FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM
In the spotlight: Coffins Research (4 x films)
1 of 4 films I directed for the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Each documents the museum's cutting edge interdisciplinary research into it's collection of more than 200 ancient Egyptian coffins and coffin fragments. See all 4 on their website https://egyptiancoffins.org/
Director, camera, editing & music: Gavin Toomey
Executive producer: Patricia Wheatley
Production Company: 2df Arts & Media
'Gavin came to us to make a short film about a complicated group of people working together in this museum.
From the outset, we were impressed by his sensitivity to the different needs and requirements of working within
a museum environment, and his understanding of the intricacies of our coffins research, which he was able to
translate into a series of incredibly high calibre films. He is an absolute pleasure to work with - professional,
reliable and genuinely interested in the subject matter he is filming and we are looking for opportunities to work
further with him in the future. We have no hesitation in recommending him unreservedly.'. (March 2019)
Helen Strudwick
Associate Curator (Egyptian Antiquities) & Co-Acting Head of Antiquities, The Fitzwilliam Museum
COLLUSION
Showcase 2019 - Documentary
Self shooting Director/producer, editing / original music : Gavin Toomey
In April 2019, Collusion 2019 showcased an exploration of emerging technology through extraordinary art.
The artworks explore the impact on society of such technologies as artificial intelligence, data culture, and augmented reality. They incorporate live theatre, music, dance, sculpture, film, and animation as well as making use of a variety of the emerging technologies they seek to interrogate.
The showcase was funded by Arts Council England (http://www.artscouncil.org.uk), Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (http://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca....), Cambridge Consultants (https://www.cambridgeconsultants.com), Arm (https://www.arm.com/), and Anglia Ruskin University (http://www.anglia.ac.uk) with support from venue partners Cambridge Leisure (https://cambridgeleisure.co.uk) and Cambridge Junction (https://www.junction.co.uk).
More information at www.collusion.org.uk
Produced by: Beautiful Train Ltd. 2019
COLLUSION
REVEAL King's Lynn - Documentary (2019)
Self shooting Director/producer & editing : Gavin Toomey
REVEAL was a Collusion Art/tech project developed and devised in King's Lynn, Norfolk, UK in 2018/19.
36 artists worked across the disciplines combining live performance, large-scale projection, and augmented reality.
REVEAL was supported by Arts Council England, Borough of West Norfolk & King's Lynn, Discover King's Lynn, Norfolk County Council and the Combined Authority for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Music by Carter/Tutti, Sandy Nuttgens and Matmos.
Produced by: Beautiful Train Ltd. 2019
Cosey Fanni Tutti on Art Sex Music
Founder of industrial music pioneers Throbbing Gristle and performance artist Cosey Fanni Tutti in conversation with me as she was writing her autobiography, Art Sex Music, released by Faber & Faber.
Client: Faber & Faber
Filmed, directed & edited by Gavin Toomey
Executive Produced by Cosey Fanni Tutti
Production Company: Beautiful Train Ltd.
Vajrayāna - Extract 1
Filmed, directed & produced by Gavin Toomey
Ani Rigsang is a Tibetan yogini based in Terdrom, Central Tibet. Coming from a combined Nyingma / Kagyü lineage she spent nine years in solitary meditation,
part of her practice of the Six Dharmas of Nāropa. These are a set of advanced Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices.
Her home and the cave in which she meditates overlook the Kyi Chu river ('Happy River') and the Hot Springs, which are a site for Tibetan pilgrimage. Bathing
in these steaming waters is considered a powerful source of spiritual protection and attracts Tibetan and Chinese tourists alike, as well as the sick and injured,
who seek the healing powers of the water.
Those who pilgrimage here can be seen performing a clockwise circumambulation called a 'Kora' where buddhist practitioners walk and prostrate themselves
around powerful sacred places and structures. This clockwise rotation is also echoed in the spinning of prayer wheels.
I met and filmed Ani Rigsang in her cave in April 2016 shortly after much of the Terdrum nunnery had appeared to have collapsed into the river. This is the first
time she has allowed a foreigner to film inside her cave. We shared dried Yak, offered from a huge sack of the meat, her staple diet for survival during her long
periods of isolated meditation.
This is a teaser of material I directed/shot as part a project with explorer and writer, Ian Baker, author of seven books on Tibetan Buddhism and Himalayan art
and culture.
© All Rights Reserved 2019
Vajrayāna - Extract 2
© All Rights Reserved 2019
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
Arts in Mind Festival
10 minute documentary (released Feb 2019) and 1 minute teaser
Arts in Mind, a week-long festival of arts and mental health at King’s College London's Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), showcased work that explored new ways to improve wellbeing and bring about a better understanding of mental health, the brain and the mind.
