_tim on Flickr.

Be The Change March, Brixton

2011-09-03T12:36:00.001+01:00

Be The Change March, Brixton, a photo by photo_tim on Flickr.

St Catherine's Oratory shoot

2011-09-01T13:06:00.001+01:00

St Catherine's Oratory shoot, a photo by photo_tim on Flickr.

Great Band, great guys and yes I'll say it great shoot.

Billy Vincent

2011-08-31T17:41:00.001+01:00

Top band, I did the stills for the shoot and if you watch cafefully you might recognise the bouncer in the video aswell

World Photography Day

2011-08-18T09:45:00.000+01:00

Get out there and get snapping.

Tim Parker - Showreel

2011-08-10T16:06:00.000+01:00

Freelance ... Love It.

2011-08-10T10:40:00.000+01:00

Having spent a large chunk of my acting career doing 8 shows a week and fitting photography and filming projects around them, it's taken me a couple of years to really adjust to the true nature of freelancing. It's fantastic.

For the first few months I felt I wasn't working hard enough, I had a real sense of guilt when 17:30 came around and I wasn't heading into town for the warm up. I felt naughty if I was out in the evening or on a matinee day.

All change now though. Learning scripts overnight, turning around photo clients contact sheets in 4 hours, and I've almost, got time for a social life. I've even had to buy a whiteboard to keep track,

So to all the true freelancers out there, who work to hard, It's time to enjoy the down time and rest up. Who knows when we'll next get a break.

Go away ... Come back

2011-08-05T23:16:00.000+01:00

Fantasic photography week, that's all there is to it!!! It's weeks like this that remind me that actors ARE wonderful, special and vunerable creatures.

Just a big thank you to everyone who has come in this week, we laughed, we cried, (not literally) we ate biscuit ... while we are on the subject Jaffa CAKES are cakes, live with it, love you.

So to sum up, top snapping week. Next week Actoring.

Laters

Just a Taste

2011-08-02T16:39:00.000+01:00

Here's a sneaky peek at my wonderful 1970's moustache. Watch out for it in the new ITV production of White Heat, coming to BBC2 in the autumn. Enjoy.

Memory Lane

2011-08-02T00:50:00.000+01:00

Cracking shoot today, with a wonderful actress, you know who you are (pics to follow), and I was thinking, as a drummer I've owned a lot of guitars over the years. My first, a really knackered, but real, Les Paul, then a couple of Yamaha's, shouldn't of sold the traveller I bought in Venice. Now I'm Epiphones for acoustics and Strat's for wired. Really want an Amber American Deluxe ... But is it me or are the new C necks really thick? Answers on a postcard, or on the blog.

Laters,

T

Mr Wilson

2011-07-31T12:47:00.001+01:00

Had a fantastic time the other week shooting with the wonderful people at Polarity Films on their new comedy "Bollocks".

I play Mr Wilson an OCD office manager who is more concerned with his model train set and boiled sweets than the fact that one of his colleagues is having a very, very bad day. Cast includes Brandon Francis as Bob, Lizzie Stables as Georgina and our fantastic director Simon J Riley.

here are some pics:

Oliver Walker - Award

2011-07-29T17:13:00.001+01:00

Oliver Walker - Award, a photo by photo_tim on Flickr.

1950's photo shoot

2011-07-29T15:47:00.000+01:00

Had fun yesterday shooting a great talent, Rob Maskell, as we recreated some of Buddy Holly's classic press photo's. A challenging commission, but one that has special resonance for me as it took me back 20 years when I made my West End debut in "The Buddy Holly Story" at the Victoria Palace theatre. Great show, good times wonderful people. Pic's to follow.