Neil Hillman

Education

Equipment

My Equipment/Kit:

I can use:

About me

Sound Designer/Dubbing Mixer; OB Sound Designer/Supervisor/Mixer; Location Sound Recordist. Equipped with own 5.1 mixing studios (incorporating VO studio with ISDN connectivity) and comprehensive location sound recording kit.

Over 500 IMDb credits: www.imdb.me/neilhillman

WORKED ON:
Feature Films: 'Here and Now' - Sound Designer / Re-recording Mixer, 'Lincoln', 'Pirates of The Caribbean' - ADR Mixer.
TV Sports: XX Commonwealth Games - Sound Supervisor; London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.
Additional information:
Neil Hillman MPSE.

Neil Hillman joined Central Independent Television in 1982, after graduating in Electronics from Aston University, working initially as a Studio Sound Technician and then progressing to Senior Sound Technician. Over eight years at Central, he was responsible for studio sound operations, Fisher Boom operating, PA mixing, live News mixing, Electronic News Gathering (ENG), Electronic Film Production (EFP), film sound post-production, video sound post-production, location film sound recording for drama and documentaries, location video sound recording for magazine and current affairs, Outside Broadcast (OB) operations and audio equipment maintenance.

He left Central in 1990 to become freelance, and subsequently provided audio services for almost every UK broadcaster, both satellite and terrestrial, (as well as BBC Network Radio and ILR - including Radio Production), as a studio Sound Supervisor, an OB Sound Supervisor, a Dubbing Mixer, and as a Location Sound Recordist working on Drama and Documentary.

Between 2002 and 2012 Neil Hillman founded and lead cutting-edge audio post-production facility, The Audio Suite, from start-up to preferred supplier status with All3Media, the UK's largest Production Group; as well as contracting regularly to the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, National Geographic and Discovery. By 2012 the audience for his soundtracks exceeded 0.5 billion world-wide and the sales revenue generated exceeded £million.

In mid-2012, Neil steered The Audio Suite's progression from a traditional audio post-production facility into a unique Sound Design practice, delivering audio solutions across a range of delivery platforms and channels, supported by audio production, post-production and sound design from two exceptionally appointed Dolby mixing rooms, with adjoining ISDN / ADR voice studio. These private studios provide cost-effective, high-quality audio solutions for features, broadcast and corporate film makers, with location sound recording also available.

Neil Hillman operates as a 'Free range and Organic' Sound Designer / Supervising Sound Editor / Re-recording Mixer from The Audio Suite's studios, and on Outside Broadcasts as a Sound Designer / Sound Supervisor (A1) / Mixer, or looking after commentary feeds for Host Broadcasters, often within a large CCR environment. This Commentary Supervisor role includes responsibility for foreign broadcasters visiting English Premier League games and also engineering Commentary and Talkback circuits for BBC 'Match of The Day' at BT Sport games.

As an OB Sound Supervisor he has mixed on a variety of units, from small Yamaha 01v and DiGiCo desks to large Calrec Blue Fin and Apollo consoles, and has been engaged for prestigious events such as the London 2012 Olympics, the London 2012 Paralympics, the Glasgow 2014 XX Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

As a highly-experienced Location Sound Recordist, equipped for drama and documentaries, he has undertaken many projects that have required both his Production sound recording and post-Production sound services. In 2010 he was awarded the prestigious Royal Television Society award for 'Best Production Craft Skills'.

In 2015, building on his work for clients such as UEFA, the Olympic Broadcasting Services, the Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup, and his experience of consulting to Production Companies and Broadcasters on projects with complex workflow and delivery requirements, Neil added an Audio Consultancy service to help companies overcome logistical challenges and unlock their full potential, through bespoke strategies for improved performance and innovative production methodology.

He also contributes to knowledge networks through his writing, university lecturing and speaking.

Credits / Recent work includes:

Sound Designer / Dubbing Mixer / ADR Mixer - 'Lincoln' (Dreamworks), 'Here and Now' (Small But Tall Films), 'Scott and Sid' (Dreamchaser Productions), 'Money Kills', 'The Craftsman' (Sheringham Studios) [Feature films]; 'Fifth Gear' 150 eps.; ' The Gadget Show' 225 eps. [TV]

Outside Broadcasts - Contracted by the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS), to look after Commentators (CCR) at Rio 2016 and London 2012 Olympic Beach Volleyball, and as an Audio Mixer at the Olympic Stadium for the London 2012 Paralympics. Other commissions include Foreign Commentary Broadcast Liason (CCR) for UEFA Champions League final 2013, Sound Supervisor for live Boxing from York Hall for the Sky channel 'Sports Tonight', Sound Supervisor for the Glasgow 2014 XX Commonwealth Games Boxing venue, Sound Supervisor for Sky Sports Championship Poker and Sound Supervisor for the 2015 Rugby World Cup world feed / simultaneous translation service.

Location Recordist - 'Scott and Sid', 'Own Worst Enemy', 'The Craftsman' (Feature films), 'The Choir' (BBC 1), 'Songs of Praise' (BBC 1), 'The Story of Music' (BBC Learning / BBC Radio 3), 'Proms Extra' (Recording the CBSO for BBC 2)

Neil has received numerous international and UK awards including 2 World Medals for Sound Design from The New York Film Festival and several RTS awards, including 'Best Production Craft Skills'.

He is also a member of the Sound Design research group at the Department of Theatre, Film and Television, University of York, under Dr. Sandra Pauletto.

Neil Hillman's IMDb entry is here: www.imdb.me/neilhillman

The Audio Suite website is here: www.theaudiosuite.com

Neil's blog 'Sound Thinking' is here: www.neilhillman.blogspot.com

His latest book 'Journeyman' is here: www.lulu.com/spotlight/NeilHillman

License & Passport

Skills

Secondary Job Title	Sound Supervisor
Job Titles	Sound Operator / Engineer, Sound Mixer / Recordist, Sound Editor, Sound Designer, Dubbing Editor / Mixer
Years in industry	6+ years
Organisations / Memberships	AMPS (UK), IPS (UK)