About
Deborah May has directed and produced large-scale multi-camera productions, documentaries and promotional films, working with some of the world's leading artists and arts organisations, as well as producing a number of short, experimental, cutting-edge films with visual and performance artists. Deborah studied Fine Art, in South Africa and at St Martin's School of Art, London, and worked in the theatre, a museum, a university art school, the United Nations film department, an animation studio, a film production company, the BBC. Over the past six years Deborah has worked extensively in the disability arts sector in London and Perth, as a mentor and collaborator. Currently working in Sydney as a freelance music and dance filmmaker.
Recent work includes:
Finding Our Voice: Cinematographer, editor. Eight Australian artists were commissioned to create ambitious new works for a project which artistic director Genevieve Lacey describes as a “national portrait in sound”. Performed and filmed in venues across the country, including the Sydney Opera House and UKARIA in the Adelaide Hills. (Arts & Parts, UKARIA)
Maxine Doyle's Sunset: Film producer, cinematographer, editor. An immersive site specific performance at the old Sunset Hospital on the bank of the Swan River, Perth. (STRUT Dance & Perth Festival)
Boorna Waanginy: The Trees Speak: Over three extraordinary nights Perth's Kings Park was transformed into a cathedral of light, sound and imagery projected onto massive trees, creating a spectacular walkthrough experience. Filmed with 2 mobile cameras. Cinematographer, editor. (Perth Festival)
You Know We Belong Together: Julia Hales' deeply personal account of her experiences as a daughter, actor, dreamer and person with Down syndrome. Dramaturg and documentation. (Black Swan State Theatre Company/DADAA/Perth Festival)
Does It Matter? 5 short films by disabled artists: Clare Cunningham, Katherine Araniello, Tony Heaton, Simon Mckeown and Jez Colborne. Commissioned by 14|18 NOW to commemorate the centenary of World War One. Co-produced with Artsadmin. Screened at events, online and broadcast on Channel 4.
Life in Progress: multi-camera recording of Sylvie Guillem's final dance programme featuring works by Akram Khan, Russell Maliphant and including Mats Ek's touching and poignant Bye, which was made especially for Sylvie and performed as part of the 6000 miles away world tour. (Sadlers Wells)
See the Music, Hear the Dance: Director & editor. An evening of Thomas Ades' music featuring Britten Sinfonia and including choreography by Wayne McGregor and Crystal Pite. (Crystal's astonishing Polaris had 60 dancers and 65 musicians, in the pit, on stage and in the auditorium.)
Britten's Canticles: 3 camera live recording with tenor Ian Bostridge and counter tenor Iestyn Davies, staged by Neil Bartlett & Paule Constable, and filmed at Snape Maltings for Aldeburgh Music's Britten Centenary.
Circus Post: 15 short films on Contemporary Circus for BBC's online portal The Space. Including Place des Anges, Phia Menard, Piccadilly Circus Circus and Groupe Acrobatique de Tanger. (BBC|Arts Council)
Push: multi-camera recording of Sylvie Guillem and Russell Maliphant performance at Sadler's Wells. Commissioned by Sadler's Wells. Broadcast (Japan & Sweden) and DVD distribution.
Darwin Originals. a series of artists short films to celebrate Charles Darwin's bicentenary and the 150th anniversary of On the origin of species and What on Earth, a second series of artists films on the future of species (looking at climate change, bankers, extinction and transformation). Co-produced with Artsadmin. Screened at events, on the internet and on Channel 4.
In the Spirit of Diaghilev a multi-camera live recording of 4 dance films by choreographers, Wayne McGregor, Russell Maliphant, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Javier de Frutos - with performance and interviews. A Sadler's Wells and BBC commission, broadcast on BBC4 and internationally.
AWARDS
Picture This, Disability Film Festival, Calgary, Canada: Does it Matter? 5 short films commemorating WW1 by disabled artists.
Dance Screen Documentary Award: BBC's The Dancer's Body - a series with ballerina and broadcaster Deborah Bull. Deborah May directed Programme 3 and dance performances across all three programmes.
BAFTA Best Arts Programme: Leaving Home - Simon Rattle's series on 20th Century Music. Produced by London Weekend Television for Channel 4. Deborah May: Director Prog 2 & 4.
Riccione TTV Highly Commended: Plane Song - a musical journey through Namibia with music by Kevin Volans. Directed by Deborah May. BBC Sound on Film.
Video Danse Grand Prix Internationale: We Jive Like This - documentary on street performance in the townships of South Africa. Directed by Deborah May. commissioned by Arts Council of England. Broadcast on Channel 4.
Over the years I have worked at:
• Half The Sky, Perth, WA, Director and Producer
• Xenoki Production, London. Director and Producer
• BBC Classical Music Department, London. Director
• After Image Production Company, London. Director
• Tandem Films, London. Animator
• United Nations Film Department, New York. Animator, Director, Editor
• Stellenbosch University, Fine Art Department, South Africa. Lecturer
• The Space Theatre. Alternative theatre in Cape Town, South Africa. Design and publicity
• Museum of Cultural History, Cape Town, South Africa. Design and photography.