Kirk Watson films
I am a freelance filmmaker, based in Scotland. I can self shoot promotional, documentary, educational and narrative content and edit into a final film. I am also a fully licensed, CAA approved drone pilot and cinematographer. Perfect View Productions has all their own equipment to complete a project.
Whatever your story be it commercial, documentary or fictional we can help you get your message across in a high quality and professional manner.
Today I was back with Ramsay and Robyn from Caledonia TV for a program about a horse stunt team in the borders of Scotland. Today was a little different where we were filming an annual ride out of 300 or more horse, which was pretty amazing to see. Very busy few hours so not much chance for pics as had to film then run to the next spot lol. Will go out late summer on Prime time BBC.
Great few days with Derek and Vicky plus a few other filming rock climbing movement techniques. These are creating tutorials for their YouTube channel. Now made maybe 150 films for the channel 😁
Always fun filming with BBC Countryfile. Here we filmed a piece about the making of a Children in need hat in a Kilmarnock factory and also interviewed a Ukrainian farmer online. Then we came to Aviemore to film with Fiona’s ponies on a piece about the Queen for the Jubilee. Great to finish on my own patch and meet another local too.
Now this was an amazing trip with the Dana crew. Filming the 8th episode together and the 2nd episode of season two. Here we head to Mingulay the un-inhabited island on the far south of the Western Isles. We are going for 4 days camping and climbing on the massive sea cliffs. there is something very special about this island, not sure what it is just feels great being there with the wildlife and sea and cliffs:)
We amazing get great weather although quite windy. We almost get stuck there which we were all looking forward to but Angus in his boat managed to get in to the little rocky gully where we load up. Some pics below just to show how amazing the place looks.
The footage was stunning here with climbers high on the cliffs and an ever moving background of waves crashing against the cliffs. Akira Kurosawa would have loved the movement in the shots lol. These episodes are out in October:)
Another day filming for BBC education on the canals between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Also filming in Dundee and Edinburgh centre for three films
More BBC education stuff where I take a train south and then North to Oban another day to look at the Geography and take plate shots for animation:)
Have done several of these jobs before during covid times for online learning in schools. It is an animated series for Geography. I shoot the plate shots and then the team animate them with characters on their journey learning about the geography. This time was in Aberdeen and the Deeside way. Fun day filming just by myself:)
Had a great week here working for Solus productions on a Dana episode for BBC ALBA. We aimed to do a winter traverse of the Cuillin ridge but the weather did not permit us so we had a few days on the Cuillin ridge doing some munro in great winter conditions and a rock climb on the Cinch one of the other days in-between the 80mph winds and snow/rain lol.
Great team as alway here with Hamish as A Camera and director myself doing drone and second camera and Kenny presenting with Matt. Rich Parker and Jon Saunders doing our safety. Pretty heavy sacks and lots of walking for us all but should be a great episode in October:)
Here we spend two days on Ben Nevis in great weather filming one of the last great ice climbs getting done for the first time. Great conditions but still looked terrifying as the icicle does not touch the ground and is free hanging so the team have to decide whether they reckon it is safe to be swinging ice axes at:)
Alastair Lee is hanging on a rope to catch the close ups while I fly from below with the drone and a long lease too:) Greg Boswell, Guy Robertson and Hamish Frost are the climbers. Robin is doing the safety for Alastair.
Today we were filming Guy Robertson soloing a few different ice climbs on Creag Meagaidh for an Alastair Lee climbing film. Was a good day out and some good exercise for the day as had to carry all the kit to the top to start:)
Today I headed out with a very heavy rucksack to climb a munro then film two Winter climbers with Alastair Lee. Was a pretty challenging day wind wise with a few gust hitting 40mph and freezing temperatures. Had to warm every battery up with hand warmers before flights. Got some lovely dramatic shots. I did learn that when the cloud and snow come it the drone gets confused and thinks the ground is just below it when it is actually 200ft below it but it try to land. Very disconcerting when you trying to fly. I waited fro the cloud to pass through for all the other flights.
