Zipline Creative Limited
Encyclopedia
Zipline Creative Limited is a BAFTA winning South Wales
based film production company, famed for its contribution to the internationally successful Cow
- Don't Text And Drive campaign with Gwent Police
. The company, founded in 2008 by two former BBC
employees, is also known for its recent BBC Two
TV series Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience. The team have also worked with Rhod Gilbert
to produce video content for his live stand up show. In 2009 they produced Back To Llanbobl a mockumentary
in the DVD extras of the comics recent Rhod Gilbert and the Award Winning Mince Pie. They also produce regular video content for a live comedy show with Chris Corcoran
and Elis James called Chris Corcoran's Committee Meeting, based on the club culture native to the South Wales Valleys
.
", an overnight worldwide hit effective due to its highly graphic nature, had a huge impact on the national debate in the USA about texting and driving. Following rapid viral success, major news outlets like The Today Show
and all the national networks began to cover the film's impact. This was followed by worldwide coverage on news networks, online and in print. Furthermore, the film earned honors in the Advertising Age
's weekly Creativity Top 5 video. It is now considered the most successful viral Public safety announcement yet experienced on the web.
The film began humbly, originally commissioned by Gwent Police
to be shown only in schools in the county. Having previously worked with local director Peter Watkins Hughes, they were approached by him to produce and shoot the new project on a modest budget. Zipline's core team, Nathan Mackintosh and Rhys Waters, were previously students on Peter's Documentary Film and Television Degree course, who were still working locally and in the process of setting up their own company.
Mackintosh and Waters based themselves in a small unit near Tredegar
where they built a large green screen with enough space for a car to be wheeled in front. Alongside this, three identical Ford Ka
s, two identical Ford Mondeo
s and two Ford Fiesta
s were donated to the project by a local car dealer. An abandoned road was chosen to crash the cars in Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate, several miles from the unit. With help from young film makers, local fire fighters and engineers, the team successfully crashed the cars with a multiple camera setup, including a birds-eye view on the impact using a Sony PD170 attached to the bucket of a JCB
.
The remains of the vehicle were then transported to the green screen unit, and the internal shots of the impact were filmed with the actresses. Nathan, who acted as DOP also was responsible for the special effects on this scene. Over several months he added the additional layers on blood, smoke and glass.
" was broadcast on BBC Wales
and was then picked up by BBC Three
under the banner "Only Stwpid COWZ Txt N Drive". Many American networks have shown interest in their own broadcasts of the film. It is expected to sell internationally on DVD to schools and road safety organizations hoping to promote the issue.
decided to broadcast the show on its Wednesday 10 PM slot. The Zipline team worked freelance as producer/directors, editors and also on camera and sound on the series for Presentable RDF
. Classed as factual entertainment, the series followed Rhod Gilbert
as he tried out jobs he believed to be tougher than being a stand-up comedian.
Binman: Gilbert joined the Vale of Glamorgan
County Council's waste management team as he walked 10 miles and lifted 20 tons of waste in a day.
Mum: Gilbert became Mum to seven children for just 24 hours. This included nappy changes and school runs.
Hair Dresser: Afraid of touching other people and having only two days to learn to cut for top stylist Andrew Price, Gilbert had to then cut a real person's hair.
Soldier: Gilbert was inserted into a battle hardened platoon, having to hunt an enemy in the British Army
's infamous Infantry Battle School
.
Reviewed by all the major UK newspapers, the show received ratings of 4/5 from papers such as The Times
and The Telegraph
, and was critics' choice in The Guardian
, The Express
and The Daily Mail. Viewing figures on the first episode were 1.4 million with an audience share of 7.9%, a strong showing for that slot with the second episode holding at 1.2 million. It also won the Award for Best Factual Series at BAFTA Cymru
and was shortlisted at the Celtic Media Festival
.
Farmer: City boy Gilbert found himself living with the Robinson family, who run a small organic farm in Llandysul
, Carmarthenshire
. For three days he lived in the farm house, mucked out the cows, tried (And failed) to work with a trained sheepdog and got given his own special tractor. He was also given the task of being an auctioneer at the local livestock market and had an emotional visit to an abattoir.
Butler: Gilbert got trained to be Butler for Sir Brooke Boothby of Fonmon Castle
, helping him host a large dinner party for his friends and assisting him clay pigeon shooting.
Tattooist: Gilbert was determined to tattoo a real person and along the way ended up getting a tattoo of his own design and his nipple pierced. Based in Abracadabra Studio, Blackwood, South Wales hes was mentored by the legendary Dai Fleet.
Firefighter: Recruited by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
, Gilbert spent three days training, fighting fires and rescuing dummies from freezing rivers.
The show performed strongly on both channels and experienced a growth in its audience share.
, The Institute Of Advanced Broadcast, The University of Wales College, Newport
, Caerphilly County Borough Council
and worked with legendary actress Margaret John
.
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
based film production company, famed for its contribution to the internationally successful Cow
Cow (public service announcement)
Cow is a public service announcement film directed by Peter Watkins-Hughes with assistance from the Gwent Police Department and Tredegar Comprehensive School. The August 2008 film was a co-production by Gwent Police and Tred Films, with special effects by Zipline Creative Limited...
