Jason Torbitt began his freelance career in 2003, and since then has quickly developed a reputation as a hardworking, dedicated, reliable crew member, renowned for his approachability, work ethic, and the ability to constantly deliver results at the highest level. Jason's manner, hard work and love for what he does is evident on any set, and he is always 100% committed both on the day, and in the planning stages.
He has had several career highlights to date, through the years. In 2006 he had a block of Steadicam work on the ITV soap Emmerdale. He also travelled to Kosovo to film a documentary and a live music concert at the NATO Army base with James Blunt. In 2007 he operated Steadicam on a 90-minute, one take feature film, Uncut; he also worked on ITV’s South Bank Show, and found himself on the touchlines of UEFA Cup and Premier League football matches. He also operated the handheld camera on the show for the Royal Television Society Awards for the second year in succession.
He worked as Director of Photography on feature film ‘The Lift’ in 2008, and operated live on the red carpet of the MTV European Music Awards for an audience of millions, which was the highlight of a busy year, which had also seen extensive work on short drama films and commercials (most notably for News of the World). He also operated AR and Steadicam for MTV's titles and idents for the new series of 'Living on the Edge' on Abersoch beach in Wales.
In 2009 he operated Steadicam live for BBC Scotland at the World Pipe Band Championships for the second time, and spent 6 days with NEP Visions at The Open Golf Championship, as well as Lighting Camera documentary work for the BBC and also Steadicam work on the BBC’s Culture Show. Commercials work (including for Smirnoff) and drama work also added to the mix, together with music promos for top artists including Ian Brown and Bat for Lashes. He worked as DoP for a RSPCA commercial, shooting on Varicam P2, on 3-perf 35mm on a television drama on the Arricam ST, and on RF cameras at broadcast sporting events including Netball, Swimming and Track Cycling.
All of this was constantly supported by a wealth of multicamera live events, and awards shows, for which Jason is renowned in the North West region for providing top class camerawork and Steadicam.
2010 has seen a huge variety of work, from drama and short films on the RED, to Scottish Premier League football OBs, the third successive year on the World Pipe Band Championships OB for BBC Scotland, and a variety of camera and lighting camera operations for everything from live events, including music, awards and fashion to VTs and corporate videos, including PSC filming on location at a nuclear power station in North Wales, and at an Army barracks. Bolton FC and Manchester City FC Player of the Year awards and end of season events for Everton FC were also worked on by Jason, in addition to a Radio City Live concert at the Liverpool Echo Arena, with a succession of leading music artists performing live, and a Beatles Festival at Liverpool Cathedral. Jason also operated for 2.5 weeks on a commercial in studios at Shepperton for Gillette's new razor, the Fusion Proglide. In addition to working handheld on one of the four main cameras for the entire commercial, entitled 'Invasion', Jason was also a featured artist - one of three camera crew featured on screen, together with a presenter. To finish a busy year, Jason operated Steadicam for the British Military Tournament at London's Earls Court, providing a full 2 man crew and RF camera solution, and also operated an 86x studio box lens for the final night of rock band James' live tour at the MEN Arena, Manchester.
2011 began, with a 7 day corporate PSC shoot in Tenerife, a documentary shoot for Italian broadcaster RAI, Live Events at Salford Quays, Manchester, ACC Liverpool, Birmingham and London, and more live football north of the border for BBC Scotland and Sky Sports. Steadi Facilities Cameras & Vision have also won a contract for provision of a full multicamera facility, including Steadicam, Jimmy Jib, Helicopter and Motorbike, on-site editing and internet content for a large number of championship sporting events and athletics throughout the year, for England Athletics and runBritain. Steadi Facilities provided all crew and equipment, together with a Project Manager and Technical Project Manager / Camera Supervisor (Jason). Steadicam work has included dailies on BBCs Drama 'Bound' and 'The Syndicate', BBC Comedy 'Pram Face', and high profile corporate promos. Other broadcast work included football OBs for Sky Sports, ESPN and BBC Scotland, and once again the World Pipe Band Championships for BBC Scotland, plus a commercial for NCR cash machines.
Jason's camera work - whether on tripod, handheld, studio ped or remote head - is always reliable and captures the scenes or the moment well. As a mobile camera specialist, Jason's work is adaptable. It can range from solid, conventional, ‘safe’ work, with beauty shots and graceful drifting moves, to mobile, dynamic handheld work, where whip pans and crash zooms are all-important. He is good at changing style to suit the pace of the programme. When shooting PSC work, he is always keen to ascertain what form the edit will take – shooting to edit is something he believes in and adheres to well.
Jason works well under direction, and responds quickly and precisely to instruction. He will always strive to understand the director’s vision, and meet with their expectations and demands creatively. He also offers solutions to problems quickly as and when they arise.
Jason’s work has meant a lot of travelling both within Europe and Worldwide. So far, he has worked within the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, Malta, Netherlands, Greece, Czech Republic, United States, Serbia, Italy, France, Turkey, Germany, Austria, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Portugal.
Jason occasionally spends time running Steadicam training workshops. He has also demonstrated products at International Broadcast Convention in Amsterdam, has spent time guest speaking in colleges and universities about his experiences, and has also written a dissertation about Steadicam and its impact and effects upon the audience. More recently he presented a Steadicam tutorial and seminar to the IOV.
Jason has experience of working with the following cameras:
- HD / Digital: RED, ARRI Alexa, HDW-750, HDW-730, F900, F900R, Panasonic HDX-900, HDX-400, HDX-500, Varicam, Varicam P2 HPX-2700, HPX-3000, HXC-100, PDW-F3
- Betacam SP & DigiBeta: BVW- series, DVW-790, DVW-970
- Dockable & Triax: BVP-E30, BVP-570, HDC-1500, HDC-950, DXC-D30, D35, D50, D55, 637,537,Thomson/Grass Valley/Phillips LDK-series, Gigawave D-Cam, D-Cam 'Clip-On', Link Research RF Links, RF Camera Links
- DVCAM: DSR-570, DSR-500, DSR-450, DSR-370, DSR-300, DSR-200
- DVCPRO: AJ-D700, AJ-D610, SDX-900
- XDCAM HD: PDW-F700, PDW-F330, PDW-F350, PMW-EX1, PMW-EX3
- HDV / P2: HVR-Z1, HVR-Z7, HVR-FX1, HVR-A1, JVC GY HD-110, HD-250, Panasonic, HVX-200, HVX-171, Canon XL-H1
- DV: PD150, PD170, XM1, XM2, Canon XL1, Panasonic DVX-100, JVC GY-DV700, GY-DV550, DY90 (Digital S)
- 16mm: ARRI SR2, SR3, 416, Aaton XTRPlus, Cinema Products CP-16
- 35mm: ARRI 235, 435, 535, ST, Panavision Millennium XL
