Nick Rowley

2022 | RAZOR Science series

Shortlisted for Lovie Award - Sustainability & Environment documentary film category

Once home to thousands, the Iberian peninsula saw its lynx population plummet to under 100 at the turn of the century, eventually becoming the world's most endangered cat. However, conservation efforts started by the World Wide Fund for Nature to bring the species back from the brink of extinction have worked incredibly well. Over 22 organisations and hundreds of people across Spain and Portugal are now involved in programmes which include captive breeding and public awareness campaigns. This has helped boost the number of Lynx back up to over a thousand. Razor's Reya El-Salahi travels to the Sierra Morena mountains in Spain to see how it all works first hand.

2022 | RAZOR Science series

New York Film Festivals TV & Film Awards - SIlver Award Winner Environment & Ecology

Urban Microbiome special: Our urban landscapes have become increasingly sanitized and less biodiverse. A building body of research that shows that this has led to a depletion of beneficial microbes and that, in turn, is having a negative effect on our health. The lack of exposure to microbes from an early age is thought to have a number of consequences for human health, such as an increase in allergies and autoimmune diseases.

In 3 parts on Youtube

Pt 1: Guy Henderson visits Micropia, the world’s first microbe zoo in Amsterdam, to find out more about the importance of the invisible world that is all around us, and inside us.

Pt 2: In London, microbial ecologist Dr. Jake Robinson is investigating the levels of microbes in the urban environment. He has developed a toolkit for examining the diversity of city spaces known as MIGI or Microbiome-Inspired Green Infrastructure, which can be used to increase microbial ecosystems in inner city green spaces.

Pt 3: Guy Henderson talks to Dr. Marco Poletto and Dr. Claudia Pasquero, co-founders of ecologicStudio in east London. The design studio has radical ideas for integrating microbiology into the fabric of our architecture, including using microalgae photo-bioreactors and curtains to cover buildings in the bio-cities of the future. As the algae grows it feeds on sunlight, CO2 molecules and air pollutants, releasing freshly photosynthesized oxygen. Its biomass can then be harvested for multiple uses.

Producer | 2020

Short doc in post production

Wael fled Syria to escape the war. Several years later his dream of a safe home, has evolved into an Olympic dream in Tokyo.

Credits:

Directed by Jack Chapman

Produced by - Nick Rowley & Jack Chapman

Cinematography - Marco Eisenbarth

Production company - Monty Baxter

Field Producers - Daniel Mayorov & Hazem Obid

Arabic Translator - Hazem Obid

1st AC - Laura Koehler

Grip - Jannic Sabo

Edit by Jack Chapman

Arabic Translation: Lingua Media Connect Ltd

German Translations: In Other Words

Athletes - Wael Shueb & Ernes Erko Kalač

PD | 2019 to Nov 2021 and 2023-2024 | CGTN Europe

RAZOR is CGTN Europe’s cutting edge science and technology weekly TV show.

PD | 2019 | HuffPost

Two years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the surrounding community is still on a journey to recovery. The collapse of trust in the local authorities lead to residents coming together to help themselves. From the monthly silent walk to the resident-run Henry Dickens Community Centre, HuffPost Reports: UK speaks to the people helping the community to heal.

PD | 2019 | HuffPostOver 2 years since the demolition of the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais there are still over 3000 refugees dispersed and living around Northern France and Belgium. Deteriorating conditions have lead refugees to try increasingly risky methods of reaching the UK.

Recent films i’ve produced & directed for HuffPost Reports: UK. A video series taking a closer look at the stories shaping our world. Whether it's Brexit, Me Too or Universal Credit, Reports brings you to the frontline of the issues and shows them through the eyes of those affected.

A short self funded doc shot in early 2018.

The Government’s countrywide council estate regeneration strategy is having a big impact on residents including those in London estates where councils are selling off land in prime locations to developers for ‘regeneration’.

The fight to save The Aylesbury Estate, one of Europe’s largest council estates, has been ongoing since plans were unveiled to demolish it 18 years ago. In September 2016 leasehold residents of the 2nd phase of demolition celebrated as the government stopped the Compulsory Purchase Order of their homes by Southwark Council. Sajid Javid ruled the CPO breached the leasehold residents human rights due to being displaced and also as the money offered for the flats was considerably under market price and would leave the residents in financial difficulty. The council appealed this decision and a 2nd inquiry has gone ahead with the outcome still unknown as the 1st phase of demolition begins.

This film captures the estate at a turning point. Through the eyes of Aysen Dennis a resident for 24 years and leaseholder in the next phase of the ‘regeneration’. She’s fighting alongside other residents to save her home and the community she loves.