- Don't Text And Drive campaign with Gwent Police
Gwent Police
Gwent Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the local authority areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen in southeast Wales....
. The company, founded in 2008 by two former BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
employees, is also known for its recent BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
TV series Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience. The team have also worked with Rhod Gilbert
Rhod Gilbert
Rhodri "Rhod" Gilbert, is a Welsh comedian who was nominated in 2005 for the Perrier Best Newcomer Award. In 2008, he was nominated for the main if.comedy ....
to produce video content for his live stand up show. In 2009 they produced Back To Llanbobl a mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
in the DVD extras of the comics recent Rhod Gilbert and the Award Winning Mince Pie. They also produce regular video content for a live comedy show with Chris Corcoran
Chris Corcoran
Chris 'Korkey' Corcoran is a Welsh comedian and broadcaster. Originally a History teacher at Barry Comprehensive school. His recent TV credits include Easy Ryder - Chris Corcoran's Guide To The Ryder Cup , Wales and The Other Five Nations - The England Game, Wales and The Other Five Nations - The...
and Elis James called Chris Corcoran's Committee Meeting, based on the club culture native to the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
.
Cow - 2008
"CowCow (public service announcement)
Cow is a public service announcement film directed by Peter Watkins-Hughes with assistance from the Gwent Police Department and Tredegar Comprehensive School. The August 2008 film was a co-production by Gwent Police and Tred Films, with special effects by Zipline Creative Limited...
", an overnight worldwide hit effective due to its highly graphic nature, had a huge impact on the national debate in the USA about texting and driving. Following rapid viral success, major news outlets like The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
and all the national networks began to cover the film's impact. This was followed by worldwide coverage on news networks, online and in print. Furthermore, the film earned honors in the Advertising Age
Advertising Age
Advertising Age is a magazine, delivering news, analysis and data on marketing and media. The magazine was started as a broadsheet newspaper in Chicago in 1930...
's weekly Creativity Top 5 video. It is now considered the most successful viral Public safety announcement yet experienced on the web.
The film began humbly, originally commissioned by Gwent Police
Gwent Police
Gwent Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the local authority areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen in southeast Wales....
to be shown only in schools in the county. Having previously worked with local director Peter Watkins Hughes, they were approached by him to produce and shoot the new project on a modest budget. Zipline's core team, Nathan Mackintosh and Rhys Waters, were previously students on Peter's Documentary Film and Television Degree course, who were still working locally and in the process of setting up their own company.
Mackintosh and Waters based themselves in a small unit near Tredegar
Tredegar
Tredegar is a town situated on the Sirhowy River in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, in south-east Wales. Located within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, it became an early centre of the Industrial Revolution in South Wales...
where they built a large green screen with enough space for a car to be wheeled in front. Alongside this, three identical Ford Ka
Ford Ka
The Ford Ka is a city car from the Ford Motor Company marketed in Europe and elsewhere.The current European version is produced by Fiat Auto in Tychy, Poland, while the model sold in Latin America is built in Brazil and Argentina....
s, two identical Ford Mondeo
Ford Mondeo
The Mondeo was launched on 8 January 1993, and sales began on 22 March 1993. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk...
s and two Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta is a front wheel drive supermini/subcompact manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company and built in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India, Thailand and South Africa...
s were donated to the project by a local car dealer. An abandoned road was chosen to crash the cars in Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate, several miles from the unit. With help from young film makers, local fire fighters and engineers, the team successfully crashed the cars with a multiple camera setup, including a birds-eye view on the impact using a Sony PD170 attached to the bucket of a JCB
Backhoe
A backhoe, also called a rear actor or back actor, is a piece of excavating equipment or digger consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm. They are typically mounted on the back of a tractor or front loader...
.
The remains of the vehicle were then transported to the green screen unit, and the internal shots of the impact were filmed with the actresses. Nathan, who acted as DOP also was responsible for the special effects on this scene. Over several months he added the additional layers on blood, smoke and glass.
COW's Success
Following the success online and in current affairs outlets, "CowCow (public service announcement)
Cow is a public service announcement film directed by Peter Watkins-Hughes with assistance from the Gwent Police Department and Tredegar Comprehensive School. The August 2008 film was a co-production by Gwent Police and Tred Films, with special effects by Zipline Creative Limited...
" was broadcast on BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
and was then picked up by BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
under the banner "Only Stwpid COWZ Txt N Drive". Many American networks have shown interest in their own broadcasts of the film. It is expected to sell internationally on DVD to schools and road safety organizations hoping to promote the issue.
Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience Series 1 - 2010
Originally commissioned for BBC One Wales and following a successful broadcast, BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
decided to broadcast the show on its Wednesday 10 PM slot. The Zipline team worked freelance as producer/directors, editors and also on camera and sound on the series for Presentable RDF
RDF Media
Zodiak Media is a Anglo-American television production company. It was formed in 2010 when RDF Media Group was acquired by, and merged with Zodiak Entertainment...
