AMAZING GRACE 250
Cowper & Newton Museum
A documentary film created with the Cowper & Newton Museum to reflect and celebrate the events of 2023, marking the 250 year anniversary of the famous hymn, Amazing Grace.
Documentary
Self Shooting Director
Sony FX 6/3
G Master Primes
Milton Keynes City Council
Cowper & Newton Museum
The Stables
James Stier
Amanda Molcher, Louise Izod, Shane Downer
Simon Beckett
Filmmaker
Prod.
Live Video
Milton Keynes City Council approached me to produce a short film about the popular hymn Amazing Grace, which was celebrating its 250th anniversary. The hymn was written in the quiet village of Olney, just outside Milton Keynes.
Working under the direction of the team at the Cowper & Newton Museum, I contributed to the documentary process by shooting most of the footage, alongside live content captured by local filmmaker Simon Beckett. Social media interviews, sermons, and events supplemented the project, filling in the gaps for moments I was unable to capture or was too late to attend.
I designed a simple, two-camera interview setup: a central composition for the A Camera (FX6) and an off-angle, high composition for the B Camera (FX3). As I took on the responsibilities of camera operation, lighting, sound, and interlocutor duties, I quickly realized I had taken on a bit more than anticipated. Nonetheless, I made every effort to maintain high production quality, despite working solo on the entire project.
With the support of the local team, I was able to weave together a rich tapestry of characters and stories from the year’s events, presented through artistic compositions.