New Tricks use ELP lights for third series

ELP are delighted to be supplying all the location lighting and power for the latest series of BBC drama New Tricks.

New Tricks follows the antics of three retired cops recruited by Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman) to reinvestigate unsolved crimes.

Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman), Jack Halford (James Bolam) and Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong) have for a variety of reasons handed over their badges and accepted premature retirement. But their hunger to get a result - despite some unconventional means - is as strong as ever.

Produced by independent production company Wall To Wall, New Tricks started life as a one-off episode. After attracting 6.7 million viewers, a full series was commissioned.

Broadcast between 1 April and 6 May, the first series was BBC ONE's highest rating new drama of the year, with an average of 7 million viewers. The second series built on this success and now a third series is currently in production.

“The third series is even more ambitions” comments gaffer David Hedley. “The story lines are increasingly diverse and even more creative. Of course this means that from a production and technical point of view we need to match this ambition”

He continues… “ELP have been great. All the equipment delivered out on this job has been virtually brand new and well up to spec.”

In particular David singled out some critical pieces of ELP hardware that have been invaluable on the project.

1) 18 K remote heads – These Arri Daylight lampheads have been customised with a motorised yoke from Light Technik in Germany.

They provide a high level of manoeuvrability and great deal of flexibility on location. The Gaffer explained that the heads have been used extensively on the New Tricks production and sited one example during a night time shoot on Wimbledon common.

“2 x 18K remote heads were raised 65m in the air by a scissor lift to illuminate the park. With an unmanned basket we could go as high as we needed. You don’t have to conform to the same height safety regulations with an unmanned basket and therefore have more flexibility with positioning….”

“….The motorised yoke provides excellent control and it saves so much time and hassle being able to coordinate things from the ground.”

2) Super Silent Generators – Equally impressive on this job have been ELP’s various mobile generator units. David Headley and his generator operator Paul Harris have taken out the 120 KW load carrier and the 60KW load carrier.

Both units have ample storage for lighting and grip equipment. They are enclosed with purpose built and highly sophisticated acoustic enclosures.
The Gaffer told us that “even the sound guys on set remarked how quiet they were and they are the hardest people to please!”

“…Also the storage capacity on these vehicles is impressive. It carries quite a bit of ELP kit for the job… everything from the 18K’s down to Micro Flo kits.”

3) 40kw 4x4 Land Rover Generator – This very useful 4x4 vehicle has been used by the New Tricks production team to access hard to reach places. Whether through rough rural terrain or tricky city centre locations, this customised Land Rover can help bring power much closer to the action.

“ELP are happy for me to use my own crew to take out their specialist generators. Some companies insist that you only use ‘in house’ people but ELP have been very flexible and accommodating”

He concludes “The DOP Peter Middleton, and all my crew have been very happy with the service from ELP. It’s all working out very well.”

Crew List

DOP – Peter Middleton (BSC)
David Hedley – gaffer
Barry Reed – Best Boy
David Campbell – Electrician
Paul Harris – Generator op