0

Mark Milsome Foundation

This foundation was inspired by the achievements, character and unique nature of our respected friend and colleague, Mark Milsome

News, Press, Media

Mark’s Gift 2023

Calling for submissions!
Every year, on Mark’s birthday, the Foundation gifts £2,000 to someone we believe Mark would have wanted to support. In Mark’s 60th birthday this year, we hope to provide the opportunity to apply to a larger group of individuals including those that are not known to us. To be eligible for the gift, applicants must be starting their career in film and TV, have a keen interest in the camera department and have a specific film project in mind that they are seeking funding for.

If you are interested and think that you might meet the application criteria, please email contact@markmilsomefoundation.com for an application form.

Doug Milsome Cinematography Lab

 

Huge congratulations to Doug Milsome!

It is a pleasure for the Foundation to announce that the University of Hertfordshire have recently opened up a new facility for their Film & TV students and have dedicated it to Mark’s father, Doug Milsome. The Doug Milsome Cinematography Lab consists of a state-of-the-art 4K projection screening theatre with 7.2.1 Dolby Atmos surround audio and 4K Blue-Ray UHD playback. There are also 6 HD wall mounted monitors around a new room, each with its own HDM1 & SDI input that can repeat the image from the projector, for teaching purposes and to help students practise and improve their camera skills. 

Photo above shows Doug at the room dedication event. 

 

Mark Milsome Memorial Cup 2023

 

The Mark Milsome Memorial Cup 2023 took place last Saturday 20th May at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Records Stadium. The sun shone and a great day was had by all!

Huge congratulations to Trooper FC for winning the Cup, to Gershwin FC for securing 2nd place and to Middle Earth Wanderers for coming third.

 

 

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the sponsors  – Bickers Action, Panavision, Facilities by ADF, Panalux, Camera Revolution, ACO, Pholex, Bloodline Effects, Green Voltage, Audiolink – whose generous support made this event possible.

Furthermore, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who organised, supported and participated in the match. Your contributions ensured the resounding success of MMMC 23.

All the proceeds from this event will go to the Foundation and play a crucial role in supporting our cause which is to advocate for better health and safety practice and help young people get a foot in the door of the film and TV industry.

 

After ‘Rust’ shooting, California moves closer to impose film set safety rules

(Article from the LA Times)

California legislators are advancing a bill aimed at codifying film set safety rules in the wake of the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Since the 2021 fatal shooting of Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin on the New Mexico set of the low-budget western “Rust,” there have been several failed attempts either to ban ammunition or establish safety rules.

However, unions and studio representatives have been working on amendments to a new California measure, Senate Bill 735, which late Wednesday received unanimous bipartisan support at a hearing of the Senate Labor Committee and moved one step closer to the governor’s desk.

The proposed legislation is a narrower attempt at imposing legal safety requirements on film production than previous bills, and would create the first state regulations around the use of firearms and live ammunition on film and TV sets.

The new rules wouldn’t preclude the use of real guns or blanks, but would require prop masters or armorers handling weapons to have a specified state permit and complete training in firearms, as well as have certain federal documents for the possession of weapons. The use of live ammunition on sets would be prohibited, except in limited cases.

Introduced in February by Sen. Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), chair of the Senate Labor Committee, the bill also would establish a safety pilot program for productions that have received California state tax credits.

Under the program, a safety advisor would be hired to assess any risks associated with filming, conduct daily safety meetings and provide a post-production safety evaluation report to the Industry Wide Labor Management Safety Committee, which establishes safety guidelines for Hollywood. The program would run from July 2025 to June 2030.

“While other industries also have significant dangerous situations in the workplace, very few have as many and as varied threats all in one place — and where using firearms is a common part of the job,” Cortese said in a statement. “It is a credit to film studios and their unions that they were willing to come together for the greater good.”

The Motion Picture Assn., which represents Hollywood studios, isn’t opposing the bill.

“There are a few little things to fix, to iron out, and we are moving forward,” Melissa Patack, vice president of the MPA, said in Wednesday’s hearing. “This is something that will create a landmark pilot program for a safety advisor and also incorporate our best practices into law on the safe handling of prop firearms and blank ammunition.”

Under the proposed legislation, cast and crew working near guns would also need training and prop masters or armorers could have no other duties while preparing to use firearms.

In the case of the “Rust” armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed worked both in assisting the props department as well as being in charge of the weapons. The “Rust” production denied wrongdoing. Both Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter.

Producers of the movie were set to resume filming at Yellowstone Film Ranch in Montana on Thursday.