Was great to meet Alastair Lee, Guy Robertson and Hamish Frost all great guys:)
Today I was doing some aerial filming for a Murder Mystery TV show that follows a retired Detective from the States as he along with some specialist experts tries to solve some ancient murders. Super fun and interesting to be involved with. The detective was brilliant to chat too and a fabulous crew. Definitely had some very challenging flying today as the Inspire 2 drone does not like dampness in the air and sleet and snow wasn’t the best but did make some amazing looking shots:)
This cave at Fortress had ancient burial where a guy had his head bashed in eeeeew. Hundreds of years ago though!
So a few days with the drones for an Amazon Prime TV show called Car and Country. Nice bunch of people and we did a bit in the snow in the Cairngorms then headed up Struy estate (A place I actually made 31 films for a few years back lol) to do some Landrover driving and staying in Eagle Braes lovely Log Cabins.
So these months just got so busy I just couldn’t fill in my blog or take on anymore work. Which was great. This year became my busiest year yet even though it started slow after covid lockdowns. I think winning a BAFTA for Aerial Cinematography under factual Photography was the reason for this.
As I’ve been busy this year too I’ve decided just to skip the rest of 2021 and try and catch up with 2022 lol.
Heres a few pics from some jobs:)
Glasgow University standing tall:)
Back on ‘Europe from Above’ for the Nat Geo program. This time filming with Hoods Honey to film the moving of the bees all from the air apart from a couple of go pro shots and interviews. A fun day out that started very early in the pitch dark before the bees waken up. A few screen grabs. All in log so look a bit bleached out:)
The bees being released next to the Honey
Bees covering my camera:)
The bee taxi from the fields to the hills:)
A day filming the Aluminium smelter in Fort William. Pretty interesting to see around this place after passing it a few hundred times over the years. Thankfully I was fore warned by management that the main melting plant gives off a huge magnetic field and has in the past shot drones off into the distance which later crashed in the surrounding forest. I thankfully only had the occasional compass warning as I stayed well away from the central plant building lol.
Here we were filming with the presenter for a few pieces to camera to sync and a few walking shots then I was left to get a bunch of shots to help introduce the different parts of the factory and to head up the slopes of Ben Nevis to get shots of the hydro system:) A fun sunny day to be out.
Fort William Smelter
My High Vis and a helmet to be up in the woods on my own lol.
Well today back in Glencoe for the National geographic program being edited by Windfall Films. Today we were filming history with the archeologists at a dig site and returning to The thatched roof with Brian for some extra shots as it moves on. And a few shots from around the area to show some history for intros.
The dig was super interesting and fun trying to make a dig look interesting with each shot all from the drone. then a talking head interview to work as a voice over. Oh and a few go pro shots to get a close up as they revealed a old artefact from the dig. The sun was out too:)
Quick selfie while flying;)
Kilchurn Castle
The Buichaille Etive More:)
A day trip to North Uist to film the final episode for a BBC education animated series. Wild going just for the day. A mix of ground camera plate shots and shots from the air with drone. Occasionally a moving shot but mainly static. Fortunately I got everything done by 1:30pm as by 2pm it was pouring with rain for the rest of the day. Always amazing getting out here though and such lovely beaches.
Such great beaches
:)
In Glencoe filming ‘Europe from Above’ well the Scottish section which I’ll be doing several pieces on throughout the summer with ‘Windfall Films’ who are making it for National Geographic. I met Brian Wilson here thatching the reconstruction of an old Glencoe house with Mark who was also thatching with him. Brian ha s written a few sea kayak books that I have read. We got badly rained off so I headed home and returned another day the following week and took my two sea kayak books to get signed haha. We ended up with much nicer footage and I will return to see it a further time and see it finished. Few pics below of the house and also shots from around the area I got for the intro to the area.
Thatching going on before the rain
Lovely light for my shots on the Buichaille Etive More:)
Here i was working with Trenchone Industries Ltd to do the drone work for a Glenmorangie advert up in Tain. Some great fun filming through the warehouse in long shots with lots of action and flying round the copper stills. A little exciting as the compass on the drone didn’t like all the metal.
Combine cutting the barley right next to Glenmorangie House for the whisky