. Classed as factual entertainment, the series followed Rhod Gilbert
Rhod Gilbert
Rhodri "Rhod" Gilbert, is a Welsh comedian who was nominated in 2005 for the Perrier Best Newcomer Award. In 2008, he was nominated for the main if.comedy ....
as he tried out jobs he believed to be tougher than being a stand-up comedian.
Binman: Gilbert joined the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
County Council's waste management team as he walked 10 miles and lifted 20 tons of waste in a day.
Mum: Gilbert became Mum to seven children for just 24 hours. This included nappy changes and school runs.
Hair Dresser: Afraid of touching other people and having only two days to learn to cut for top stylist Andrew Price, Gilbert had to then cut a real person's hair.
Soldier: Gilbert was inserted into a battle hardened platoon, having to hunt an enemy in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's infamous Infantry Battle School
Infantry Training Centre
The Infantry Training Centre is a unit of the British Army administered by HQ School of Infantry responsible for both basic and advanced training of Soldiers and Officers joining the infantry...
.
Reviewed by all the major UK newspapers, the show received ratings of 4/5 from papers such as The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
and The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, and was critics' choice in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Express
The Express
The Express is a 2008 American sports film produced by John Davis and directed by Gary Fleder. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Charles Leavitt from a book titled Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, authored by Robert C. Gallagher...
and The Daily Mail. Viewing figures on the first episode were 1.4 million with an audience share of 7.9%, a strong showing for that slot with the second episode holding at 1.2 million. It also won the Award for Best Factual Series at BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru
BAFTA Cymru is the Welsh branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.Formed in 1991, they hold an annual awards ceremony to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Welsh-made films and television programmes...
and was shortlisted at the Celtic Media Festival
Celtic Media Festival
The Celtic Media Festival, previously known as the Celtic Film and Television Festival, aims to promote the languages and cultures of the Celtic nations on screen and in broadcasting. The festival is an annual three-day celebration of broadcasting and film from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall...
.
Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience Series 2 - 2011
Following the success of the first series on both BBC 2 and BBC One Wales, the original team was commissioned to produce another series of four episodes. The decision was made not to alter the format, aside from having mini sketches of Rhod doing his homework before each role. This choice was based on the thought that it was not the format that attracted people, but Rhods interaction with 'real' characters and allowing them their own space to shine on screen.Farmer: City boy Gilbert found himself living with the Robinson family, who run a small organic farm in Llandysul
Llandysul
Llandysul is a small town in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. The community of Pont Tyweli lies directly across the Teifi River in Carmarthenshire. It is in the valley of the River Teifi and is visited for its fishing and canoeing....
, Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
. For three days he lived in the farm house, mucked out the cows, tried (And failed) to work with a trained sheepdog and got given his own special tractor. He was also given the task of being an auctioneer at the local livestock market and had an emotional visit to an abattoir.
Butler: Gilbert got trained to be Butler for Sir Brooke Boothby of Fonmon Castle
Fonmon Castle
Fonmon Castle is a fortified medieval house near the village of Fonmon in the Vale of Glamorgan. It dates from the 13th century, and is still in use as a private residence. The walled gardens are surrounded by woodlands....
, helping him host a large dinner party for his friends and assisting him clay pigeon shooting.
Tattooist: Gilbert was determined to tattoo a real person and along the way ended up getting a tattoo of his own design and his nipple pierced. Based in Abracadabra Studio, Blackwood, South Wales hes was mentored by the legendary Dai Fleet.
Firefighter: Recruited by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
The South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is the fire and rescue service covering the ten Welsh principal areas of Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan....
, Gilbert spent three days training, fighting fires and rescuing dummies from freezing rivers.
The show performed strongly on both channels and experienced a growth in its audience share.
Corporate Work
Through its corporate wing, the company has produced work for the likes of Aston Martin LagondaAston Martin Lagonda
The Aston Martin Lagonda was a luxury four-door saloon built by Aston Martin of Newport Pagnell, England, between 1974 and 1990. A total of 645 were produced. The name was derived from the Lagonda marque that Aston Martin had purchased in 1947...
, The Institute Of Advanced Broadcast, The University of Wales College, Newport
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
, Caerphilly County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council is the governing body for Caerphilly , one of the Principal Areas of Wales.- Current composition :- Historic results :-Electoral divisions:...
and worked with legendary actress Margaret John
Margaret John
Margaret John was a Welsh, BAFTA award-winning actress, best known for her role as Doris in Gavin & Stacey. She has been described, by fellow actress Ruth Jones, as "an absolute national treasure".-Early life:...
.
External links
- www.ziplinecreative.co.uk
- http://www.youtube.com/user/ziplinecreative
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00q9zjy
- http://www.4rfv.co.uk/brieflisting.asp?scategory=404&company=39385
- http://www.astonmartinracing.com/eng/downloads/videogalleries/videogallery2009
- http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2009/05/27/zipline-creative-of-new-tredegar-has-a-fast-first-year-91466-23719703/
- http://ffresh.com/en/2011/05/18/studio-watch-zipline-creative/
- http://www.caerphillyobserver.co.uk/news/86696/new-tredegar-firm-zipline-creative-scoops-bafta-cymru-award-for-rhod-gilbert-show/