@TimWatchorn

Over the past few years, I’ve worked with a range of mid- to high-end restaurant brands and more than 20 sponsored partners, helping bring their identities to life through video. As a solo videographer and editor, I craft visual stories that capture each brand’s unique mood, style, and personality.

Film, light & edit for The Ivy :

FILM: An almost equal mix of gimbal and handheld camera work. Using the floral environment in the foreground and background, to help showcase the feel of dining in an outside space. Slower moving gimbal shots of the interior and fine dining the guests experience in the day. Then for the vibrance and energy the evening experience offers, a more handheld fast moving approach is required.

LIGHT: Using harsh lighting through branches full of leaves or flowers to cast shadows onto dining tables, not only giving the frame more movement, but also replicating the tranquil experience of nature a guest receives.

EDIT: Vibrant use of colours, with green being the overarching theme to connect with The Ivy colour scheme. Editing with energy, but with elegance, not rushing the moments that really matter to the brand.

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CAMPAIGNS

A big part of a brands identity is their campaigns, which really helps give a brand a life of its own.

It’s a big responsibility, but also very rewarding as a videographer, to be trusted to use your skills and knowledge to help form the look and feel of a brand.

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FOOD PRESENTATION

It’s amazing to work with chefs who are as passionate as you are to make everything look perfect.

Macro food shots are a lot harder than most things to get right, especially for the chefs. From the quality of the ingredients, to the way the food cuts, every crumble is magnified for all to see.

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STUNTS

Impressing people in real life, not only on social posts, are where stunts can really help create hype and awareness for a brand.

Filming this large scale stunt outside Windsor Castle, for The Ivy Windsor pre-opening, has been one of my highlights for The Ivy. It was a challenge, but a very rewarding success, especially seeing the hundreds of tourists and locals watching it as it happened.

Trying out new and innovative ways to catch peoples attention from ideas in peoples heads, to my own thoughts and actions as a creative, I love seeing it all come together.

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EVENTS

There’s lots to cover at events, as you need to capture the whole guest experience from start to finish. Location, entertainment, service, food, drinks, guests, atmosphere; you have to be ready to film at short notice or the moment has gone forever.

How engaging the guests are and how much fun they have, depends on how the event has been organised and executed. The Ivy team are very good at creating an event worth experiencing and everyone across the business helps to make it unforgettable for everyone.

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BEVERAGES

When filming general beverage videos that are not sponsored by another brand, you generally have more freedom to play about with the way in which you capture it.

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CELEBRITIES

Along my Ivy journey, there’s been a handful of celebrities that I’ve had the pleasure of filming. 

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LOCATIONS

Showcasing the restaurants interiors and exteriors, really helps guests to understand the visuals and aesthetics they will experience while dining. It is our job to take them on a journey, using the camera lens as if it were the guests perspective.

The Ivy have over 45 locations, the majority of which I have personally filmed and edited. Each has their own personalities and themes, but all have a charm and elegance that is clearly in line with The Ivy brand.

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FARTHER’S & MOTHER’S DAY

An important time in most people’s lives and a great honour for brands when their guests choose to experience their special moments at their restaurants.

One of the core memories I have of my father and I, was chilling out together watching old western films. So when I got the chance to shoot, direct and edit this western themed Father’s Day campaign video for The Ivy, it was like a dream come true. I poured all those emotions and life experiences into making this project work.

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KIDS

Working with young kids can be hard, but having a young child myself, those experiences have taught me a few tricks.

When directing the kids, I’m not too serious as the kids and parents need to feel comfortable and have fun, rather than feel like they are working. This really helps to bring that enjoyment element onto the screen.

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FESTIVE

It’s that time of year where you get to have a little more fun than usual on set. Models crowded round a full table of strangers, but all pretending to be family, always creates a fun atmosphere.

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CAREERS

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the recruitment team, going from store to store, filming all types of staff members. The realness of the job, no models, just people being themselves and having fun with it.

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