“The safety advisory/risk assessment has always been our goal,” said Thom Davis, president of the Entertainment Union Coalition, which includes SAG-AFTRA, the DGA and other unions backing the bill.
A similar framework is used in other countries, he said.

“This year, we hope the major production studios will fully join with us in this historic initiative to once again make California a leader in the workplace,” Davis added.

Last year, unions and the MPA backed rival bills that ultimately failed to advance because of disagreements. .

One sticking point had been the scope of the role of the safety advisor. In a previous iteration of the legislation, every production would have required a set supervisor for safety with the power to shut down productions.

In the new bill, only productions receiving state tax credits would be required to retain a safety advisor with the power to shut down production in rare circumstances, according to the revised language of SB 735.

At least one trade group is opposed to the bill.

The Alliance of Special Effects and Pyrotechnic Operators contends that the Industry Wide Labor Management Safety Committee is more qualified to implement and develop industry safety standards than the legislature, and that the bill could push more productions and their jobs out of the state, according to a letter seen by The Times.

Following Hutchins’ death, California legislators had announced plans to ban guns outright on film sets. However there was a backlash from armorers, some of whom called the effort “misguided.”

https://www.markmilsomefoundation.com/2023/04/21/21238/

Mark Milsome Memorial Cup 2023

 

We are excited to announce that the 2023 Mark Milsome Memorial Cup has been confirmed!

The football fundraiser, which comprises of teams made up of film & TV crews, is held every year in a bid to raise money for the Foundation. The event is taking place on 20th May at Cherry Records Stadium, home to AFC Wimbledon.

Qualifiers are being held this weekend on Sunday 16th April at The Hive, Barnet.

The seven teams competing in the Qualifiers are:

Middle-Earth Wanderers

Gershwin FC

BallGravia

Black Branch FC

Quiet Place Rangers

Troopers FC

Slimer FC

All the proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the Foundation and help fund our important mission – to advocate for better health and safety practice on all sets and help young people get a foot in the door of the film & TV industry. Thank you, to all those involved, for your support.

CVP announce event in support of the Foundation

 

CVP Shines a Light on the ‘Female Perspective’ with a gallery’ in Celebration of International Women’s Day

–   Exhibit showcases a special collection of photography in honour of the Mark Milsome Foundation –

London, United Kingdom – 6 March 2023 – CVP, one of Europe’s leading providers of professional video and broadcast solutions in Europe, is hosting a vibrant exhibition that showcases a stunning collection of photography by female cinematographers at The 

CVP | ARRI Creative Space on Charlotte Street, London, as part of a celebration of International Women’s Day on 8th March 2023.  

Entitled, ‘A Female Perspective – Gallery’, the exhibit which is free to attend, will run from the 6-10 March. During this time, the CVP | ARRI Creative Space will be transformed with a display of beautiful and powerful photographs from the Mark Milsome Foundation’s (MMF) latest charity calendar, under its Prints for Mark initiative. The 2023 calendar, titled “The Female Perspective” was shot by members of illuminatrix, a society of very talented UK-based female cinematographers. 

Prints for Mark seeks to honour the life of cinematographer Mark Milsome BSC through supporting young people as they enter the British film and television industry. Funds from this year’s calendar will enable the MMF to develop entry level positions, creating more diverse opportunities behind the scenes, whilst continuing to promote better health, safety and wellbeing practices for the industry.

Each print from this year’s calendar represents a unique feminine perspective from all walks of life with images focusing on politics, family and business, using high quality photographs shot all around the world.

Andra Milsome, founder of the Mark Milsome Foundation, said: “I would like to thank each and every one of these talented women who have helped us bring together this wonderful collection of inspiring photographs for the Mark Milsome Foundation’s 2023 Charity Calendar. This is an incredible way to honour the 5th year anniversary of Mark’s passing and his legacy, and to promote more equal opportunities in our industry. The Foundation would also like to thank CVP for hosting the exhibit at its ARRI Creative Space so that more people have access to these beautiful prints.”

Exhibition: A Female Perspective – Gallery

Dates: Monday 6th to Friday 10th March 

Time: Gallery open from 09:30 to 17:30

Location: CVP | ARRI Creative Space, 81 Charlotte Street, W1T 4PP, London

Find out more about the exhibit at:

https://cvp.com/events

To purchase the prints for Mark 2023 calendar, please visit: https://www.markmilsomefoundation.com/prints-for-mark-2023-calendar/ 

###

Images can be downloaded here.

