TOM
HANNER |
FILMMAKER
TOM
HANNER |
FILMMAKER
FILM
My Filmmaking Journey...
Combining 9 years of scientific research, photography and professional filmmaking experience, I have a high level of technical proficiency with an understanding of storytelling and establishing an emotional connection to wildlife characters. My ultimate aim is to give a voice to the voiceless, conveying the most important stories and the most pressing messages.
Although I specialise in macro and long lens cinematography, I am aiming to gain more commercial experience with drones and advanced stabilisation systems as a way of adding a more natural and dynamic movement to a bluechip sequence, rather than solely using traditional camera techniques. Applying these skills and others such as creating motion-controlled time lapses and building sets, I love making beautiful, innovative and informative sequences about the planet’s wildlife.
Here you'll find a few of the projects I worked on as a student. I'm always happy to chat over the phone, by email or even meet in person if you have any questions!
The
Caretakers
The multi-award winning short documentary looking at the weird, wonderful, and astonishing lives of beetles.
JICHO
The award winning short science documentary following a story of albinism in East Africa.
INDUSTRY CREDITS
WONDERS OF THE CELTIC DEEP - RESEARCHER (2021)
A landmark natural history series diving into the wildlife wonders of the welsh seas. Narrated by Dame Siân Philips, produced by Sally Weale and executive produced by Dale Templar (Human Planet) & Owen Gay.
This was my first professional role in the industry; I was a researcher working on episodes 2 & 4, which involved fact finding and checking, logging, script writing and filming on location.
THE CARETAKERS - DIRECTOR/CINEMATOGRAPHER (2021)
A bluechip natural history short film looking at the lives and importance of the planet's beetles that I directed and shot during the 2020 pandemic.
Organised through JACKSON WILD, 'The Caretakers' was broadcast on the People's Weather channel that is available across 13 countries in the Southern African region. It featured alongside other natural history films and series as part of the NEWF Climate Change Festival, run in tandem with COP 26 throughout November.
This project was a brilliant opportunity to utilise some of the latest camera technology to gain an intimate look at the beetles' behaviour, and to collaborate with scientists and contributors during a challenging period. Working with NEWF was another fantastic opportunity to learn about the process of getting a programme/film publicly broadcast across multiple countries.
PRIMAL SURVIVOR SERIES 6 & 7 -
RESEARCHER (2022)
Throughout this role, I was responsible for supporting the production of returning adventure series 'Primal Survivor' for National Geographic/Disney+, including liaising closely with on-screen presenters, securing contributors, setting up international shoots and working with post-production team members to complete deliverables and source archive.
Series 6 follows survival instructor Hazen Audel as he ventures into the inhospitable wildernesses of the Amazon and Southeast Asia, relying on instincts and ancient survival techniques that he has learnt from local indigenous villagers. Season 7 follows Hazen on his hardest expedition yet: traversing South America, from navigating the Atlantic Forest to crossing the Andes to surviving the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth.
RESEARCHER - TBA
A new landmark natural history series on a little-seen aspect of animals' lives, produced by Amabel Adcock and Directed by Ruth Roberts.
I was responsible for researching unique and exciting wildlife behaviours, building contributor relationships, organising location logistics for various world-class camera talent, writing treatments, decks and other documents to support pre-production.
ONGOING NDA PROJECT (2023)
A new landmark natural history series on the secrets of the world's oceans, produced by Orla Doherty and Executive Producer James Cameron.
I am responsible for researching unique and exciting wildlife behaviours, building contributor relationships, organising location logistics for various world-class camera talent, writing scripts and other documents to support ongoing and post-production.
RESEARCHER - TBA (2024)
Two landmark natural history series on two iconic animal groups for a major US streamer, produced by Amabel Adcock and Directed by Ruth Roberts.
Like my previous role with Talesmith TV, I was responsible for researching unique and exciting wildlife behaviours, building contributor relationships, organising location logistics for various world-class camera talent, writing treatments, decks and other documents to support pre-production.