Guest Lecture: Hugh Ballantyne

Hugh Ballantyne directs dramatised, factual and historical documentaries including programmes such as:

• Banged Up Abroad

• Bear Grylls - Man vs. Wild

• Extreme World - Ross Kemp

• Mankind (the story of all of us)

Hugh travelled around Asia as a photographer. He also studied in Australia and worked as an architect, which is why he often sketches out his visual ideas. He built up a body of work and showed it to many production companies. Eventually he began work with a Company, helping to produce commercials. He then moved on to making documentaries and music videos for MTV.

• What I found particularly inspiring about Hugh's lecture, was the insight into what a director does. I always believed that a director's sole purpose was to manage actors/talent and organise wardrobe/hair/set design etc. but Hugh had a huge stake in the visuals of his work; especially in Mankind: the story of all of us. He drew out meticulous storyboards and came up with the whole concept. I didn't think a director was able to have that much control over aesthetics, and when script writing I usually try to avoid writing in visual elements, as I didn't think you were necessarily allowed to include them - in case you "stepped on the toes" of the Director of Photography's. However, this means that I should not be afraid to be vocal with regards to the visual style and other areas.