About CVP

With over 35 years of experience, CVP is one of the leading and largest independent resellers of production equipment for the Media and Entertainment sectors globally, with a comprehensive sales and support infrastructure in the UK and across Europe. The company prides itself on maintaining close relationships with key manufacturers such as ARRI, Blackmagic, Canon, RED and Sony acting as an extension of their teams. CVP uses its unrivalled technical and commercial knowledge and real-world expertise to listen to customers, understand their needs and deliver the right solution for them, with global first class service and exceptional customer experience. CVP offers creative consultation, sales advice, technical service provision and training.

For more information visit: cvp.com

About Mark Milsome Foundation

Mark Milsome, a talented camera operator was killed whilst filming a car stunt on location in Ghana in 2017. Five years have since passed during which time little has changed to improve the safety of crew and all those working in the British Film & Television Industry.

On the 5th anniversary of Mark’s death, the Foundation is calling for long overdue cultural change to protect and empower the workforce, so such a tragedy never happens again. It is our goal that everyone working on a production should be provided with health and safety training. 

Mark Milsome Foundation Call to Action

MARK MILSOME FOUNDATION CALLS FOR CULTURAL CHANGE IN FILM AND TV INDUSTRY

The 5th anniversary of Mark Milsome’s tragic death on set approaches and “Nothing has changed” says MMF’s Chair Samantha Wainstein.

As the 5th anniversary of the tragic on-set death of respected British cameraman Mark Milsome approaches on 18th November 2022, Samantha Wainstein, Chair of MMF, the charitable foundation set up in his name, has called for long overdue cultural change to protect crews working in the British film and television industry:

“Mark was killed whilst filming a car stunt on location in Ghana in 2017. Five years have passed during which time nothing has changed to improve crew safety – we are marking this tragic date by demanding mandatory health and safety education for all working on set and behind the scenes.”

The Foundation is asking for the industry establishment, including BECTU, PACT, PGGB, and all industry guilds, to unite to create lasting change. Since its inception, MMF has had continual dialogue with crew. In 2020, it commissioned a detailed survey to gauge opinion on their working conditions and then created a Health and Safety Passport course in 2021. Whilst individual crew have responded positively to the course, as far as the established industry goes, nothing has changed.

“The powers that be can’t just treat policy on health and safety along with the wellbeing of their crews as a box-ticking exercise,” says Mark Milsome’s widow Andra. “The overall culture on sets needs to change for good. We are using the 5th anniversary as a call to action and I would like to echo the wise words of our esteemed patron, Rory Kinnear, whose own father Roy died on set: ‘No-one should die for the sake of a shot.’”

MMF will launch Black T-Week on 18th November, when film and television crews across the UK will honour their late colleague by wearing black T-shirts exclusively designed by celebrated cinematographer Benoit Delhomme. Benoit and Mark worked together on The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Theory of Everything and he has kindly lent his passion and talent to this important MMF initiative, creating a design with the simple yet powerful words, “Because Mark” and “Inspire Change”.

————————

The Mark Milsome Foundation was set up in 2018 to encourage and support young people wanting to enter and thrive in the film and television industry, particularly those from backgrounds who traditionally find it difficult to gain access due to lack of knowledge of the sector and lack of contacts. The cohort of MMF trainees who have successfully started working in the industry is testament to Mark’s legacy. The support the Foundation has received from major organisations, including the Association of Camera Operators, BAFTA, BSC, EON Productions, the Guild of British Camera Technicians, Mission Digital, Panavision, Arri Rental, Pinewood Studios, as well as on screen stars Emma Thompson, Daniel Craig, Eddie Redmayne, Colin Firth, Harrison Ford and most importantly, UK film and TV crew including Fabian Wagner, Andrew Dunn, Peter Robertson, James Layton, Sean Savage, Aaron Leach and Jack Plumridge, demonstrates the positive impact the Foundation is having. Inspiring, nurturing and protecting the next generation of talent is at the top of MMF’s mission list.

