Nigel started to attend our Club meetings at the age of 13, being at that time a pupil at Ormskirk Grammar School. His cousin Miles Tarplee from Hertfordshire used to stay with the family. Together they made Super 8 cine films, often based on animation.
Nigel later attended Southport School of Arts & Crafts, followed by a TV production course in the north-east. There he directed a film made with his fellow students, involving acting as a stunt double, when he plunged from a hatch in the ceiling on to a mattress on the floor, dressed as a girl. The film had a scene where a pedestrian is knocked down by a car. The effect was produced by the actor vaulting over the bonnet of a stationary car. The actor would not do this until Nigel had done it. Nigel demonstrated the action and the actor then repeated it. Unfortunately, the actor’s arm caught the windscreen, which shattered. Nobody was hurt, but the cost of replacing the windscreen was £100, which was the budget for the whole film.
Nigel later went to Goldsmith’s College in London, where he graduated. The final part of his training was at the National Film & Television School at Beaconsfield, where he specialised in directing.
After working for some years in the film industry in London, mainly in editing, he moved back to Southport, where he found time to be involved in the writing and directing of a number of amateur films for the Club.
For three consecutive years these films won the Denham Gold Cup at the British International Amateur Film Festival. This is awarded for the best film made by an associated club of The Film & Video Institute.
The crowning glory came when one film, ‘Rent-A-Mate’ was selected by the Institute for entry into UNICA, the world-wide amateur film competition. It was awarded a Gold Medal, and was declared to be ‘The Film of the Festival’.
As we look back at the filming over the years, it brings back reminiscences. When shooting ‘The Reaper’, we had filmed a cellar sequence at another location, and it was late when we moved to an office car park to enact a sequence where a man is attacked by a cloaked figure wielding a scythe. As we filmed in the early hours, there was a power surge, and the bulbs in our lights failed one by one. We had to work quickly to complete the shoot by the time dawn came. Apparently somebody phoned the police to say they had seen a man with a severe back injury. That was a tribute to the skills of our make-up girl.
For ‘Mummy’s Boys’, we arranged permission from the landlord of the Bold Arms pub at Churchtown to film there on a Sunday morning, before opening hours. When we arrived, the landlord was not present, and the staff knew nothing about it. It took them an hour to locate him and verify that the arrangement was genuine, before we were allowed to set up for the shoot.
Some MovieMakers’ members were often critical of the number of takes which Nigel requested when directing a film. He had been taught the professional method of trying to obtain the most perfect take possible of each shot. On one film, an elderly actor was not feeling well, and had to be replaced by a stand-in until the actual takes. However, Nigel always ended up with a wide variety of material to select from in the editing process, ensuring excellent quality in the finished film.
It was only just before Christmas 2013, that Nigel completed his last film, 'Ransom'. His skills will be sorely missed in the Club.
Nigel Barton receiving one of his many awards.
Report in Southport Visiter:
Tributes paid to talented and respected film maker who was an inspiration to others
Report in Southport Visiter:
Tributes paid to talented and respected film maker who was an inspiration to others
16 comments:
The entire membership of Southport MovieMakers have been shocked by the early death of Nigel Barton, still in his forties. Every one of his productions testified, not only to his clear talent for cinematography and editing, but also to the considerable trouble he took to ‘get things right’. We pulled his leg about too many takes, yet we knew why he did them. His films were recognized by the number of awards he received over many years. We shall all miss him - not least the twelve younger members of the Club - who enjoyed his company and appreciated his talent.
I have known Nigel since he first came to the Club at thirteen, and have marvelled at the ingenuity he displayed for one so young. His attention to detail, and the care he took over auditioning actors, gave his films a craftsman’s touch. He was cheerful, a pleasure to work with, and full of laughter and ideas. He will be greatly missed by all.
A great film-maker to work with over the years, and one we shall all miss. We have regularly been amazed by the quality of his films. It was a real pleasure to have him as a fellow-member and as a friend.
I enjoyed Nigel Barton’s company during our weekly bus journeys to Southport MovieMakers over several years. I remember him well as a hard task-master during the filming of ‘The Hypnotist’, which was my film acting debut at the Club. Without doubt, it was a privilege to have him as a fellow-member.
I will miss Nigel’s sense of humour during our meetings at his flat, when we discussed film-making, both amateur and professional. I was proud to be involved with him as a writer during the planning of ‘Rent-A-Mate’, and later assisted him with several other productions. He would often show me rushes and rough-cuts of his latest work. Only a week before he died, we were viewing a special effect he had designed for a short sci-fi film. It is difficult to believe that we have lost Nigel. Like others, I shall miss him greatly.
Even as a relative newcomer to Southport MovieMakers, I always received a welcome from Nigel in the form of a handshake and a greeting on arrival at the Club. His presence enriched the experience of being a member.
Nigel Barton is the reason I pursued film. Seeing his work at Southport MovieMakers was the reason I joined the Club, and discovered a passion for the subject of film in all its aspects. He would often invite me on shoots, castings, script read-throughs, and even show me his tricks- of-the-trade at his edit suite. There is no doubt that Nigel was truly gifted, but above all, he was also a truly good person.
I have known Nigel for a number of years through the inter-club competitions and IAC festivals and had many an interesting conversation on animation. He was an excellent and ambitious film-maker.
Nigel was fun and inspirational to be with. It was always a pleasure to be involved in his projects, as he had a fund of ideas, ever seeking fresh goals. I will always remember being at his flat, chatting over a script or watching the latest cut of a recent movie. He had high hopes for his latest, a sci-fi thriller, ready to go into production, for which he had purchased the costumes. A great loss to film-making, to the Southport Club, and to his many friends.
When Nigel came to the Club at the age of thirteen, he showed us his latest Standard 8mm film. It left us with our mouths open – amazed by the quality and ingenuity his production displayed.
We have lost a good and gifted friend whom we have known for many years. We have very much enjoyed both his friendship and his quality productions, and we shall miss him greatly.
I was first introduced to Nigel Barton when he saw me filming in a friend’s driveway. Soon afterwards he rejoined Southport MovieMakers after a hiatus of some years. He was supportive of my fledgling ventures in movie-making, and I always looked forward to seeing a new Nigel Barton production. The quality of his legacy speaks for itself, and he will certainly be sorely missed by members of our Club.
Nigel’s bright talent and wonderful technical skill was evident in everthing he did. Like other members of Southport MoveMakers, I shall miss his companionship. He was a joy to know.
It was with deep sadness, that myself and Andrew learnt of the death of Nigel, and it was a great honour to attend his funeral today. Nigel was a great film maker who inspired me, but most of all he was a lovely man who was full of kindness. It was a great privilege to have known Nigel, and the world and Southport Movie Makers will be a far sadder place without him.
Goodbye my old friend, the world will miss your light.
Following last Saturday`s Burnley Film Festival, we belatedly heard the sad news of the loss of Nigel. I spoke to him just once to tell him he had won our Phase 4 Films fiction competition with "Rent-A-Mate" which the judges all loved.He couldn`t come to the show but sent a message of thanks. I told him about the IAC competition and said he should enter the film there, which he did with great success. A sad loss to movie making. Ken Wilson
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