Read more about what's going on at The Aylesbury here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/13/aylesbury-estate-south-london-social-housing

More info on development in Elephant and Castle: https://southwarknotes.wordpress.com/

Drone footage by Andrew Gillman.

Producer/Director | 2017

CK Flash started Peckham BMX club on a scrap of wasteland, building a course from scratch on a scrap of land in Peckham. It went from strength to strength and now has a home at the brand new track in Burgess Park to practise on.

Kat is one of the many young people from the local area to benefit. This year she's focusing on her studies at university but other riders continue to have success internationally and at home.

Find out more at: http://www.peckhambmx.co.uk/

Thanks to:

CK Flash / Michael Pusey MBE
Kat Davidson
Peckham BMX
Grain Media

Credits:

DoP: Richard Jephcote

Production Assistant: Fleur Nieddu

BTS photo: Fleur Nieddu

Director | Co-Producer 2017

Voguing has come a long way since 1990’s seminal Documentary Paris is Burning. It is experiencing a renaissance in Europe, with the heart of the scene in Paris. Sky Ninja is a part of the new generation keeping the torch burning and helping pass it on to the next.
--

Credits:

Director: Nick Rowley

Producer: Meshach Falconer Roberts, Nick Rowley

Cinematography: Nye Williams, Matt Dadson & Nick Rowley

Colourist: Richard Jephcote

--

Previous screenings:

World Premiere: BFI Flare Film Festival London March 2017 - Shadow and Act short film programme.

#FiveFilms4Freedom 2017 - Selected for the British Council initiative promoting equality and diversity. Still Burning was one of 5 films shared around their global network receiving over 100,000 views online between March 16th and 26th.

26th May 2017 - Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, Mumbai, Liberty Cinema

1st June 2017 - Outgames, Miami - SoundScape Park at the New World Center

17th June 2017 - Mix Milano Festival

#fivefilms4freedom US tour

November 1st at 18:00 - Washington DC

November 9th at 17:30 -  Orlando, The Abbey

November 13th at 17:30 - LA, UCLA Dodd Hall

November 16th at 18:00 - NY, Barclays ASK Auditorium

November 5th at 16:15: MIX Copenhagen - Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Copenhagen

November 19 at 17:00: Fringe! Queer Film and Arts Fest, All Born Superstars: Everyday Queer Performance - HACKNEY SHOWROOM, Hackney Downs Studios, Amhurst Terrace, London

Feb 25th 2018: Mardi Gras Film Festival Sydney

March 19th: Queerly Beloved, The Miller, London

Producer | April 2016 | Grain Media

Hard-hitting anti-snare online promo for charity League Against Cruel Sports.

Received 100k Views on FB and Youtube in first week online.

Snares are small wire ligatures that are usually hidden in hedgerows and forests in order to trap wild animals. These ‘land-mines of the countryside’ are legally killing an estimated 1.7 million animals a year. Snares are indiscriminate and trap both wild and domestic animals in the most horrendous circumstances.

Peter Egan, BAFTA award winning actor, animal lover and League Vice President provided the voice over and actor Shaun McKee plays the role of a jogger who heads off into the woods for a run. The film was produced by Grain Media and Jungle Studios worked on the sound. The film was directed by Paul Murphy, who previously directed the League's 'What If It Was You?' film.

Client : League Against Cruel Sports
Director : Paul Murphy
Production : Nick Rowley at Grain Media
Writer : Paul Murphy & Helen Sykes
Script Consultants : David Wolff and Jon Grainger
Editor : Paul Murphy
DoP : James Blann
Sound Design : Chris Turner at Jungle Studios
Colour : Jack Mc Ginity at Time Based Arts
1st Assistant Director : Rob Payne
Camera Hire : Arri Rental
Camera Assistant : Matt Deeley
Steady Cam : Richard Cornelius
Music : Tony Anderson
Stunt Co Ordinator: Kevin Matthews at Specialist Wire Rigs
Actor : Shaun Mckee
Voice Over : Peter Egan
Stills Photography : Chris Cooke
Sound : David Pepperell

Producer | 2016 | Grain Media & Amuse/ID

Freediving

Episode one of the Born To series presented by TAG Heuer and Amuse. In this first instalment, we follow world champion freediver Stig Pryds and marine biologist and freediver Ocean Ramsay on a journey deep beneath the surface of the Mediterranean sea off Cyprus.

Freediving is an extreme sport unlike any other. The bottomless pursuit sees divers descend metres beneath the surface of the ocean. Divers rely on their breath holding abilities and dare to push body and mind further and further with every dive.

Free Running

Episode two in the Born To series presented by Amuse & Tag Heuer. In the second instalment, watch champion endurance runner Ben Abdelnoor as he heads out on a dawn to dusk run over his local peaks. Ben, who broke his back in a paragliding 12 years ago, sets out two days before the worst floods in a generation.