Mark Milsome Foundation Health & Safety course provides a SkillSet Level 2 safety passport, valid for 5 years. It takes 90 minutes, costs just £20 and all profits are gifted to the Foundation and Mark’s family. The course was created in response to a UK wide survey of film and tv crew that received close to 5000 comments and which found that current H&S education is virtually non-existent. It covers all the areas that failed Mark in Ghana, and attempts to protect and empower crew so that such accidents never occur again. The course has received widespread support and praise from all those that have taken it. Topics include Speaking Up, The Law, Working Hours, Health & Safety Abroad, Bullying and
Discrimination. The course is available here. https://www.mmfonlinetraining.com

Date issued: 26 October 2022
Press contact: Julia Jones, juliajonespr@icloud.com +44 (0)7768 263279

Foot in the Door 2022 and Mentors

We are very excited to announce our 2022 Foot in the Door trainees – Angie Ymeraj, Robert Oliver & Alfie Thompson. It’s great to have them as part of the Foundation. Head to the Education page on our website to find out more about their experience and availability! Alfie has worked on a range of productions including The Crown, Angie worked on The Winter King and Rob has previously worked on House of the Dragon. Our trainees are available to work and their details are available here: https://www.markmilsomefoundation.com/trainees/

We are very grateful to our new mentors Operators Peter Robertson, ACO and James Layton, ACO and 2nd AC Jack Plumridge. The mentors will provide their time, advice and expertise, which will be invaluable to the new trainees.

 

BSC honours Mark

Mark Milsome was awarded the Posthumous BSC Honour. Doug Milsome was presented with Mark’s Associate BSC membership certificate at this year’s BSC Summer Lunch, which took place in July. He delivered a moving speech thanking the society and industry friends for their support.

Andra Milsome, who originally accepted the posthumous honour on Mark’s behalf at the BSC Awards earlier in the year, also spoke emotionally on receipt of the honour. “Mark would be truly honoured, humbled and touched to receive this accolade from his colleagues who he held in such high esteem. Mark will never be able to show his full creative potential to the world. He started, but had his life cut off in his prime, by such an avoidable tragedy.”
⠀
Newly appointed BSC President, Christopher Ross, said “Mark was a camera operator of the highest calibre, having been a similar skilled focus puller and clapper loader, but more significantly, he was a human being of the highest calibre and embodied everything that is great about the camera department -warmth, compassion, and determination. I urge you all to ‘Be More Mark’.”⠀
⠀
Chris urged the audience to follow and support the work of the Mark Milsome Foundation and to take their recently launched ‘Film and TV Online Safety Passport’ course (available via link in bio) developed to “Build an industry that prides itself on mutual collective responsibility, and respect for everybody’s wellbeing.”

Christopher Ross BSC speaks to BSC

Thank you to Christopher Ross who promoted our MMF Health and Safety Online Course during his recent chat with BSC.

“I urge you all to sign up to the Mark Milsome Foundation’s “Film and TV Online Safety Passport”. A ninety-minute course that will open your mind to on- set responsibilities and inspire you to be a force for positive change in the way that individual health and well-being are respected.”

Link to article: https://bscine.com/presidents-column

 

The Mark Milsome Memorial Cup

⁣Thank you to @markmilsomememorialcup for organising such a fantastic event on Sunday 22nd May.⠀⠀
We saw the Ted Lasso crew go head to head with the Heart of Stone. In a thrilling penalty shootout Heart of Stone won the Mark Milsome Memorial Cup!
⠀⠀
The event raised an amazing sum of money which will help fund our aim to make the Film & TV industry a safer place to work. ⠀
⠀⠀
Thank you to everyone who organised, played, watched and took part! The Foundation appreciate all of your endless support.

 

We are at this year’s BSC Expo!

We are delighted that, thanks to the support of the British Society of Cinematographer’s and Mission Digital, the Mark Milsome Foundation will be at this year’s BSC Expo.

 

We are particularly pleased to be participating in a BSC panel, discussing what needs to be done urgently to keep everyone safe when working on productions. Please join us at 10.15am Friday April 8th in the BSC Main Seminar Room, for “Protect & Empower: Mental & Physical Safety On Set”

 

Panelists include:

Samantha Wainstein – Mark Milsome Foundation,

Leo Anna Thomas – 6ft From the Spotlight,

Tracy Riddell – Film and TV Charity,

Kate Wilson – Call It App and panel chair,

Kate Rolfe – Digital Orchard Foundation,

And find us on our stand, situated between Movietech Camera Rentals (310) and RED (022).

 

The BSC Expo provides an opportunity for crew and production members to learn more about our Mark Milsome Foundation Film & TV Online Safety Passport Course, of which BSC President Christopher Ross, says.

“This is the first H&S course I have seen that understands and conveys the importance of collaboration, collective responsibility and looking out for fellow crew members. I would encourage everyone in the Film, TV and Commercial Production industries to take this course and to uphold the values that it represents.”

Details of the course can be found here https://www.mmfonlinetraining.com/

 

Become a supporter

Donate