Dave Alex Riddett
Encyclopedia
Dave Alex Riddett is a prominent English
cinematographer
mostly known for his work at Aardman Animations
.
. His father, Alec Riddett, was a photographer and artistic manager at Harborough Theatre, hence was Riddett's love for art and cinema. Riddett studied Art in Loughborough College
, Communication Design (Film) at Leeds College of Art (Bachelor's Degree
) and received Certificate in Radio, Film and Television at University of Bristol
.
, producing short films, music promos and TV title sequences. In 1985, still being employed by bolexbrothers, Riddett's talent was noted by Aardman Animations and he joined them as freelance member. Here he notably worked with Nick Park
on his acclaimed Creature Comforts
short and legendary Wallace & Gromit series. Notably, Riddett quit bolexbrothers after 6 years of working here during production of Creature Comforts. During his early years at Aardman Dave also supplied his camera skills for "Sledgehammer" music video.
Director numerous TV Commercials and Short Films. Showreel;http://www.sohosoho.tv/player/player.pl?token=JCX08N2H;autoplay=1
In 2000 Riddett provided special effects and was Director of photography on much-acclaimed Chicken Run
, Aardman's first feature production then, and was nominated on BAFTA Awards for his work. In 2005 and 2008 Riddett was Director of Photography for Wallace & Gromit's first feature film
and for recent short Wallace and Gromit in A Matter of Loaf & Death respectively. Currently Dave does photography on new W & G series Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention. He also provided animation for some other independent productions, being freelancer as mentioned.
Among his efforts at Aardman is co-direction of their animated logo.
, city of Aardman's HQ. They have 2 children, daughter Charly and son Max.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
mostly known for his work at Aardman Animations
Aardman Animations
Aardman Animations, Ltd., also known as Aardman Studios, or simply as Aardman, is a British animation studio based in Bristol, United Kingdom. The studio is known for films made using stop-motion clay animation techniques, particularly those featuring Plasticine characters Wallace and Gromit...
.
Early life and education
Riddett was brought up in village of Great BowdenGreat Bowden
Great Bowden is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. It is north-east of and a suburb of Market Harborough, although originally the parish of Great Bowden included Harborough. The population is around 1,000, with approximately 50% of that consisting of...
. His father, Alec Riddett, was a photographer and artistic manager at Harborough Theatre, hence was Riddett's love for art and cinema. Riddett studied Art in Loughborough College
Loughborough College
Loughborough College is a college of Further Education in Leicestershire, England established in 1909. It is located opposite Loughborough University on Epinal Way, and adjacent to the Loughborough University School of Art and Design, situated next to the main entrance of the college...
, Communication Design (Film) at Leeds College of Art (Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
) and received Certificate in Radio, Film and Television at University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
.
Career
After finishing University of Bristol Riddett directed some student projects there. Then, in 1983 he and Dave Borthwick opened studio bolexbrothersBolexbrothers
bolexbrothers is an independent British animation studio based in Bristol. The studio specialises in stop motion animation, producing numerous short films and commercials, as well as one stop motion feature film, The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb...
, producing short films, music promos and TV title sequences. In 1985, still being employed by bolexbrothers, Riddett's talent was noted by Aardman Animations and he joined them as freelance member. Here he notably worked with Nick Park
Nick Park
Nicholas Wulstan "Nick" Park, CBE is an English filmmaker of stop motion animation best known as the creator of Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep....
on his acclaimed Creature Comforts
Creature Comforts
Creature Comforts was originally a 1989 British humorous animated short film about how animals feel about living in a zoo, featuring the voices of the British public "spoken" by the animals. It was created by Nick Park and Aardman Animations...
short and legendary Wallace & Gromit series. Notably, Riddett quit bolexbrothers after 6 years of working here during production of Creature Comforts. During his early years at Aardman Dave also supplied his camera skills for "Sledgehammer" music video.
Director numerous TV Commercials and Short Films. Showreel;http://www.sohosoho.tv/player/player.pl?token=JCX08N2H;autoplay=1
In 2000 Riddett provided special effects and was Director of photography on much-acclaimed Chicken Run
Chicken Run
Chicken Run is a 2000 British stop-motion animation film made by the Aardman Animations studios, the production studio of the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit films...
, Aardman's first feature production then, and was nominated on BAFTA Awards for his work. In 2005 and 2008 Riddett was Director of Photography for Wallace & Gromit's first feature film
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit is a 2005 British clay-mation animated comedy horror film, the first feature-length Wallace and Gromit film. It was produced by DreamWorks Animation and Aardman Animations, and released by DreamWorksPictures...
and for recent short Wallace and Gromit in A Matter of Loaf & Death respectively. Currently Dave does photography on new W & G series Wallace & Gromit's World of Invention. He also provided animation for some other independent productions, being freelancer as mentioned.
Among his efforts at Aardman is co-direction of their animated logo.
Personal
Riddett and his wife are living in BristolBristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, city of Aardman's HQ. They have 2 children, daughter Charly and son Max.
External links
- Dave Alex Riddett at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Riddett's FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page - Interview with Riddett and Dave Borthwick, 26 October 2001.