CVP: Man of many talents
Posted on Apr 30, 2025 by Admin
DOP, director and video designer Joe Ransom discusses his kaleidoscopic career and the impact of CVP’s support
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Joe Ransom’s career began on the big screen. Starting out as an actor, he felt creatively stifled, quickly realising that “there’s a lot more creative freedom from behind the camera.” Now a director, cinematographer, company owner and video designer, as well as a dad to two young kids, he does a bit of everything – from shooting an ad with Kit Harington to designing videos for Dolly Parton.
Ransom’s first step towards filmmaking came while acting in a short. “I met the cinematographer on set one night – this Australian guy called Richard Bell. He had just moved over from Australia and didn’t know anyone. Quite literally the next day,” Ransom recalls, “Rich was like, ‘I’ve got this Channel 4 commercial. Do you want to come and assist me?’ I was like a duck out of water, but he helped me, and he is now my business partner at Large Format Films,” – his production and rental company.
In those days, Ransom didn’t have much of a kit collection, but he soon realised that having his own gear would ultimately mean more jobs (and money) in the long term. “My relationship with CVP started as a young videographer – a one-man band, if you like – and grew into them being a necessity in my production company’s process,” he shares. “I just text my account manager, and whatever I need will be available straight away.” For a guy short on time, this convenience is invaluable. “I have a lot I need to get done; the one thing I don’t have is time. Not having to write an email, not having to explain myself, but being able to leave a ten-second voice note and know that it will be done removes one level of stress from the process.”
Despite his revolving wheel of responsibilities, Ransom makes sure not to overcommit. Instead, he brings ‘the same level of attention and care’ to each of his projects. “I’m fully aware that you’re only ever as good as your last job, and that your reputation is on the line every time you step into the studio,” he states. Regardless, he assures, “You’re still going to get the same Joe Ransom.”
Man with a movie camera
Ransom’s cinematographic credits span commercials, films and music videos, working with some of the world’s largest brands, as well as with several indie artists. On his latest commercial project – an advertisement for Game of Thrones: Legends, a mobile game based on the book series and record-breaking TV show – he captured Kit Harington (aka Jon Snow) at the direction of Andy Mihov. “I see every project as an opportunity, so when someone calls you and says, ‘We’ve got Kit Harington for the day, we’re going to find a cool location and Game of Thrones (GOT) is your reference,’ my brain immediately thinks, ‘How cinematic can we make this look?’”
His answer: very. Ransom shot in an atmospheric, speakeasy-style bar on Cooke special flare anamorphics, which he purchased through CVP. “This was a project where we wanted to be authentic, so we lit only with real fire and tungsten. This gave us beautiful, warm tones and a lovely, cinematic GOT look, especially when paired with the special flares,” he describes. “I was able to bring that cinematic, ‘movie’ look into the commercial world and let them collide,” he says – and they managed to squeeze in some famous GOT quotes too.
“The relationship I now have with CVP is strong in the sense that they’re always there for me,” Ransom adds. The project would have looked markedly different if CVP’s kit catalogue hadn’t had the Cooke lenses. “I’m in very safe hands. It’s got to the point where I don’t even look at pricing or availability anywhere else; CVP is my supplier, and I trust them.”
Balancing act
Experienced both in front of and behind the camera, Ransom draws on that knowledge whenever he’s directing. “I know what it takes to speak to actors. I feel like that’s a really strong asset of mine, because I’ve lived it. I’ve lived being a cinematographer, and I still live that. I know the pressures; I know the job. I know what’s possible in terms of framing. I know what’s technically possible. So whenever I’m on set as a director, I call on that experience,” he explains.
For that reason, he’s not afraid of challenges, confident in bringing bold ideas to commercial projects and, more importantly, his ability to deliver. To promote Sony PlayStation’s Monster Hunter Wilds, for instance, Ransom pitched a commercial that would ‘blur the lines between gaming and live action’ by incorporating motion control. “We added these slightly robotic movements that, although it’s live action, give this dynamic of feeling slightly robotic and a little bit game-like,” says Ransom, who also hired his right-hand man, Richard Bell, as his DOP.
The commercial features several complicated transitions between its scenes, which required a meticulous approach to filming, framing and editing. “We’re crafting 30 seconds of well-choreographed action,” he says. “If your timing is off or your framing doesn’t quite match, there’s only so much you can do in post.” Luckily, the result is seamless.
Besides directing more traditional video productions, Ransom also designs content for live performances with Nathan Amzi, including Broadway and West End theatre and concert tours too. Having shot their fair share of theatrical trailers, they were asked to do the video design on Sunset Boulevard starring Nicole Scherzinger. They ultimately went with an LED screen, which starts flat, then ‘flies in at a 40° angle’, with camera operators on stage to capture and project the action, akin to a live concert. For Sunset Boulevard, Ransom and Amzi won awards for video design from WhatsOnStage and The Stage Debut and were nominated for an Olivier. “It’s gone completely ballistic,” he admits. He has three projects currently in the works – Halsey’s concert tour, the Purple Rain stage adaptation and a new Dolly Parton show opening in Nashville – with more likely on the way.
As if that weren’t enough, Ransom recently launched Large Format Films’ short film competition, in partnership with CVP. “It’s an annual short film competition for 18 to 35 year olds, where they’ll submit a script and we’ll give full production support to the winner,” he explains. “What we’re doing is tailoring our support to their needs. For emerging filmmakers, the idea is that we give them that first film to get them into the industry.”
It’s thanks in part to Bell’s guidance and CVP’s support that Ransom has had the career he’s had – and it’s far from finished. The competition is ‘something I’m passionate about and excited to launch’, he says, hoping to pay it forward however he can.
Build your perfect camera
CVP’s showrooms are home to a full spectrum of production equipment – from cutting-edge new gear to carefully selected used and pre-loved options – ready to view, combine and evaluate. Personalise your camera with the perfect accessories, from monitors and lenses to cages and rigging. Whether it’s upgrading with the latest tech or making the most of quality second-hand finds, we have a solution for every project – and every budget. To book a demo, talk to our experts and explore our showrooms, call 0208 380 7400, email [email protected] or visit cvp.com
Find out more at largeformatfilms.co.uk/shorts
This article appears in the April 2025 issue of Definition
