Grounds force
It was third time lucky for Ian as he followed Andrea’s converted van into Melbourne Hall, a historically rich stately home nestled within the Derbyshire countryside.
Inclement weather had meant two last-minute cancellations, but the 18th century gardens were now bathed in rays of golden light. “The conditions look great,” said Ian as he greeted his tutor. Andrea smiled: “Normally I’d start much earlier than this, because I’d want to do a recce well before suitable lighting conditions appear. Today, we’re shooting somewhere I’m familiar with, so providing we check our kit and head off now, we’ll be fine.”
Ian slung his backpack over his shoulder and lifted up his holdall: “Well, you told me to bring everything, so I did…”
Andrea laughed as she pulled a large covered object from her van and unzipped it to reveal a flat-packed metal contraption: “That’s why I use this…”
Within a few moments she had unfolded and assembled a small aluminium cart.
“A lot of film crews use them, but I use it to haul around my camera kit.”
Once the cart was laden with equipment, its large wheels allowed the pro to effortlessly guide it along a nearby gravel path, and the pair headed into the gardens.
THE BIRDCAGE
“We’re heading to the Birdcage,” Andrea explained as
