Credits

Click the link for some more photographs of selected productions.

Left click over any picture for an enlargement and explanatory text.

Horrible Histories: we are currently supplying specialist extras for this new series.

The Perfect Weapon: On-screen expert assistance and advice by Historical Film Services director Howard Giles to Presenter Monty Halls, "championing" the 1853 Enfield rifle as part of the series of Perfect Weapon. Howard is a military historian, so ideally suited to talk about/advise on a variety of military themes from ancient times in his usual easygoing style.

Rough Crossings: 1770s British and rebel soldiers for a BBC documentary about ex-slaves who fought for Britain in the American Revolution, and later founded Freetown.

Art Attack: Roman gladiators for Childrens' ITV.

Restoration: Specialist English Civil War (Siege of Newark) sequences including musket firing, lead melting and musket ball making.

Tetley Bitter commercial: Arranging and co-ordinating over 100 Romans on an ambitious 3 day shoot encompassing many scenes.  We sourced, trained and co-ordinated all the infantry and their formations. As usual, using our specialist military extras ensured that far more could be achieved in the time available than if non-specialist extras had been utilised, as ours were already trained in military formations and used to working in cohesive groups.

Have I been here before? Military and combat reconstructions for ITV Productions (London) of the C12th Crusade era, English Civil War 1642-51 and Jacobite Rebellion 1745-46, with 50 specialist extras, musket fire, hand-to hand fighting, cavalrymen, mounted knights and stunt horse. We also recommended the location used. Part of the second series of the ITV programme about regression and the past lives of celebrities. Due to be shown on Monday 20 August.

English Civil War reconstructions for ZigZag Productions. 25+ specialist extras, musket and cannon fire, combat sequences, soldiers, camp followers, encampment with tents, period food and props.

Time Team: Monastic interpreters (and suitable props) for a special edition of Time Team requiring skilled extras that could talk with knowledge about C12th Cistercian life.

Monarchy:  Top quality armoured medieval knights for combat and other sequences for Granada Bristol.

Brainiac: History Abuse: Howard Giles of Historical Film Services acted as Historical Consultant on and off set, assisted with general advice, developing ideas, scripting, and arranging supply of specialist armour, weapons and props.

Dead Man Weds: Arranging and on-set co-ordination of over 60 top quality English Civil War soldiers (including hand to hand fighting between the foot soldiers, cavalrymen, horses, and musket & cannon firing), plus supply uniform and weaponry. Arranged on behalf of Red Productions for the Granada comedy drama. Over several days filming we also arranged period costume for key actors.

Days that Shook the World: Russian-speaking extras for a cold war episode of Days that Shook the World, for Lion Television and the BBC.

Alexander: Supply and co-ordination of 100 extras for sound recordings to augment the superb battle sequences in Oliver Stone's epic, Alexander.

What the Ancients Did for Us: Large medieval siege engine and armoured classical Greek warrior and for Adam Hart-Davis'  BBC 1 series.

Press Ganged: Production of three pyrotechnic-firing C18th-style naval cannon and advice on other period weaponry to Granada TV for this reality TV series.

Ancestor Hunters: Supply of  Victorian costumed interpretation, plus "Dick Turpin" costume and props for Leopard Films.

D-Day to Berlin: Sourcing, arranging and on-set co-ordination of some very evocative military reconstructions for this 3 part BBC 1 series. These depict key moments from the D-Day invasion and subsequent campaign, utilising infantry, machine guns and tanks carefully chosen to offer maximum historical authenticity, within the usual remit for excellent value for money. We also assisted with the sourcing of appropriate locations. EventPlan arranged a number of combat and other reconstructions, sourcing specialist re-enactors, armoured vehicle owners and firearms suppliers.  We also acted as military co-ordinators on set and also assisted with sourcing appropriate locations.

Guy Fawkes: A not entirely serious - but historically accurate - account of the Gunpowder Plot, presented by Nick Knowles. Historical Film Services sourced specialist extras, costume, weaponry and other props. The success of the programme led to the full series of Historyonics.

Adventure Inc: Sourcing and co-ordination of 45 medieval knights, ladies and musicians for a UK-based episode of this popular American TV series.

The Battle of Orgreave: In 2001 we staged the Battle of Orgreave  for 2004 Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller, Artangel Media and Channel 4 (shown in October 2002, repeated since and specially screened as part of film festivals around the world). We arranged, trained and directed over 500 re-enactors from various groups and eras plus 280 local extras for this major live recreation, which we carefully scripted and directed. Hollywood director Mike Figgis filmed the action as it unfolded.

Historical Film Services organised the participants into surprisingly realistic "units" of Police and miners utilising their pre-existing “military” structure and discipline, training of the re-enactors (by four real riot police instructors) took a fraction of the time that non-specialist SAs would have needed. Within less than a day they were ready to convincingly recreate sophisticated riot police tactics and carry them out on command in two long “one take” sequences totalling an hour and a half in all. Others “became” miners in a similar space of time, looking unorganised for the camera whilst actually smoothly following cues from Event Director Howard Giles. The action flowed flawlessly in what many observers felt was the most realistic historical recreation they had ever seen. For a report and photos, click on the above link.  

Updated 24 May 2008