Kirk Watson films
I am a freelance filmmaker, based in Scotland. I can self shoot promotional, documentary, educational and narrative content and edit into a final film. I am also a fully licensed, CAA approved drone pilot and cinematographer. Perfect View Productions has all their own equipment to complete a project.
Whatever your story be it commercial, documentary or fictional we can help you get your message across in a high quality and professional manner.
This was an exciting day filming live for BBC and BBC ALBA at Belladrum during the main event evening then shooting the massive fireworks at the end. The fact it is live makes everything more exciting especially the fireworks as they go off just nearby you as you are flying nearish to them and hoping none go off track towards the drone lol.
Pretty interesting and a real shame for the estate and many others in Aberdeen area with the destruction of forests and trees all over Aberdeenshire. This was for a TV show about the storm. Some shots from the air below to see the destruction. Pretty windy day for flying but got some great shots all the same:)
A great few days over on the Isle of Arran with Countryfile as we do a piece on the poor state of the CalMac ferries. Bit of touring round the island speaking to different business’s. Great bunch of locals, from hotels, farmers, shop owners, cocktail bar etc. We got some good weather too so was a fun journey. Tom Heap was presenting, Becky Whitefoot directing/producing and Martin McNair on the sound:)
We also had a bonus day out on a rib filming the calmac ferries by drone. This was great fun and always a bit more adrenaline flying from small boats. But a smooth day at sea:)
A few days as drone operator for Richard Elliott Aerial Filming. Richard was away on a cruise filming ships so myself and Pete stepped in for a few days. A few dual op days and a few solo days and a lot of driving. Finished footage was for use in a TV Commercial for LNER. Always exciting filming trains and trying to find nice spots but also spots so you can see the train coming and actually have the drone rolling in time for it:)
Here we are back with the Stunt horse team to film as they pack up in the Scottish Borders for a journey to Ribchester for the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Show. Here they are putting on a Cowboys and Indian show. I am filming with my drone the Inspire 2 when it doesn’t rain and also doing some long lens slow mo action of the riders. A Great day seeing this team riding, they are pretty amazing at what they do:) This is for a BBC prime time program following this team and directed by Ramsay.
Spent a few great days filming with several different people for Wolftrax as put together a few short films for their new website. Below to see:)
A fun challenging day working on this short fictional film. A costume drama with lots of sword fights and a great all female cast. I was filming with the Inspire 2 and trying to get some stable running scenes in winds that slowly increased to about 35mph lol. We managed to get some good shots and everyone seemed happy. A great crew from all over UK here and a fun crew to work with.
Today I was back with Ramsay and Robyn from Caledonia TV for a program about a horse stunt team in the borders of Scotland. Today was a little different where we were filming an annual ride out of 300 or more horse, which was pretty amazing to see. Very busy few hours so not much chance for pics as had to film then run to the next spot lol. Will go out late summer on Prime time BBC.
Great few days with Derek and Vicky plus a few other filming rock climbing movement techniques. These are creating tutorials for their YouTube channel. Now made maybe 150 films for the channel 😁
Always fun filming with BBC Countryfile. Here we filmed a piece about the making of a Children in need hat in a Kilmarnock factory and also interviewed a Ukrainian farmer online. Then we came to Aviemore to film with Fiona’s ponies on a piece about the Queen for the Jubilee. Great to finish on my own patch and meet another local too.
Now this was an amazing trip with the Dana crew. Filming the 8th episode together and the 2nd episode of season two. Here we head to Mingulay the un-inhabited island on the far south of the Western Isles. We are going for 4 days camping and climbing on the massive sea cliffs. there is something very special about this island, not sure what it is just feels great being there with the wildlife and sea and cliffs:)
We amazing get great weather although quite windy. We almost get stuck there which we were all looking forward to but Angus in his boat managed to get in to the little rocky gully where we load up. Some pics below just to show how amazing the place looks.
The footage was stunning here with climbers high on the cliffs and an ever moving background of waves crashing against the cliffs. Akira Kurosawa would have loved the movement in the shots lol. These episodes are out in October:)
Another day filming for BBC education on the canals between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Also filming in Dundee and Edinburgh centre for three films
More BBC education stuff where I take a train south and then North to Oban another day to look at the Geography and take plate shots for animation:)
Have done several of these jobs before during covid times for online learning in schools. It is an animated series for Geography. I shoot the plate shots and then the team animate them with characters on their journey learning about the geography. This time was in Aberdeen and the Deeside way. Fun day filming just by myself:)
Had a great week here working for Solus productions on a Dana episode for BBC ALBA. We aimed to do a winter traverse of the Cuillin ridge but the weather did not permit us so we had a few days on the Cuillin ridge doing some munro in great winter conditions and a rock climb on the Cinch one of the other days in-between the 80mph winds and snow/rain lol.
Great team as alway here with Hamish as A Camera and director myself doing drone and second camera and Kenny presenting with Matt. Rich Parker and Jon Saunders doing our safety. Pretty heavy sacks and lots of walking for us all but should be a great episode in October:)
Here we spend two days on Ben Nevis in great weather filming one of the last great ice climbs getting done for the first time. Great conditions but still looked terrifying as the icicle does not touch the ground and is free hanging so the team have to decide whether they reckon it is safe to be swinging ice axes at:)
Alastair Lee is hanging on a rope to catch the close ups while I fly from below with the drone and a long lease too:) Greg Boswell, Guy Robertson and Hamish Frost are the climbers. Robin is doing the safety for Alastair.
Today we were filming Guy Robertson soloing a few different ice climbs on Creag Meagaidh for an Alastair Lee climbing film. Was a good day out and some good exercise for the day as had to carry all the kit to the top to start:)
Today I headed out with a very heavy rucksack to climb a munro then film two Winter climbers with Alastair Lee. Was a pretty challenging day wind wise with a few gust hitting 40mph and freezing temperatures. Had to warm every battery up with hand warmers before flights. Got some lovely dramatic shots. I did learn that when the cloud and snow come it the drone gets confused and thinks the ground is just below it when it is actually 200ft below it but it try to land. Very disconcerting when you trying to fly. I waited fro the cloud to pass through for all the other flights.
Was great to meet Alastair Lee, Guy Robertson and Hamish Frost all great guys:)
Today I was doing some aerial filming for a Murder Mystery TV show that follows a retired Detective from the States as he along with some specialist experts tries to solve some ancient murders. Super fun and interesting to be involved with. The detective was brilliant to chat too and a fabulous crew. Definitely had some very challenging flying today as the Inspire 2 drone does not like dampness in the air and sleet and snow wasn’t the best but did make some amazing looking shots:)
This cave at Fortress had ancient burial where a guy had his head bashed in eeeeew. Hundreds of years ago though!
So a few days with the drones for an Amazon Prime TV show called Car and Country. Nice bunch of people and we did a bit in the snow in the Cairngorms then headed up Struy estate (A place I actually made 31 films for a few years back lol) to do some Landrover driving and staying in Eagle Braes lovely Log Cabins.
