Ian Wilson obit

IAN WILSON BSC - 23rd April 1939 - 20th January 2021

 He was not on the list

We were very sad to hear on 20th January 2021 that Ian Wilson had sadly died.  He had been battling Parkinson’s for many years but was a true fighter and never complained.  We have lost a lovely man and true talent and friend. Our sympathies to his older brother Nick on his loss. Elected to the BSC in 1971, Ian was a consumate cinematographer and took an active part in the Society engaging the audience at Pinewood Q and A's following screenings of his films 'Blind Flight' and 'Below'.

Our thanks to Clive Tickner BSC, Kim Macartney, Mike Miller Assoc. BSC, Flic McKinney, Dick Pope BSC for the words below and to Phil Meheux BSC for Ian's biography.

I had no idea how one joined the film industry when I left Hornsey College of Art Film School in 1968. However, whilst driving past the Round House in Camden Town, I spotted a film crew at work. With all the confidence of naivety I walked up to a rather elegant young man for a chat. Knowing, now, how busy and preoccupied DOP's are on set, I realise how special it was that I was treated so civilly. This was Ian Wilson, he was shooting "Tell me Lies", an anti Vietnam film directed by Peter Brook. Ian was to be fundamental in my early career.

Yes, I did get a job with them, waking Ian up every day, at his flat in Primrose Hill, and driving him to and from locations for the duration of the movie.

My experience, until that date, had been solely with 16mm film, but Ian took it upon himself to introduce me to 35mm. I became his loader, and later his focus puller, on current affairs films he made for "World in Action" and on art documentaries he made for James Archibald and Associates.

When he was unavailable for one of James's jobs he got me in as cameraman.

Ian was both loyal and generous with his time and with the sharing of his knowledge. He was a calm and gentle person: the epitome of 'cool' at work, where nothing phased him.

He would survey the scene before him, his fingers entwined across his chest: unruffled, as he planned his approach to each and every shot.

His work encompasses every genre, his IMDB list is long.

He was cheeky and amusing too. And he was a 'gent', 'old-school' but in a very appealing way. I did hear that under 'occupation', in his passport, "Gentleman" is what was claimed.

Thanks Ian.

Clive Tickner BSC

I was so sad to hear of Ian's passing. It was a great privilege to have known him - a truly lovely man, as well as a highly talented and creative DP.

I first met Ian when he joined CCA Management, where I was working. He was , without doubt, one of the most fun, and funny, clients I have ever been lucky enough to represent. He stayed a client for the remainder of his career - at CCA, then at McKinney Macartney, and was an absolute joy to represent.

Ian was generous, hilarious, mischievous and, of course, supremely talented. He also made me laugh so much. He was a great champion of Sue Gibson, when she was just starting out, and he insisted that Freddie Vale (CCA) and myself meet her - thereby starting another long and happy collaboration. 

In the early years, at CCA, Ian was incredibly sought after in the commercials world and was always on a plane, going somewhere. He told me he never encountered any problems travelling as, in his passport, he had listed "Gentleman" as his Profession !

He does, of course, have a long and impressive list of film and television credits - many with award nominations. I know he would have continued to work on many more productions had he not been so cruelly affected by his illness.

I truly loved being his agent for so many years and count myself even more fortunate to have been his guest at his beautiful cottage in Dorset. Amongst his many talents, Ian was a fabulous cook. He loved his huge garden, he loved his red wine, he loved cats (but disliked dogs !)

I have so many happy and funny memories of Ian - and for that I am very grateful.

Kim Macartney

The last years of Ian's life were wretched as he had Parkinson's. The Covid Virus ended that life on Wednesday. He lived in his own flat in sheltered accommodation and it was here that he died.

His illness progressed , affecting his powers of communication and physical strength. In spite of that, if you were to visit him and knew the person he used to be, the real Ian would often shine through and you could sense that he still had a great sense of humour and could also share a past memory.

Ian photographed a very interesting variety of films and myself and many others will have some great memories of those days.

Mike Miller Assoc. BSC

Remembering Ian Wilson, BSC

I had the pleasure of representing Ian for many years through to my retirement.  He was  immensely talented and loved his work.  He would always prefer to operate as well as light.  As he would say, that is the package of being a Director of Photography, tho he would often work with operators who he did have great admiration for.

He also took his photography into still life and I have the pleasure of owning one of his photographs, which I am, particularly now, pleased to have hanging in my sitting room

Ian had a wicked sense of humour and loved his nickname “Sex On Legs” which he would often refer to himself when he called me.

Ian has had tough years of late with Parkinsons and I now just wish him to rest in peace.

Felicity McKinney

He had suffered from Parkinsons for a number of years and was a resident at the Maitland care home in Belsize Park north London where his carers were dedicated and truly fantastic.

Last week Ian was infected with the Covid virus and rather than go to hospital it was decided that he'd be better off staying in his own place. Ian's main carer was very upset losing him as he had become very attached to him.

What a miserable few years Ian had.

