Films

Since 1991, as photographer explorer of South West England's landscape and culture, Chris has worked as a presenter in regional television. In 2005 David Parker, the producer and founder of Available Light in Bristol, gave Chris his first opportunity to work as director cameraman. Peter Randall-Page: Sculptor was broadcast on 11th October 2005 on ITV West as part of its 'Westcountry Profile' series.

Chris shot and directed a second film, Inspirations: Down on the Farm in March 2006. This was made for Teachers' TV and followed the story of a weeks visit by primary school children from Kelvin Grove School, Sydenham to the charity, Farms for City Children, on its Devon farm in Iddesleigh. Later that year he was cameraman for a similar programme on the subject of small schools in Devon for Teachers' TV, a collaboration with Kate King and produced by Available Light.



Introduction
  

HOW MANY PEOPLE SEE THE STARS AS I DO?

A new film about legendary Exmoor writer and artist Hope Bourne by photographer and film-maker Chris Chapman

Cost £10.00 + £2.00 p/p

Details and order form HERE

Visit the Skerryvore website

Or buy on-line



Introduction
   

Wild River, Cold Stone

In the autumn of 2007, Chris Chapman and Kate King set up The Dartmoor Film Project to produce an independent film about Dartmoor. Two years in the making, this beautiful film tells the story of Dartmoor through the voices of its people, with contributions from the fields of Geology, Archaeology, Music and Poetry. Wild River, Cold Stone - a film of Dartmoor by Chris Chapman and Kate King was launched in July 2009 and supported by: Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund, Devon County Council, Devon Artsculture, Dartmoor National Park Authority, Duchy of Cornwall, Videotel, The Dartmoor Society

 
Details and order form HERE

Order a copy of the DVD - HERE

Or buy on-line

   

A Lady of the Moor
Life beyond Sam's Scrapyard - a film by Chris Chapman
£6.00 (free postage and packing)

Sam Harris's scrapyard at Lettaford on Dartmoor has become something of a legend, and people have fond memories of Sam's cheerful smile and friendly demeanour. It was his daughter Peggy, long after leaving home, who decided to put pen to paper, telling of life on the scrapyard and resulting in the publication of two remarkable books. What is even more remarkable is that Peggy left school finding it difficult to read and write.

But what of Peggy's life today? A single mother who was determined to bring up her daughter Clare as a lady, Peggy Harris has a grip on life that one simply has to admire. Chris Chapman followed Peggy for a year with his film camera, gaining an insight into her hard yet noble life. In February 2015 Skerryvore sponsored a run up event for Chagword, Dartmoor's Literary Festival. The evening kicked off with three ladies reading their favourite passages from Peggy's two books, followed by the screening of the film and questions from the floor to Peggy. The evening was a sell-out.


Mayday at Heolfawr Cross - a film by Chris Chapman.

This fifteen minute film chronicles the events from May 1st 2012 on Dai Bevan's farm in Carmarthenshire. Dai's herd of pedigree Longhorn Cattle has been struck down with Bovine TB. Many will have seen Adam Henson's visit to the farm, filmed just before the cull and later broadcast on the Sunday evening 13th May edition of Countryfile. However as an independent film maker, I was able to tell the whole story.

Watch the film HERE on Youtube
  

Bovine TB - A Way Forward

Bovine TB is an insidious disease that is spreading across the countryside at an alarming rate. Unlike Foot and Mouth, which was visible to millions of people through the horror of the burning pyres, this disease goes largely unnoticed, yet it is costing the tax payer millions of pounds each year and threatening the livelihoods of many.

The film tells the story of the effect that the disease has had on two farms in the South West of England, one within the Dartmoor National Park which raises pedigree cattle, the other a family dairy farm on the Mendip Hills, Somerset. By cataloguing the history of the disease and talking to expert witnesses, Chris Chapman has a made a film that successfully bridges the gap between those who view the problem of Bovine TB as contentious and insurmountable, and those who believe that there is a way forward.

Chris Chapman says: 'I knew this would be a very difficult film to make, and from the start I was determined to steer clear of the politics and produce a film with a firm educational base. People love wildlife and I wanted to show how the disease has got out of control and yet is not being properly addressed. I personally don't agree with a blanket cull as has been suggested by the Welsh Assembly. This film makes a strong point for healthy cattle and healthy badgers by a different, and to my mind, far more acceptable route'.

Bovine TB - A Way Forward, was released in February 2010.
For details of the Healthy Badger Project go to: www.agmed.org.uk/projects.htm

   

To order a copy of Bovine TB - A Way Forward @ £4.99 incl p/p

please download order form in pdf format to pay by cheque
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Peter Randall-Page at Yorkshire Sculpture Park

This extract is from Peter Randall-Page at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, a film by Chris Chapman. It follows Peter as he prepares for his major exhibition at YSP in the summer of 2009, revealing the making and installation of significant works, including the journey of two monumental Kilkenny limestone sculptures Corpus and Fructus from blocks of stone to finished works in the Underground Gallery.

Yorshire Sculpture Park Shop


As part of a growing film archive, Chris shot the following short, David Alford Playing the Bones, on Dartmoor in February 2008.

Now eighty years old, David Alford started playing the bones at the age of six. 'During the war we used to make our own entertainment. In the school playground we had marbles and also bones, cows rib bones, which we got from the butchers and boiled until we got the marrow out. That would make them ring. It was a bit of fun, something to do, but I was so fascinated I used to listen to a band on the wireless - Victor Sylvester. They used to keep strict time and I learnt by following him, first with one hand and then the other.'

In January 1953, as part of The English Folk Dance & Song Festival, David played the bones, with Bob Cann on melodeon, in London's Royal Albert Hall.

In June 2008 Dartmoor National Park Authority commissioned The Dartmoor Film Project to produce a twelve minute film, Dartmoor - A Fair Deal for the Hills, for screening at a conference on the future of the uplands held at Dartington Hall, Devon. The film has been widely received and in November 2008 screened in a presentation to the House of Lords.


Dartmoor Farmers – promotional film for Dartmoor Farmers Ltd

Following the success of Dartmoor- A Fair Deal for the Hills, this new film, by Chris Chapman & Kate King, was commissioned in September 2008 by Dartmoor Farmers Ltd to promote the special qualities of traditional British livestock bred on the moor. Chris Chapman's footage shows the beauty of the moor and the working farms, woven in and out with interviews with the farmers themselves, the Chief Executive of Dartmoor National Park, Kevin Bishop, the Chairman of Dartmoor Commoners’ Council, Ian Mercer, a local chef, Darrin Hosegrove and a farmer’s wife cooking Sunday dinner for the family. It puts across the message about sustainability, public benefit and good food in a highly original way.

Chris Chapman, Throwleigh, Dartmoor

'Kate and I were delighted when Dartmoor Farmers Ltd approached us to make a film about their new venture. The farmers are a hard working bunch and these meat boxes, consisting of naturally reared Dartmoor Beef and Lamb, taste superb.
Our film explains why livestock reared in a slow and extensive way can produce huge benefits, both for the consumer and the animal. We set out to show that by purchasing the Dartmoor farmers produce the public is directly supporting traditional upland farming. These animals within the National Park lead natural healthy lives, and in return help to maintain, by extensive grazing, a fascinating, wild, historical landscape enjoyed by millions of people. How good is that?'

 
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