6 Ridge St, North , NSW 2060 p. +61 2 8458 1300 | e. [email protected] rmkcrew.com.au ROBERT HILL ACS

Cinematographer/Director of Photography

EMPLOYMENT

SUNDAY NIGHT, NETWORK 7

• Sydney, February 2016 – November 2019

Cinematographer for Network 7’s Sunday Night programme. I have travelled around Australia and with presenters and producers filming unique stories in amazing locations, as well as interviewing celebrities and producing amazing human interest films. Highlights include a seven-day marathon across the Sahara in Morocco, filming polar bears and icebergs in Canada, a film about Indonesia’s Mount Ijen volcano and sulphur mining, a film with the remote Kombai tribe in the Papuan jungle, covering the illegal gold mining and deforestation of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, filming the land speed record for a blind person on a motorbike (on Lake Gairdner in South Australia), trekking the MacDonnell Ranges in Central Australia for White Ribbon’s ‘Trek for Respect’ and a docu-drama film about the sinking of the Blythe Star ship off the Tasmanian coast.

Using the latest 4K cameras, cine lenses, macro, gimbals, tracks & sliders, drones, lighting systems, green screen and time-lapse techniques. Assignments have taken me from the boardroom to the world's deserts, jungles, polar regions, mountains, oceans, natural disaster zones and cities to create world-class images and films.

At the 2018 ACS National Awards I was proud to receive an award for Distinction in Cinematography in both the Dramatised Documentaries and Entertainment/Magazine sections for 'The Last Survivor – Blythe Star' and ‘Morocco Marathon’.

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, INTERNATIONAL

• Washington DC, USA Bureau Cameraman/Editor January 2013 – January 2016

Cinematographer/editor for the ABC based in Washington DC. I worked across a wide range of programmes, primarily Foreign Correspondent but also Four Corners, 7:30 and . I travelled throughout the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Cuba.

A documentary about gun control won me a White House Cinematography Award resulting in an invitation to the Oval Office to meet President Obama. Some of my highlights included a documentaries on the military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, surrogacy scams in Mexico, preparations for the Football World Cup in Brazil, and assignments to cover the Boston bombings and US politics.

• , Bureau Cameraman/Editor October 2006 – December 2012

Cinematographer/editor for the ABC covering China and North Asia. Based in Beijing for six years working with ABC China Correspondent Stephen McDonell and a small local team. We travelled extensively across China from densely- populated mega-cities, to desert regions and remote areas, such as the far-west of China near the Pakistan border. I encountered harsh weather conditions, such as searing heat in the Taklamakan Desert and freezing conditions in Mongolia, as well as the mountainous border area with North Korea where we sheltered with the army. In all of these regions ethnic minority groups are represented; groups with different cultures, different languages and different traditions. Through my work I have been able to witness how these people live and portray their culture through my lens to Australian viewers & around the world.

I filmed documentaries for Foreign Correspondent, Four Corners, Australian Story and other ABC outlets. As well as China, I undertook assignments in North and South Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, Taiwan and Burma. I also travelled throughout Japan covering the country’s most recent earthquake and tsunami. Other major international stories were the Sichuan earthquake in China, the Beijing Olympics, Tibetan uprising and Xinjiang violence.

During my post I won numerous awards, including being accredited by Cinematographers Society in 2011. I have also won an ACS Golden Tripod, a Walkley Award, a Logie Award and a World Medal for best camerawork at the New York Festivals. I have also been a Walkley Award finalist on numerous occasions.

• Middle East Cameraman/Editor August – September 2006

Based in Jerusalem and northern Israel to cover the 2006 Middle East conflict, involving Israel and Hezbollah.

• East Timor Cameraman/Editor May - June 2006

Stationed in Dili to cover the unrest in East Timor. Filed daily stories, in often dangerous conditions.

• Singapore Cameraman/Editor November 2005

Covered the execution of Van Nguyen. Filmed and edited for ABC News, and the 7:30 Report.

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, DOMESTIC

• Adelaide, South Australia Cameraman June - September 2006

Cameraman for the ABC producing work as a single-person and two-man crew for ABC News, the 7:30 Report, Stateline, Landline and Insiders.