Self Shooting director/producer & editing : Gavin Toomey
Titles/End Music: Jody Jenkins (Audio Network)
Original Music: Gavin Toomey
Beautiful Train Productions Ltd. 2019
ART THERAPY (1 of 3 Films)
Kingston Hospital Cancer Services / Macmillan Cancer Support
Self Shooting Director/Producer & Editing / Music: Gavin Toomey
Art Therapy for Kingston Hospital's Cancer services patients through Macmillan centre - Sir William Rous Unit
See charity tab for another film in this series.
"We have recently commissioned Gavin to work on directing three patient centred videos for our Hospital trust.
The films are of a sensitive nature as our patients are going through an emotional cancer journey. Gavin was very kind, caring and unobtrusive with his filming. He has captured every detail and worked to all the brief that he was set. Each scene is perfect and the accompanying background music works harmoniously with each topic filmed. We are extremely pleased with the final productions and are using them not only for advertising our services but also to help staff to view Cancer care and support in a holistic way. Gavin you are phenomenal- thank you. I would not think twice about contacting you again for further work."
Archana Sood, Macmillan Information and Support Manager, Kingston Hospital
Produced by: Beautiful Train Ltd. 2017
Finchittida - Motherland - Teaser
Initially a jewellery label inspired by the founders Laos-British heritage, Finchittida has evolved into a trailblazing brand that explores cross-cultural diversity with cutting edge fashion. I teamed up with them to produce a series of films to document their journey to Laos, exploring their many inspirations including Buddhism, textiles & the culture which influences their designs & ethos.
It is almost unknown that Laos is the most bombed country per capita on earth as a result of the Vietnam war. 40 years since the end of the war, there are still unimaginable numbers of unexploded bombs left across rural parts of Laos, threatening the lives of men, women and children everyday. Their trip was also an opportunity for Finchittida to see & film the work of their beneficiary,M.A.G. The Mines Advisory Group, in their work to defuse unexploded mines and bombs (UXO) across the country.
A highlight, following 1 of the 7, all female bomb clearance teams as they defuse & explode UXO.
Camera, director & producer: Gavin Toomey
Editor: Natasha Wilkinson & Gavin Toomey
Executive Producers: Tida & Lisa Finch
Music: Gavin Toomey
Finchittida & Beautiful Train Productions Ltd. 2019
DESIGUAL / SOCIALBAKERS
Director: Gavin Toomey
Editor: Luke Jones
Additional Editing: Elliot McIntosh
Camera (BCN): Alex Daniels
Camera (NYC): Ivan Ogilvie
Camera (BCN & NYC) & Timelapse: Gavin Toomey
Motion Graphics: Thomas Smith
Socialbakers Content Director: Zach Peterson
Socialbakers Client Success Manager: Lenka Vesela
Producer (LND): Jim Lumsden
Head of Production: Andrew Boswell
Produced by: Cherryduck Productions
COLLUSION
Maker Takeover // Bury St Edmunds, Nov 2018
Self Shooting director/producer & editing: Gavin Toomey
The Bury St Edmunds Maker Takeover was a free day-into-evening event perfect for creative businesses, innovators, tech people, artists and those interested in finding out about leading-edge technologies. The work of extraordinary makers, games designers, builders of custom controllers and virtual reality sculptors was on show alongside artist innovation projects, and more.
Produced by: Beautiful Train Ltd. 2019
COLLUSION
Bury St Edmunds R&D Challenge
Self Shooting director/producer & editing / Music: Gavin Toomey
On Friday 20 April 2018, for one weekend only, Collusion challenged teams of creatives to develop ideas to reframe Bury St Edmunds, each chose to investigate the way our data is collected and playfully interacted with. Here's what happened.
The in_collusion programme is supported by Arts Council England Ambition for Excellence fund, the Greater Cambridge, Greater Peterborough LEP, and tech partners, Arm and Cambridge Consultants. In addition, this project is supported by King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council.
Produced by: Beautiful Train Ltd. 2018
MICHAEL GOODEY: VIEW FINDER
Director & music: Gavin Toomey
Cinematographer: Mike Hopkins
Editor: Natasha Wilkinson
Produced by: Cultureshock Media
Funded by First Site, Arts Council England & Colchester Borough Council
COLLUSION
King’s Lynn R&D Challenge
Self Shooting director/producer & editing / music: Gavin Toomey
On Friday 29th September 2017, for one weekend only, Collusion presented a one-off showcase of four exciting, experimental arts projects working with the projectors in King’s Lynn town centre. Here's what happened. See 'experimental' tab here for the 'Voyager' Project I worked on.
The in_collusion programme is supported by Arts Council England Ambition for Excellence fund, the Greater Cambridge, Greater Peterborough LEP, and tech partners, Arm and Cambridge Consultants. In addition, this project is supported by King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council.
Produced by: Beautiful Train Ltd. 2017
FOUND
A personal film about a bit of an obsession of mine... The car boot sale...
Director/producer & music: Gavin Toomey
Cinematographer: Mike Hopkins
Editor: Natasha Wilkinson
Production Company: Beautiful Train Ltd