PETER THOMPSON - Biography
Peter Thompson has been working in the field of aerial cinematography for over 30 years and is a pioneer of the technology which is now at the centre of modern helicopter camera systems.
The recipient of many international awards, Peter Thompson uniquely combines the highest levels of creative camera work with a deep knowledge to make results possible.
Having filmed from helicopters in over 70 countries and for a total of over 11,000 hours, Peter is a leading personality in this global industry and he continues to be the first choice of many international clients in the fields of feature films, sport, documentaries and TV commercials.
Peter and his wife Susi are the owners of Aeroptics which has been in business since 2004, based in Queenstown, New Zealand. This stunning location is not only the location for much of Peter’s filming work, but is also the base for the constant development of new helicopter camera equipment.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS 1994 Best Camera NZ Film & TV Award for Solid Water Liquid Rock in Antarctica 1998 Emmy nomination Best camera National Geographic Television Special Dolphins the Wild Side 2003 NZ Film & TV Awards nomination best documentary No Mean Feat - Mt Cook 2004 International Emmy winner aerial camera for CH4 The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off 2009 GTC UK HOME by Yann Arthus Bertrand Camera award for excellence. 2010 Mount Saint Elias. Finalist for Best Cinematography Edge Film Festival Auckland. 2011 Deutscher Kamerapreis for Aerial Cinematography Deutschland Von Oben series 1 2011 Emmy award Aerial Cinematography Great Migrations National Geographic Television 2013 Emmy award Outstanding Cinematography Untamed Americas National Geographic Television 2014 Banff Mountain Film Festival, Cerro Torre: A Snowball’s Chance in Hell, Best climbing film
SELECTED PRODUCTIONS 2009-2015 2015 John John Florence Surf Film – Brain Farm – Oahu Hawaii Resume Play - Christchurch Tarawera Ultra Marathon Destination Rotorua Monster Documentary – Raetihi Hillary Mt Cook – Documentary Series TVNZ John Britten Tribute Bears of Thunder Ruapuna Red Bull Mad Mike, Highlands Motor Park NZ Coast Fiordland , Great Southern TV TVNZ Terra Darwin – Yann Arthus Bertrand / Hope Productions John John Florence Surf Film – Brain Farm – Rio De Janeiro Brazil Deutschland von Oben series 4 ZDF-1 Terra-X Migrating Birds: Morocco, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Kenya ZDF Terra
2014 Koh Lanta TF-1 Tour de Langkawi 2014 – Malaysia John John Florence Surf Film – Brain Farm – Margaret River Australia. Wellington Regional Council Koh Lanta TF-1 – Malaysia Mini TVC – Good Oil Sportchek Canadian Ski Team Deutschland von Oben series 3 ZDF-1 Terra-X Wild Survivor Red Bull Defiance - Wanaka Nissan TVC
2013 Torpedo 7 TVC Wanaka Swazi - Monsoon TVC Google-X Loon project Tekapo - Christchurch Deutschland von Oben series 3 ZDF-1 Terra-X Wanaka Challenge TV event NZ International Airshow 2013 North Shore Airfield Get Out Alive with Bear Gyrlls Wanaka NBC / Electus Trans Alpine / Kiwi Rail BBDO Clemenger Alucia Milford Sound / Beta Maritime Christchurch Earthquake / NHK Japan Mad Mike Crown Range Drift car / Red Bull NZ
2012 Cerro Torre-“A Snowball’s chance in Hell”, Argentina RBMH feature 6 week shoot Coasters Nelson-Wellington Fisheye Films TVNZ Warbirds Over Wanaka 2012 airshow Altra TVC Graffiti Media Koh Lanta 12 Mersing, Malaysia TF-1 Deutschland vob oben 3 ZDF-1 TV series 8 week shoot RBMH Perfomance Camp Snow park Cadrona Primeval New Zealand World Heli Challenge Makarora Rescue 1 Auckland TVNZ AirNZ in flight safety video Routeburn
2011 Cerro Torre – David Lama, Patagonia Feature / 6 week shoot Christchurch Earthquake TV3 / CH-7 Castrol TVC Ogilvy, Chalten Argentina El Calafate Glaciarium Deutschland von oben 2 – shoot # 8, ZDF-1 Terra-X / 4 weeks Koh Lanta 10 Raja Ampat TF-1 Tourism NZ Otago / Southland Deutschland Von Oben kino (3 shoots in Germany ) Murihiku Southern Land DVD South Coast Productions Rena Shipwreck / Ocean Planet feature - Yann Arthus Bertrand
2010 Gliding Grand Prix, Santiago. Chile Antofagasta / San Pedro de Atacama, Chile CBC Toronto / National Geographic Bangladesh Vue de Ceil Project Eagle Cruise ships Tourism NZ / Air NZ Flying Saucer films Stewart Island / Fiordland South Coast Video Once in a Blue Moon Loius Vuitton Pacific Cup yacht racing Auckland Deutschland von oben ZDF Koh Lanta Con Dao, Vietnam TF-1 Land Search & Rescue Wanaka / South Pacific Pictures Rescue1 TV2 BNZ / Whalewatch TVC x 3 at Kaikoura Exile films Rivers TV Series South Pacific Pictures The Source Trout fishing Telecom XT TVC Chameleon films Deutschland von Oben series 2 / Terra-X ZDF (9 wk shoot)
2009 Last Chance To See - Fiordland BBC LV Pacific Cup Yachting Auckland TVNZ Shotover Jet Koh Lanta Palau Great Migrations Jelly fish lake Palau Deutschland von oben (Planet Germany) ZDF 3 x 45’ / 18 week shoot Tourism NZ TVC NZCAA Mountain flying pilots training DVD World Heli-ski Challenge 09 Harroart Koh Lanta New Caledonia Rotorua Geothermal Mona Lisa Paris