After graduating from the Documentary Film & Television course in 2007, Nathan Mackintosh and Rhys Waters spend nearly a year in the factual department of BBC Wales on an extended placement. The creative duo left the BBC to pursue the dream of setting up and running their own multimedia production company…. and so Zipline Creative was born.
Based in South Wales, they specialize in creating bespoke corporate and broadcast films for distribution through the conventional broadcasters but also through downloads, DVD and online.
“We’re committed to making effective, communicative, innovative and creative films’ says co-director Rhys Waters, ‘we’re committed to making effective films produced on foundations of quality and originality, at Zipline we believe that creativity comes from activity”.
They have set up a one-stop shop for all things ‘filmic’ - and Zipline have been very busy and very successful in their first few years of trading – making high end corporate films for Aston Martin, The Institute of Advance Broadcasting and Gwent Police. They have produced title sequences for BBC documentaries and they were responsible for both the camerawork and special effects in the BAFTA nominated film ‘COW’. They have also broken into network television with their series for BBC - Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience. In 2009 they were voted Young Welsh Entrepreneurs of the Year by the Welsh Chamber of Commerce.
For more information on these talented graduates from Newport Film School go to:
http://www.ziplinecreative.co.uk
Graduates voted Welsh Entrepreneurs of the Year 2009
Newport Film Graduates Hit Big On BBC2
COW: A Global Success
Zipline ‘ad’ goes Viral
Successful film production company Zipline Creative have been commissioned by Caerphilly Council to create an viral advert to highlight the councils IT services. The viral ad is set in a drab 80’s office and features a superhero, lots of liquids and computer licking.
The 30-second commercial was filmed in Tredegar with the help of current film students Joe Liscombe-Noble and Dan Watkins.
Newport Film Graduates Rhys Waters and Nathan Mackintosh set up Zipline in 2008 and have been run off their feet with commissions ever since.
Photos:
The Set and Cast
Lining up the jibbing arm
Film student Joe checks for focus
Film student Dan on boom
Producer Rhys Waters
D.O.P Nathan Mackintosh
Photos by George Morris
Newport Film Graduates Hit Big On BBC2
Caerphilly based Zipline Creative is celebrating after news that their BBC Wales TV Series, Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience has been acquired by the BBC for prime-time network broadcast.
On TV screens from March 10th 2010 at 10pm, the series was originally commissioned for Wales but is now being broadcast to the whole UK. Zipline's core team, were producer/directors on the series and worked with Presentable RDF to shoot the program last Autumn. Nathan and Rhys graduated from the Documentary Film & Television course in 2007 and have flourished ever since – in 2009 the duo were voted ‘Young Welsh Entrepreneurs of the Year’.
"Its like a dream come true, if your making a regional series its your highest aim to have it picked up by BBC London. I'm still pinching myself!" Commented Rhys Waters. The team, based in New Tredegar, Caerphilly, have worked with Rhod Gilbert before on his Extras for his top selling DVD- Rhod Gilbert and the Award Winning Mince Pie. "We had worked together previously, as the lads had produced video content for my live stand-up shows in 2008 and 2009, they're genuinely brilliantly creative, and their energy and enthusiasm is phenomenal; I was thrilled they agreed to work with me again".
"We were really pleased with the strong viewing figures and great feedback we had when the series was broadcast in January. We hope we can replicate the same success with a wider UK audience" said Nathan Mackintosh. The program will air in a BBC2 slot famous for its comedy, often showing the cream of British talent. "This is the slot where people tune in to see the likes of Mock the Week or Nevermind The Buzzcocks, so it feels like a huge honor to us!".
This may be the Zipline team's first TV series, but they have ambitious plans for the future. "We've met some fantastic comedians throughout South Wales and are currently developing lots of idea's for future projects." Said Nathan, "We see this as the beginning and we're more excited than ever about what's up ahead!"