• Darwin, Northern Territory Production Cameraman/Editor January 2003 – May 2006

Cameraman/editor for the ABC based in Darwin. I travelled extensively across the northern region of Australia encompassing large remote country and harsh weather conditions. Trips to isolated communities and locations throughout Arnhem Land, Kimberley, Central Australia and the Tiwi islands were regular for a range of programmes and assignments. I was principal cameraman for ABC Production in the Northern Territory working on a range of programmes, including Catalyst, Collectors, Gardening Australia, Painting Australia, Creature Features and Sunday Arts. I also filmed a documentary for seven-weeks for the ABC’s Natural History Unit titled ‘Goannas and the Rubbish Frogs’ about the approaching cane toad invasion killing the Top End’s goannas.

OTHER BROADCASTERS

• Channel 7 Queensland September 2001 – December 2002

Senior news cameraman and editor for Channel 7 Mackay and the Whitsundays. Shot, edited and fed stories for Channel 7 Local News and Channel 7 Network News and . Responsibilities included managing a team of five cameramen and editors, organising the day-to-day logistics of shooting and editing a half-hour nightly news program and supervising the running of camera and editing equipment, as well as the maintenance of cars. While at Channel 7 I also filmed stories for ABC News, the 7:30 Report, ABC Queensland Stateline and ABC Science Catalyst.

• Kosciusko Thredbo Pty Ltd – Thredbo, Winter 2001

Cameraman/editor at the Thredbo Ski Resort. Shot and edited all snow report packages for the resort and various outputs, including ABC News, Channel 7, Channel 10 and . Organised live broadcasts into Channel 10 and Sky News.

• SBS Television – Sydney, New South Wales 2001

Cameraman who worked as part of a two-man crew for SBS World News and SBS World Sports.

• British Broadcasting Corporation – Cardiff, United Kingdom 1997 - 2000

Cameraman for features, documentaries and sports coverage. Edited sports news packages on Avid for BBC Sport. Programmes included BBC Grandstand, BBC Scrum V, BBC Sports Personality of the Year 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and the documentaries ‘Rugby Rebellion’, ‘Hoorah Henry’ and the ‘Kiwigate Affair’.

Also worked on current affairs programs, including BBC Newsnight and the half- hour programme ‘Week In Week Out’. Filmed and set up complex lighting scenarios and used tracking and mini jibs. Performed live broadcasts and filmed packages for BBC news programmes, including BBC Network News, BBC International, BBC Breakfast News, BBC Newsround, BBC News 24 and BBC Wales Today.

• The National Trust – United Kingdom 1998 - 2000

Director, cameraman, interviewer, researcher and Avid offline editor for ‘Neptune’s Legacy’, a 50-minute documentary about the National Trust’s coastal properties and wildlife throughout the United Kingdom.

EDUCATION

• AKE Surviving Hostile Regions

Undertook two courses to learn techniques for working in hostile environments.

• BBC Location Camera and BBC Location Sound Recording courses - Wood Norton, Evesham, UK

Educated in the techniques location video production and mono and stereo sound recording. Conducted an interactive course about health and safety issues and requirements relating to the broadcast industry.

• BBC Wales training

Trained with News and Current Affairs and Sports camera crews at BBC Wales. Recorded location sound, assisted with lighting requirements and operated additional camera.

• University of Wales – Cardiff, United Kingdom 1992-1995

Bachelor of Science in Accounting Degree with Honours.

REFERENCES

Penny McWhirter – Executive Producer Warner Bros. +61 414 249 413 [email protected]

Melissa Doyle – Network 7 Presenter +61 417 637 736 [email protected]

Lisa Millar – ABC Presenter & former ABC Washington DC Correspondent +61 411 348 103 [email protected]

Stephen McDonell – BBC China Correspondent and former ABC China Correspondent +86 139 0101 1614 [email protected]

Stephen Oliver – ABC Manager, Factual Documentaries [email protected]

Steve Taylor – Executive Producer for Network 7 Sunday Night programme and ABC Foreign Correspondent progamme +61 408 492 140 [email protected]

Steve Robinson – Managing Director and Executive Producer at Folk Films +44 7747 110 610 [email protected]