Fell running is a sport that involves running for extreme periods of time off road and often in perilous terrains. In this film Ben pushes TAG Heuer's Connected watch to its limits as he traverses the rocky faces of the Lake District peaks.

Free Riding

The third instalment of the Born To series presented by Amuse & Tag Heuer. We traveled to the Slovenian Alps with mountain biker Primoz Ravnik.

After a death-defying stunt back in September that turned Primoz into a YouTube sensation, we headed to the mountains to find out why he’s driven to these awe inspiring lengths.

Free riding is a new extreme sport with many risks that requires technique, stamina and fearlessness. Primoz is one of the first people to take a bike up to the slopes. In this film Primoz pushes TAG Heuer's Formula 1 Sports watch to its limits as he free cycles down mountain faces.

Grain Media Production

Director: Jon Drever

DoP: Stephen Murphy

Camera assistant: Thomas Nicholson

Underwater DoP: Richard Stevenson

Sound recordist: Richard Jephcote

Producer: Nick Rowley

Exec producer: Adam Mitchenall

Editor: Laura Cairney-Keize

AP/Producer | January 2013 - May 2016 | Grain Media

Working on Al Jazeera’s Flagship TV science/magazine show, The Cure; looking at medical frontiers around the World.

Involved in all areas of film production – inc. story research, idea development and pitching, budgeting, storyline development and gaining contributor access and managing contributor relationships, pre production and film delivery.

Worked on 30 films in total across all 5 series. Organising overseas logistics, inc visa and permits for shoots in 16 countries.

Working on Al Jazeera’s Flagship TV science/magazine show. Earthrise; looking at environmental problems and positive solutions  around the World.

Involved in all areas of film production – inc. story research, idea development and pitching, budgeting, storyline development and gaining contributor access and managing contributor relationships, pre production and film delivery.

Worked on 9 films in total. Organising overseas logistics, inc visa and permits for shoots in 8 countries.

Short turnaround and overlapping production.

Assistant producer | 2015 | Grain Media

Part of on-going short doc series using sport to look at wider social and political issues for AJ+

The Wrestling Cholita

Bolivia's wrestling cholitas are fighting for respect inside and outside the ring.

Making Waves

Oumaima Erhali is a 17-year-old Moroccan woman determined to surf. She’s part of a generation that is pushing boundaries, in a country where many believe a surfboard is no place for a young Muslim woman. Oumaima won’t let stereotypes hold her back from the sport she loves, nor the life she wants to lead.

Norman

Director/Producer | 2017 

Self funded short doc following 94 year old Norman Gregory. A bomb aimer in a Lancaster bomber during World War 2, he was shot down and taken as a prisoner of war. The events shaped his outlook on life.

A life long cycling enthusiast he has completed around 100 miles a week for as long as he can remember. 

DoP: Nick Middleton

• - - - -

FIONA

Director & Editor | February 2015

Shortlisted short doc made for WaterAid ‘sh2orts’ film competition. Filmed at Tooting Bec Lido with Wild Swimmer Fiona Bettles.

DoP: Richard Jephcote

Judges comment:

'Fiona is an inspiration to swimmers and filmmakers. A touching story, lovingly shot.' Steve Melia, Wateraid, 2015

Assistant Producer | October 2014 | Grain Media 

Short doc about the all-female vigilante Gulabi Gang made for Al Jazeera’s 1st TVC and ad campaign.

I helped on pre-production and on location production in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Chosen as a Vimeo Staff Pick.

When Champa Pal's husband was murdered her life fell apart however an encounter with the vigilante Gulabi Gang changed everything.

The 'Gulabi Gang' is an extraordinary women’s movement formed in 2006 by Sampat Pal in Uttar Pradesh in Northern India to bring justice for women. This region is one of the poorest districts in the country and is marked by a deeply patriarchal culture. The group is popularly known as the Gulabi, or Pink Gang, because the members wear bright pink saris and wield bamboo sticks.

The film was produced for Al Jazeera English for their campaign ‘Hear The Human Story’. 
aljazeera.com/pressoffice/2014/11/hear-human-story-20141135433755976.html

Director / Writer: Orlando von Einsiedel
Cinematography: Franklin Dow
Film Editor: Miikka Leskinen
Composer: Patrick Jonsson
Executive Producer: Manasvi Gosalia
Executive Producers for Grain Media: Adam Mitchenall & Jon Drever
Line Producer: Pria Mundra
Assistant Director: Nihit Agarwal
Post-Production Manager: Amelia Franklin
Assistant Camera: Will Hadley
Assistant Producer: Nick Rowley

Agency: Memac Ogilvy Dubai