Perry Schaffer Avid Editor

Profile Perry is an experienced editor, who has started his career in 1978 as a staff assistant editor at the ITV Company, ATV/Central TV. As an assistant, he picked up valuable experience working with acclaimed directors, Ken Loach and Alan Clarke, as well as the renowned British cinematographer, Chris Menges. Perry became an editor in 1982 and went freelance in 1985, having had invaluable experience cutting broadcast documentaries and drama for Central TV.

Since 1985 Perry has worked on numerous documentary and drama productions for the BBC, and 5, ITN Productions and Discovery Channel. In 1992, he was nominated for an Emmy award for ‘Alive – The Miracle Of The Andes’, a documentary for BBC Everyman/CBS America. Since 1987, Perry has worked for long periods in collaborating with a British director based in Stockholm, editing full-length cinema features. To date, he has edited 17 films there. In 1998, one of those films, ‘Under The Sun’ was nominated for an American Oscar for best foreign language film. With over forty years of experience from the pre-digital age to the fast turnaround of the digital age, Perry has the experience and know how for all genres of film and TV.

Feature Film & Drama

The Missing – Sweetwater Productions for TV4 A 4 part crime drama in Swedish about a girl who is kidnapped by a religious fundamentalist.

Medicine - Sweetwater Productions (100 min Feature) Cinema drama about a woman fascinated by prescription drugs and the placebo effect and what that does to her life. Director: Colin Nutley.

Miss Julie - Sweetwater Productions (90 min Feature) Cinema drama adaptation of the Swedish author, August Strindberg’s play about a young Swedish woman’s love for her manservant. Director: Helena Bergstorm.

House of Angels -3 - Sweetwater Productions (118 min Feature) Cinema drama about racism in a small rural village in Sweden,.An update on the original film made in 1991. Director: Colin Nutley.

Sa Olika - Sweetwater Productions (115 min Feature) Cinema drama about infidelity amongst politicians in the Swedish parliament. Director: Helena Bergstorm.

Angel - Sweetwater Productions (104 min Feature) Cinema drama about a woman called Angel. A pop star living on the edge of life in terms of her relationships and drug dependency. Director: Colin Nutley.

Mind the Gap - Sweetwater Productions (102 min Feature) Cinema drama about two female friends who join the Police force in Sweden following their experiences with recruitment, training and eventual qualification. Director: Helena Bergstorm.

Heartbreak Hotel - Sweetwater Productions (120 min Feature) Cinema drama about two middle aged women, who become close friends after their divorces. The drama follows their friendship as they go out on the town looking for men and a better life. Director: Colin Nutley.

The Queen of Sheba’s Pearls – UK/Scandinavian Co-Production (131 min Feature) UK Cinema drama about the idiosyncratic ‘Pretty’ family who live in a rural community in the West Country during the war. Their world changes when a mystery woman turns up at the house. Director: Colin Nutley.

Paradise - Sweetwater Productions (115 min Feature) Cinema thriller about a ruthless eastern European gang being tracked and followed by a Swedish journalist working for a local newspaper. Adapted from a novel by the Swedish crime writer Liza Marklund. Director: Colin Nutley.

Sprangaren (Deadline) - Sweetwater Productions (128 min Feature) Cinema thriller about several attempts to blow up different Swedish buildings. A Swedish journalist is assigned to investigate who the person is. Adapted from a novel by the Swedish crime writer Liza Marklund. Director: Colin Nutley.

Gossip - Sweetwater Productions (135 min Feature) Cinema drama about a group of 10 famous middle aged actresses in Sweden. The drama follows the anxiety, jealousy, and unpredictability they suffer during the cruelty of auditions, particularly when they lose out to someone else in the group. Director: Colin Nutley.

Under the Sun - Sweetwater Productions (123 min Feature) Cinema drama based on a short story by the English writer H E Bates. The story follows a lonely 40- year-old man who advertises for a housekeeper. He eventually falls in love with her but has never had a relationship with a woman before her. Director: Colin Nutley. Nominated: Best Foreign Film at the American Academy Awards (Oscars) March 2000

Such is Life: Sant Ar Livet - Sweetwater Productions (126 min Feature) Cinema drama about a group of Swedish friends in Stockholm falling in and out of love with each other. Director: Colin Nutley.

House of Angels 2: The Second Summer - Sweetwater Productions (137 min Feature) Cinema drama about the arrival of two young strangers into a small rural village in the middle of Sweden. The sequel to the original House of Angels. Director: Colin Nutley.

The Last Dance - Sweetwater Productions (111 min Feature) Cinema drama following two ballroom dance couples on a trip from Stockholm to Blackpool UK for a ballroom dance championship. During the dance competition, someone is murdered under mysterious circumstances. Director: Colin Nutley.

House of Angels - & TV (126 min Feature) Cinema drama about a young couple on a motorbike who arrive in a small rural village in Sweden causing uproar amongst the curious people living there. A cinema hit in 1992 and distributed throughout the world. It ran at the Curzon cinema chain in the UK. Director: Colin Nutley.

