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This exciting commission for Reader’s Digest followed on directly from
an 8-part ‘people and wildlife’ series
‘WINGS', that Lighthouse made for Channel 4.
The series, with its lively style, dispensed with the distancing
intermediary
of a presenter, preferring to go directly to those who know
the birds and can lead us to them.
The
series was extremely well received by both Channel 4 and the viewers.
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Written about ‘WINGS’
‘Congratulations’…. ‘Many people feel it’s
just the sort of programme Channel Four should be doing more of.’
(Mark Galloway, Commissioning Editor.)
‘Congratulations for such an enjoyable series’ (Karen Brown,
Controller of Factual Programmes)
‘We were very pleased with WINGS,…’ (John Willis, Director of
Programmes)
‘Congratulations on a splendid series’
(Kate Mitchell, programme finance manger)
‘..a strong film and I’m pleased to say that the series has gone
down very well.’ (Mark Galloway) ‘
…a new and interesting formula to work with’.
Green Umbrella, Bristol
In the press; “...4’s
acclaimed WINGS series”,
“a bright-eyed series”
“..a box of delights”
‘…deserves
to pick up a few awards…..”
“I cannot
congratulate Channel Four enough for WINGS…..”
“Best Documentary”.
“Choice”…….
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Lighthouse devised, and procured a publisher for, a Field
Guide to go with this series.
More than just a field-guide, it has intervening
sections that demystify the varying groups of birds and tell
what is interesting about them and their behavior.
Unusual, distinctive and rewarding, the book continues
to be a good seller and complements the innovative style of
the programmes that echo Channel 4’s remit.
The book
went to a new edition in May 2000. |
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Lighthouse had prior to this made a 3 X 50-minute series, ‘Vets
in the Wild’, for Channel 4, following the story of
wildlife vet Berkeley Hastings as, at Whipsnade and in Africa,
he trained four young vets from tropical countries to work
with wild animals and then join the fight to save their
countries endangered animals.
The series, shown several times, was second only to the
Channel’s ‘Soap’ in the ratings and was the subject of
an audience research investigation:
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All
the above programmes were produced and directed by Simon
Normanton whose’ company Lighthouse is.
Tigress productions ‘Elephants of Timbuktu’ was
produced in association with Lighthouse.
Numerous other productions have been produced or
post-produced at Lighthouse by others, or by Simon
Normanton at Lighthouse for others
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Simon
Normanton was for some year on contract to the BBC ‘World about
Us’ Travel and Exploration Unit, working on many assignments in
the wilder corners of the earth.
Of particular interest is his two-parter ‘Tibet, the
Lost Mystery’ and ‘Tibet, the Bamboo Curtain Falls’
compiled entirely from till then unseen colour footage of the
old Tibet and in the words of those who were there.
Together with his book ‘Tibet, the Lost Civilization’, it
created a unique portrait of an unknown world.
The book with its 200 pictures sold 25,000 copies.
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In
addition to the films detailed above, Simon Normanton has
produced and directed numerous programmes on contract to other
independent production companies. see Simon
Normanton
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one-hours/45 short films |
Titanic |
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Sled-hauling
to North Pole |
Gurkha |
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Whatever
your needs, give
us a ring 01406 351 522 / 0850 054 590,
any time. |
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or e-mail simon@lighthouse-films.co.uk |
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