Dick Pope BSC

IAN WILSON BSC

1939 - 2021

Ian Wilson was born in Sheffield in 1939. He studied graphic design and photography at the Nottingham School of Art and filmmaking at the London International Film School (now the London Film School).

During the 1960s, he worked for the United Nations and shot documentary footage in Greece. He entered the film business in 1966 as the cinematographer on The Private Right, directed by 27- year-old Greek Cypriot, Michael Papas. ‘As a first film made by a young director with a student crew (from the London School of Film Technique where Papas also studied), the film has a high professional gloss. Much of this is due to the elegant camera work of Ian Wilson, a faculty member at the School.’*

He moved on to shooting short films, commercials and documentaries including the live performance of the rock album The Butterfly Ball and The Grasshopper’s Feast (1977) based on the work of songwriter Roger Glover and the science fiction series Quatermass (1979) directed by Piers Haggard for Euston Films.

In 1982, he received a BAFTA Award nomination for his work on the television series The Flame Trees of Thika, directed by Roy Ward Baker, and in 1986 began a collaboration with director and screenwriter, David Leland, on his films Wish You Were Here (1987), Checking Out (1989) and The Big Man (aka Crossing the Line 1990).

Other notable productions include Edward II (1991 d. Derek Jarman), Backbeat (1994 d. Iain Softley), Erik the Viking (1989 d. Terry Jones), Emma(1996 d. Douglas McGrath) and The Crying Game (1992 d. Neil Jordan), which explores themes of race, gender, nationality and sexuality against the backdrop of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Ian received an Emmy Award nomination in 1999 for A Christmas Carol (d. David Jones) with Patrick Stewart

He became a member of the BSC in 1971.

*UCLA Film Quarterly 1967

Cinematographer

Barenboim on Beethoven (1970)

Barenboim on Beethoven

TV Series

Cinematographer

2020

9 episodes

 

Primo (2007)

Primo

7.5

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2007

 

Lights2: Return of the Shadow

Short

Cinematographer

2006

 

Niagara Motel (2005)

Niagara Motel

5.7

director of photography

2005

 

A Way of Life (2004)

A Way of Life

6.7

director of photography

2004

 

Blind Flight (2003)

Blind Flight

6.8

Cinematographer

2003

 

Charlotte Church, Craig Ferguson, and Jemma Redgrave in I'll Be There (2003)

I'll Be There

6.5

director of photography

2003

 

Below (2002)

Below

6.1

director of photography

2002

 

Francesca Annis, Stephen Rea, and Daniel Craig in Copenhagen (2002)

Copenhagen

7.2

TV Movie

Cinematographer

2002

 

Murder (2002)

Murder

7.2

TV Mini Series

director of photography

2002

4 episodes

 

Fat Chance

8.6

Short

Cinematographer

2001

 

Camilla Belle in Back to the Secret Garden (2000)

Back to the Secret Garden

5.7

TV Movie

director of photography

2000

 

Patrick Stewart in A Christmas Carol (1999)

A Christmas Carol

7.4

TV Movie

director of photography

1999

 

Hugo Speer and Lisa Stansfield in Swing (1999)

Swing

6.1

Cinematographer

1999

 

Love Fools (1998)

Love Fools

5.2

Cinematographer

1998

 

Dennis Quaid in Savior (1998)

Savior

7.2

Cinematographer

1998

 

Tea

5.8

Short

director of photography

1998

 

The Island on Bird Street (1997)

The Island on Bird Street

7.1

director of photography

1997

 

A Midsummer Night's Dream (1996)

A Midsummer Night's Dream

6.3

Cinematographer

1996

 

Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma (1996)

Emma

6.6

director of photography

1996

 

Doomsday Gun (1994)

Doomsday Gun

6.2

TV Movie

director of photography

1994

 

Stephen Dorff, Ian Hart, Gary Bakewell, Sheryl Lee, Chris O'Neill, and Scot Williams in Backbeat (1994)

Backbeat

6.7

Cinematographer

1994

 

The Secret Rapture (1993)

The Secret Rapture

5.7

Cinematographer

1993

 

Miranda Richardson in The Crying Game (1992)

The Crying Game

7.2

photographed by

1992

 

Charlotte Chatton in Dakota Road (1991)

Dakota Road

7.0

Cinematographer

1991

 

Tilda Swinton, Andrew Tiernan, and Steven Waddington in Edward II (1991)

Edward II

6.8

photographed by

1991

 

Crossing the Line (1990)

Crossing the Line

5.7

Cinematographer

1990

 

The Loss Adjuster (1989)

The Loss Adjuster

Short

Cinematographer

1989

 

John Cleese, Tim Robbins, Terry Jones, Mickey Rooney, and Eartha Kitt in Erik the Viking (1989)

Erik the Viking

6.1

Cinematographer

1989

 

Jeff Daniels in Checking Out (1988)

Checking Out

4.8

Cinematographer

1988

 

Jemma Redgrave in Dream Demon (1988)

Dream Demon

5.6

Cinematographer

1988

 

Emily Lloyd in Wish You Were Here (1987)

Wish You Were Here

6.8

Cinematographer

1987

 