Blackjack - Svensk Filmindustri (115 min Feature) Cinema drama about the craze for dance bands in small town Sweden. The drama followers a group of working class friends who go out every weekend to dance and listen to the bands. The film follows their adventures and what happens when they fall in and out of love with each other. Director: Colin Nutley.

Ninth Company - Svensk Filmindustri (108 min Feature) Cinema comedy/drama following a group of young men who are conscripted to the army. They form a small company, ‘The Ninth Company’ illegally, within the army, trading in black market goods. Director: Colin Nutley.

Broadcast

Looking for Victoria – BBC History (2 x 60 min) This two-part drama doc looks at the life of Queen Victoria using archive, interviews from Royal experts as well as drama reconstruction. Starring Prunella Scales as Queen Victoria and Charles Dance.

The Queens’ Christmas Broadcast – ITN Factual The annual Christmas broadcast by the Queen. 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002.

Bugworld – Oxford Scientific Films for Channel 4 4 part natural history series looking at the secret world of insects.

Prescott – ITN Factual for Channel 5 (1 x 50 min) Documentary biography of John Prescott, the ex deputy Labour party leader. Chronicling his life from waiter on a cruise ship to prominent Labour MP.

Equinox: Psychopaths – Union Pictures for Channel 4 (1 x 50 min) Documentary following a group of Psychopaths in Vancouver. Following the work of Dr Bob Hare who is trying to understand why some people are psychopathic and follows him into a prison to talk to prisoners who are deemed to be Psychopathic

In the Footsteps of Elizabeth David – Diverse Production for Channel 4 (2 x 50 min) 2 part documentary following Chris Pattern, the MP who presents the life and work of Elizabeth David, the cook and Mediterranean cook book author.

Equinox: Space Junk – Eagle & Eagle for Channel 4 (1 x 50 min) A documentary following space experts in their bid to do something about the space junk orbiting our planet and the bid to prevent the dangers it can potentially cause.

Britain’s Richest People – ITN Factual for Carlton TV (1 x 50 min) A documentary about the Sunday Times top rich list, looking at their wealth and lifestyle.

And Finally (News At Ten Story) – ITN Factual for Channel 4 (1 x 50 min) A documentary looking at the last days of News At Ten on ITV, the newsreaders and history of the programme.

To the Ends of the Earth: The Perfect Storm – RDF TV for Channel 4 (1 x 50 min) Documentary following a group of fisherman caught up in one of the worst Atlantic storms in history, off the eastern seaboard of the USA. A true story which was later made into a Hollywood feature with George Clooney.

Pol Pot Cambodia – ITN Productions for Arts & Entertainment US (1 x 50 min) A documentary biography of the horrific reign of Pol Pot in Cambodia. The documentary chronicles his oppressive leadership and genocide against his own people.

Gorbachev - ITN Productions for Arts & Entertainment US (1 x 50 min) A documentary biography of Mikhail Gorbachev. Mikhail was interviewed for this documentary - he gives a candid account of his leadership and his thoughts on Russia.

Idi Amin - ITN Productions for Arts & Entertainment US (1 x 50 min) A documentary biography of the Ugandan leader Idi Amin. Idi Amin was a corrupt and unstable leader who expelled many people, many of whom arrived in the UK in the seventies and eighties as refugees. The film chronicles his leadership.

Bengal Famine – Uden Associates for Channel 4 (1 x 50 min) The documentary looks at the Bengal famine which affected British India in 1943 and the failure to prevent many of the deaths that occurred.

Sleaze, Wives and Videotape – ITN Productions for Channel 5 (1 x 30 min) The documentary looked at the confrontation in politics when the ex BBC journalist , campaigned for parliament as an independent MP and his confrontation with the Tory MP Neil Hamilton.

Dispatches: Buying Time – ITN Productions for Channel 4 (1 x 38 min) A documentary about the postcode lottery in the NHS in terms of who can, and can’t, get cancer drugs.

Two Little Boys: The Lives of John Major and Tony Blair – ITN for Channel 5 (1 x 50 min) A documentary looking at the race between Tony Blair and John Major to bring their respective parties into power and therefore become leader. Tony Blair eventually did become leader that year. Director: Chris Jeans.

Provocation: Cutting Edge – Sara Thornton - ITN Productions for Channel 4 (1 x 52 min) A documentary following Sara Thornton’s bid to get her conviction for murder quashed, and her eventual release from prison for murdering her alcoholic and abusive husband. Director: Mark Halliley

The Widow, The Terrorist and the SAS - ITN Productions for Carlton TV (1 x 52 min) A documentary about Barry Davies a British army infantry soldier who, in 1977 took part in an SAS anti-terrorist operation to rescue 91 passengers from a hijacked aircraft. Director: Chris Jeans.

