ANTHONY GORDON AND NOTHIN’ BUT SHORTS INTERNATIONAL
ANTHONY GORDON AND NOTHIN’ BUT SHORTS INTERNATIONAL
A successful filmmaker and enthusiastic photographer, Anthony Gordon has combined his passion for imagery with his passion for people to create an internationally successful video production company.
Filmmaker Anthony Gordon was in a remote part of South Australia when Camera caught up with him. He was there to document the recovery of Hayabusa 2, a Japanese satellite that successfully landed on an asteroid, scooped up some dust and returned to Earth, dropping into the Woomera Prohibited Area about 500 kilometres northwest of Adelaide.
It’s not an everyday assignment and Anthony is there because of his vast experience filming from helicopters, not to mention his vast experience shooting documentaries and
“We are all about the management of motion,” says Anthony Gordon of his film production company, which is prepared to take on any challenge anywhere in the pursuit of a compelling story.
INTERVIEW BY PAUL BURROWS.
commercials in all sorts of challenging locations. For a man on a very particular mission, he’s very laid back, happy to chat, and sorts out all the material for this article in 48 hours… presumably by remote control from deepest, darkest South Australia. You immediately get the sense that his people skills and can-do attitude have played a big part in his success.
“My greatest passion is people,” he confirms. “Everyone has a story to tell and it has been a passion of mine over the last 25 years to develop these stories into lessons and inspirations for others. I like to say that my goal is to change the world one story at a time. 99%of my work is filmmaking, although I still wonder at the power of the still image. So photography is a passion and filmmaking my life.”
After dropping out of a psychology degree, Anthony decided to follow the dream of photography and eventually moved into film and documentary making.
Creative Fuel
“It all started back in the 1980s when, as a small lad, I dreamed of capturing the images that I saw in National Geographic magazine, though little did I know that one day, many years later, I would be doing just that.
“However, I’m really not sure where my visual awareness came from. My grandfather was a scientist and an artist, so maybe it’s in the genes. I’ve always been fascinated in the natural world and, in particular, people. It is the stories and narrative of people of all races, religions and creeds that fuels my creativity. The imagery that goes with it is simply the icing on the cake.”
Flexibility is also clearly another attribute for the documentary filmmaker, and Anthony says the assignment for JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency) involved multiple days of 11pm starts through to 11pm the following day.
“From my experience, the best stories never happen between nine to five. To be honest, I’m never satisfied with what I’ve captured and always exploring ways to find new and exciting stories. This is an incredible driver, and it’s what motivates me to get out of bed in the morning, no matter how early.”
Content Driven
Today, Anthony Gordon is the driving force behind Nothin’
But Shorts, an Australian film production company specialising in – as he puts it – “telling stories”.
“Taking an idea and transforming it into a form that pleases the eye and excites the mind is the driving force behind my philosophy. We’re about looking at a concept and then developing a unique way of looking at it.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, in light of his core philosophy, Anthony places a lot more emphasis on the creative than the technical.
“I believe there’s an oversaturation of equipment now. I’ve seen so many crews miss opportunities as they spend so much time sorting kit and carrying loads of bags. Of course, there are certain styles that require specialised kit although, in all honesty, I believe that the story comes first and should not be dictated by the equipment.”
Anthony has been steadily refining his filming kit to make it lightweight and portable, but still flexible and efficient.
“What I want is a minimal kit that suits a purpose and is exceptionally reliable. Reliability and consistency are the number
It is the stories and narrative of people of all races, religions and creeds that fuels my creativity. The imagery that goes with it is simply the icing on the cake.”
one requirements. For this reason, I have used and tested thousands of variables in relation to my kit in order to make storytelling in remote locations as efficient as possible with the best quality results.
“I use the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and III DSLRs for all my filming. For those who say you cannot make films with a DSLR… well, I have over 39 films on Amazon Prime, circulating globally that are all shot on Canon DSLRs. I use a range of Canon prime lenses, although the majority of my shooting is actually on the
100-400mm zoom.
From my experience, the best stories never happen between nine to five. To be honest, I’m never satisfied with what I have captured and always exploring ways to find new and exciting stories.”
“Of course, I also use GoPros and DJI drones to compliment my angles. Of late, the Hero9 and Mavic Mini 2 – in conjunction with the old Phantom 4 Pro – are next level and, importantly, match with the colour space of the Canons without any post grading.
“In terms of sound, there’s no question that the Zoom audio products have been the glue to my stories for years now. I use a few F1s recorders with the SSH-6 shotgun microphone for 100% of my interviews and sound recording in the field. The quality, consistency and durability are unparalleled. Then they also back it up with their service and support, the importance of which I think too many people underestimate, and which sets Zoom apart from other brands. The support and service is in line with the product quality.
“I seldom do interviews to camera anymore as I feel that the dialogue needs to be strong enough without you having to look at the person speaking. It gives the imagery more space to roll and makes a far deeper and better quality film. So the Zoom F1 really comes into its own here, due to its reliability and portability. It’s been my favourite – and most used – piece of Zoom gear for a long time, but that said, I’m very keen to get my hands on the new F2.”
New Opportunities
Not surprisingly, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Anthony’s activities, not just in terms of many events being cancelled around the world, but also the restrictions on travel. Nevertheless, he’s been able to find new opportunities.
“Having people accessible as they are all at home means it has been an amazing time for opportunities,” he says. “I have never been busier as I take advantage of whatever situation is presented. I have been able to cover more domestic projects, as being on the road travelling so much often meant I didn’t have the possibility to chase and cover local stories and projects. It has also changed the dynamic of content given that there is a far greater acceptance for online and sharing of remotely shot content by way of me providing cameras to clients to upload their content for me to edit.
“So, from building and covering a Virtual Race Across America film and project through to following some amazing local stories, the Covid time has been a journey in itself. I tend to thrive in times of adversity as I’ve spent most of my career dealing with remoteness… so now it’s just a new kind.”
Similarly to photographers, professional filmmakers are coming up against legions of keen amateurs who, armed with the latest digital cameras or smartphones, are able to create good quality footage and easily show it via social media. Again, Anthony believes it’s the creativity of the content that matters most.
“Regardless what the equipment or platform it may be, the great storytellers will always stand out. The equipment and platform never make the story or content engaging, simple as that.
“For me, almost everyone can most likely create better shortform content of a minute or less for social. Where I’ve stood out is with medium- and long-format content that’s driven by the short form. This is the real art of storytelling.”
Anthony Gordon also believes there’s another key element to telling stories in a compelling and engaging way.
“Whenever I get commissioned or invited to film a project, I believe I’ve been given a very privileged and important responsibility. Well after the event, situation or scene is finished, all that people have left is my stories on video or stills to remember and share their experiences by. You need to respect this position and give it more than you feel you have, 100% of the time. Storytellers create the memories.”