Birth of a Nation (1983)

Birth of a Nation

7.0

TV Movie

Cinematographer

1983

 

John Cleese and Denis Quilley in Privates on Parade (1983)

Privates on Parade

4.8

director of photography

1983

 

The Flame Trees of Thika (1981)

The Flame Trees of Thika

7.8

TV Mini Series

director of photography

1981

7 episodes

 

Barbara Kellerman, Simon MacCorkindale, and John Mills in Quatermass (1979)

Quatermass

7.0

TV Mini Series

Cinematographer

1979

4 episodes

 

The Quatermass Conclusion (1979)

The Quatermass Conclusion

5.6

director of photography

1979

 

Anthony Andrews in Danger UXB (1979)

Danger UXB

8.5

TV Series

director of photography

1979

1 episode

 

Janus: Europe's Architectural Heritage - A Call to Action (1978)

Janus: Europe's Architectural Heritage - A Call to Action

Short

Cinematographer

1978

 

Music in Progresss: Mike Westbrook - Jazz Composer

Short

Cinematographer

1978

 

The Butterfly Ball (1977)

The Butterfly Ball

1.5

director of photography

1977

 

Patrick Macnee, Gareth Hunt, and Joanna Lumley in The New Avengers (1976)

The New Avengers

7.2

TV Series

lighting cameraman

1976

2 episodes

 

Queen Kong (1976)

Queen Kong

3.3

director of photography

1976

 

Three for All (1975)

Three for All

4.1

Cinematographer

1975

 

Children of Rage (1975)

Children of Rage

5.8

Cinematographer

1975

 

Tonga Royal

Short

Cinematographer

1974

 

John Cater, Horst Janson, and Caroline Munro in Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974)

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter

6.4

director of photography

1974

 

Gawain and the Green Knight (1973)

Gawain and the Green Knight

5.4

director of photography

1973

 

The House in Nightmare Park (1973)

The House in Nightmare Park

5.7

director of photography

1973

 

The Chastity Belt (1972)

The Chastity Belt

5.2

director of photography

1972

 

Susan George in Fright (1971)

Fright

5.8

director of photography

1971

 

Girl Stroke Boy (1971)

Girl Stroke Boy

6.1

director of photography

1971

 

Up Pompeii (1971)

Up Pompeii

6.0

director of photography

1971

 

Images

Short

Cinematographer

1970

 

Sweet Thames

Short

Cinematographer

1970

 

Paul Scofield and John McEnery in Bartleby (1970)

Bartleby

6.6

director of photography

1970

 

The Breaking of Bumbo (1970)

The Breaking of Bumbo

4.8

director of photography

1970

 

Michele Dotrice, Sandor Elès, and Pamela Franklin in And Soon the Darkness (1970)

And Soon the Darkness

6.6

director of photography

1970

 

NBC Experiment in Television (1967)

NBC Experiment in Television

6.8

TV Series

Cinematographer

1970

1 episode

 

John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 24 Hours: The World of John and Yoko (1969)

24 Hours: The World of John and Yoko

6.8

TV Movie

Cinematographer

1969

 

World in Action (1963)

World in Action

7.1

TV Series

photography

1968

2 episodes

 

Arthur Brown in The Committee (1968)

The Committee

6.1

Cinematographer

1968

 

Tell Me Lies (1968)

Tell Me Lies

6.9

Cinematographer

1968

 

Mafia No!

Short

Cinematographer

1967

 

Girl Smugglers (1967)

Girl Smugglers

Cinematographer

1967

 

The Private Right (1966)

The Private Right

6.6

Cinematographer

1966

 

Gala Day

6.1

Short

Cinematographer

1963

 

Camera and Electrical Department

Charlotte Church, Craig Ferguson, and Jemma Redgrave in I'll Be There (2003)

I'll Be There

6.5

camera operator

2003

 

Little Voice (1998)

Little Voice

7.0

lighting camera operator: second unit

1998

 

Miranda Richardson in The Crying Game (1992)

The Crying Game

7.2

camera operator

1992

 

Tilda Swinton, Andrew Tiernan, and Steven Waddington in Edward II (1991)

Edward II

6.8

camera operator

1991

 

Crossing the Line (1990)

Crossing the Line

5.7

camera operator

1990

 

John Cleese, Tim Robbins, Terry Jones, Mickey Rooney, and Eartha Kitt in Erik the Viking (1989)

Erik the Viking

6.1

camera operator

1989

 

Jeff Daniels in Checking Out (1988)

Checking Out

4.8

camera operator

1988

 

Emily Lloyd in Wish You Were Here (1987)

Wish You Were Here

6.8

camera operator

1987

 

Nelson's Touch

Short

additional photography

1979

 

World in Action (1963)

World in Action

7.1

TV Series

camera operator

1968–1969

5 episodes

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Patrick Macnee, Gareth Hunt, and Joanna Lumley in The New Avengers (1976)

The New Avengers

7.2

TV Series

second unit directorfirst assistant director: second unit

1977

2 episodes

 

.