Scars of War – Carlton TV / Channel 4 A documentary chronicling the true story of a group of elderly British POWs who tell their frank stories to camera about being imprisoned in the harsh conditions of the Japanese prison camps during the building of the Burma railway. Director: Mark Halliley

Murder in the Family – Channel TV for ITV (1 x 90 min) A dramatised documentary leading up to, and after the events, when the Newell brothers in Jersey murdered their own parents. The film looks at why they committed such a crime, and the lead up to their arrest and conviction. Worked as associate Producer.

Alive: The Miracle of the Andes – BBC Everyman for CBS (1 x 52 min) Documentary about the making of the Hollywood film Alive. For the first time since the air crash in the Andes when the survivors of the Uruguayan Rugby team ate the flesh of their dead colleagues to survive. The survivors talk frankly about their experience Nominated in 1993 for International Emmy for outstanding individual achievement.

Superpowers: Equinox Series – Open Media for Channel 4 (1 x 50 min) Documentary about the super powers that some individuals possess to heal others. Faith healers being one example

The Biggest Commercial in the World - (1 x 30 min) Corporate documentary looking at the making and cost of a British Airways commercial. Shot in some of the most exotic locations around the world

A Long Way Home – Thames TV for ITV (1 x 90 min) TV drama about a young boy living in London who becomes obsessed with his Swedish au-pair. He eventually escapes from his family and goes to live with her above the Arctic Circle in Northern Sweden. A hunt for them begins. Worked as Associate Producer and Editor. Director: Colin Nutley.

Press Gang, Series 1 – Richmnd Films for Central TV Successful 13-part ITV children drama about a group of young friends who set up their own newspaper.

DaSilva DaSilva – Bandung Productions for Channel 4 (1 x 52 min) Drama/documentary about Caribbean writer Wilson Harris. The film looks at his colourful and abstract writing and through the drama reconstructions the film tries to get inside his creative mind. Director: Colin Nutley.

Where Roses Never Die – Swedish Television (1 x 50 min) Documentary about the changing seasons in a remote rural village in Sweden. The film followers the residents as they work on their farms and in their community

Sothebys – Celador Productions for Channel 4 (1 x 30 min) Corporate documentary about world renowned Auctioneers, Sotheby’s.

Conservation Special - Celador Productions for Channel 4 Documentary inserts to go into a 4 hour Channel 4 special about conservation, the environment, and climate change.

Dramarama – TVS Maidstone for ITV (1 x 30 min) Children’s drama series.

Human Factor – TVS Maidstone for ITV (1 x 30 min) A weekly current affairs series similar to Panorama.

Unit 731: Did the Emperor Know - TVS Maidstone for ITV (1 x 52 min) Documentary about a covert biological and chemical warfare development and research unit of the Imperial Japanese army that undertook lethal human experimentation

The Games in Question – Flashback Productions for Channel 4 (6 x 30 min) Six part documentary series looking at the history of the Olympic Games.

Staff Film Editor: Central TV Birmingham (1982 – 1984)

Best of Health – Central TV (13 x 30 min) Documentary series looking at the day to day running of an NHS hospital in Birmingham.

Village Earth – Central TV (13 x 30 min) 13 part documentary series looking at village life in different locations around the world.

Cuba – Central TV (6 x 30 min) 6 part documentary series looking at life in Cuba during Castro’s leadership

Nature Watch – Central TV (13 x 30 min) 13 part documentary series presented by Julian Pettifer as he goes around the world meeting conservationists and wildlife experts.

Staff Assistant Film Editor. ATV Elstree (1977 – 1982)

Great Expectations – ATV, Elstree (13 x 30 min) Documentary series (Reality) following young people as they try to find employment.

Ridgeway Race – ATV, Elstree (1 x 90 min) Documentary following adventurer John Ridgeway as he attempts to sail round the world in the Whitbread Race. Filmed by Roger Deakins who is now an acclaimed Oscar winning cinematographer in Hollywood.

Heritage in Danger – ATV, Elstree (6 x 30 min) Documentary series looking at Britain’s ancient buildings and the fight to save them

Other Arf – ATV, Elstree Situation comedy series with Lorraine Chaise.

Flickers – ATV, Elstree Drama series with Bob Hoskins.

Death of a Princess – ATV, Elstree (1 x 90 min) Drama/documentary retelling the true story of a Saudi princess who was executed for adultery. The film caused outrage in 1980, with the Saudi government cutting diplomatic ties with the UK. Director: Anthony Thomas.

Gamekeeper – ATV, Elstree (1 x 90 min) Drama about the life of a Gamekeeper on a Yorkshire estate. Written by Barry Hines and directed by Ken Loach. Director, Ken Loach

East 103rd Street - ATV, Elstree (1 x 90 min) Documentary chronicling the life of an Hispanic family taking heroin living on a street in Manhattan New York. Shot from the back of a van by the acclaimed Oscar winning cinematographer Chris Menges. Director” Chris Menges

Vietnam Veterans: - ATV, Elstree (1 x 90 min) Documentary presented by John Pilger looking at the veterans who survived the and the demons they are still having to live with.