The Work That Made Me: Dan Prince
Dan Prince is a photographer and filmmaker with a passion to tell real stories, about real people. Reaching into people’s lives, connecting and understanding who they are, what they do and why they do it, is a driving force for his creativity and intrigue.
He creates projects with purpose, that engage, and tell a visual story. Subjects of social issues, community, agriculture, health and wellbeing. Working alongside good people doing good things.
LBB> The ad/music video from my childhood that stays with me…
Dan> I grew up on TV and film. My family always had a passion for going to the cinema, watching the latest movies, so my influence was very story and visual. My brother used to record films onto blank tapes, you could usually fit two films on one tape, and we would rewatch films constantly. I think there must have been a library of over 400 films in the house, so this was education. All genres of films.
I think 'Terminator' was No1 with 'Top Secret'. That was the first time I’d seen Val Kilmer and he was in a comedy role. Great to look back now at the careers of actors and influence movies had on generations of people. Especially the youth. It created a culture which we would talk about at school.
LBB> The ad/music video/game/web platform that made me want to get into the industry…
Dan> Both my Grandad, and Dad were from mining generation. They were engineers but still went down mines to earn a living. The world of film was something on the tele. It wasn’t even a thought as a kid. My Dad wanted to be a commercial artist, he was phenomenal, his images were hung all around the house, but my grandparents never had the money to send him to college. The sad part is having travelled the world, which was a million miles from where he grew up, he died in a mining accident close to home.
LBB> The creative work (film/album/game/ad/album/book/poem etc) that I keep revisiting…
Dan> I got into the industry late, and photography was something that came natural, so I pursued that as spray painting in factories wasn’t really what I wanted to do.
My first photography book was by Anton Corbijn. Gnarly black and white portraits, sepia toned, very real and raw, unique and artistic without trying too hard.
Then I discovered Tom Stoddart, world renowned reportage photographer. That changed how I saw scenarios, capturing a narrative in one frame. I got to meet Tom a few times. He gave me good advice when I was starting out. I got to interview Tom and he signed one of his books for me.
When he died this book was something I looked at with sadness but also great joy, that I reached out, connected with him and he gave his time and help.
LBB> My first professional project…
Dan> I was assisting in London and I was showing my photography portfolio back up in the North East when I visited home. As I lived in London I got a portrait commission for Sunderland University.
The agency was Different and art director Simon Storey. We worked together for many years after that. I remember we were setting up the same day the whale got trapped in the Thames.
LBB> The piece of work (ad/music video/ platform…) that made me so angry that I vowed to never make anything like *that*…
Dan> There’s lots of things I see that pee me off. But I know the reality of the many spokes in the wheel that are involved to bring these things to life. Doing the work is easy, getting the work is always the hard part.
LBB> The piece of work (ad/music video/ platform…) that still makes me jealous…
Dan> I think envious is more fitting. More of the case that I wish I got to experience what they created, not jealous that they did it and I didn’t. There are so many. TV shows, films, documentaries, ads, photographs. I consume a lot of all of these daily, so it’s never just one thing.
LBB> The creative project that changed my career…
Dan> I don’t think there is. You might need to ask someone else that. I think I’m a bit of a journeyman in the industry. I’ve experienced quite a lot, been through a few changes, seen the industry change. in the past.
Starting in photography, directing, filmmaking, I’ve built sets, produced, edited, distributed, and carved my own path, usually led by my passion and a want to learn and create.
LBB> The work that I’m proudest of…
Dan> Last year I got to combine all of my skills together, working on a full rebrand campaign for Benromach, a handmade whisky distillery company.
I was involved from the start of the creative, delivering a series of films, along with photography library. I ran production, directed, filmed, photographed and edited. My direct involvement created award winning work, through storytelling with a cinematic feel.
You could say my upbringing may have had an influence on how I approach and visualise things.
LBB> I was involved in this and it makes me cringe…
Dan> Well I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus, but I have done a lot things as I needed the work. I’m now trying to work on things I am truly passionate about. This is hard in this industry as most of the time we are just happy to be working. It’s not an easy business. I think if gets harder the older you get. Your expectations become higher and the pressure to succeed increases.
LBB> The recent project I was involved in that excited me the most…
Dan> I am working on a few new projects. These are personal, and in production, so that’s what is exciting me at the moment. Creating your own vision, seeing it through, and getting it out into the world. That’s surely what it’s all about. Creating something from nothing. The doubt, the unknown. That’s exciting to me.
