CRAIG FORSTER CINEMATOGRAPHER

I’ve had an incredible journey in television that spans over 30 years, and it all started in a buzzing post-production house in Manchester. I worked my way up from a VT Operator and Edit Assistant to diving into the creative realms of graphics and 3D animation. I’ve tackled so many varied projects, including dramas, commercials, title sequences, music videos, and corporate films.

I welcomed the opportunity to join the camera department at Phil Redmond’s Mersey Television. I quickly transitioned into a Camera Operator for single-camera dramas like Brookside, Hollyoaks, and Grange Hill. This opened doors for me to collaborate with various production companies on all sorts of projects, from commercials to light entertainment and even sports. I gained tons of experience shooting drama, and had opportunities working on 35mm and 16mm film, as well as multi-camera Outside Broadcasts. Before I knew it, I was lighting drama and multi-camera shoots, having gained valuable experience on short films and music videos.

For the past 15 years, I’ve proudly held the title of Director of Photography. I’ve been fortunate to work on dramas like Casualty, Holby City, Grange Hill, and Hollyoaks. I even ventured into some multi-camera shows like Coronation Street and the Hollyoaks Music Show. My background in post-production and VFX has been a huge asset, allowing me to bring invaluable insights to every shoot. Lately, I’ve been getting into AI-driven techniques, using it to generate visuals and exploring how it can elevate our storytelling.