Tony Covell is my father, a doyen of the Film & TV industry and a retired C-suite executive with over 40 years’ leadership experience, an outstanding record of international brand-building, business growth and transformation from SME to PLC, working with the world’s largest film and TV companies. However, he still takes the calls of industry colleagues who continue to seek his advice and counsel.

He is a skilled business leader who has transformed ideas into actionable strategies and operational goals, drawing on a strong strategic mindset, consummate negotiation, communication and leadership skills.

He has successfully advised top studios, broadcasting corporations and independent productions throughout his career, supplying cameras, grip, lighting and crew for Features, Drama, Entertainment, Documentary, News, Factual and Commercials.

L.E.Q. | Managing Director | April 2001 to April 2021

 

• A specialist supplier of production, equipment, personnel and creative services.

 

• MD and co-founder of LEQ with my son Phillip Covell. LEQ acquired 850 clients worldwide (BBC, Bloomberg, C4, CNBC, ITN, ITV, NBC, Sky); delivering equipment sales, rental and crewing contracts for film, TV, conferences, concerts and events.

 

• Developed the company’s reputation for sales and consultancy, and new and used camera equipment.

Rhino Power & Light | Managing Director | Sep 2004 to Mar 2007

 

• Supplier of DC Battery and power, Sales and Procurement services.

 

• Launched the company as a sales and rental outlet for DC batteries and power for the Film and TV Industry.

 

• Delivered consultancy, sales and procurement services for producers and production companies in Film & TV.

Optex | Senior Sales Director | Nov 2001 to Mar 2003

 

• An international sales and rental company known for developing specialist lenses and technologies for Film & TV.

 

• Headhunted to streamline the company’s rental operations and act as business advisor to the CEO.

 

• Identified and delivered savings within the rental division, negotiating the re-finance of company assets, achieving significant cost-savings and releasing >£500K of capital for the company.

VFG | CEO | Apr 1991 to Jan 2001

 

• An International Camera, Grip, Lighting Rental, Sales and Manufacturing Group.

 

 

• Established Video Film & Grip Co. Ltd, spearheading growth, developing it over a decade from a company of £900K revenues to a multi-national business with >£20M revenues and 500 staff worldwide, securing venture capital funding and delivering a successful IPO on AIM, raising £12M.

 

• Enhanced London and Manchester adding multiple operations and acquisitions: HTV Hire Cardiff (1993), Ronford Ltd (Shepperton), Bristol, VFG Sales (1996), VFG Finance, Formatt Filters, Isle of Man Studio, GP Film Services, VFG Insurance, Camera Associates (Pinewood), Film Game (1997), Michael Samuelson Lighting, Glasgow, Dublin, Belfast, New London HQ (1998), EBU Equipment Finance (1997), Electric Light Company, FSC Blanx (1999), and VFG Australia (2000). Recommended against the Local Broadcast Group (2000). Kodak Motion Picture Film Agent.

 

• Developed an international client list of >900 Broadcasting Corporations and Independent Producers: BBC, CBS, Ch4, Chrysalis, ITN, ITV, MTV, NBC, NHK, RAI, RTE, RTL, Sky, Talkback, ZDF and more…

 

• Formatt Filters: Identified SimCel Ltd as an M&A target negotiating its purchase in 1997, renaming it Formatt, establishing the international brand, opening offices in Los Angeles to ensure US acceptance. Designed Formatt’s Glass filter, developing it into a market leader with a reputation for unprecedented optical properties, created the filter ‘birth certificate,’ and established the global dealer network.

 

• Initiated the VFG Leica Project, commissioning the premium quality prime lenses, which utilised wire-form technology, large focus rings and specially selected optics from Leica, with a PL mount.

 

• Notable Productions: Hallmark / Henson’s Animal Farm, Walk with Lions, Treasure Island (1997), Waking Ned, 51st State, Tenth Kingdom, Thief Takers, Hornblower, Harbour Lights, Coronation Street, Brookside, Last of the Summer Wine, Peak Practice, Hollyoaks, Band of Gold, The Vice and more…

 

 

Cinefocus | Managing Director | Aug 1974 to Apr 1991

 

• Industry leading camera rental & sales company, known for 'Aliens'.

 

• Founded the business growing it into a leading camera rental company, supplying broadcast corporations, and independent productions: Features, Dramas, commercials, documentaries, music and concerts, and a major supplier of crews and newsreel cameras (BBC, ITN, ITV).

 

• Launched the first rental facility outside London, opening in Manchester, identifying significant opportunity and competitive advantage, servicing broadcasting corporations and independent productions in the North (BBC, Central TV, Granada, Yorkshire TV, Tyne Tees TV, Grampian TV).

 

• Established Videofocus as a broadcast outlet for Cinefocus in 1989, and an early source for CCD ENG/EFP cameras.

 

• Won the Moviecam rental agency, supplying Aliens (II), Clockwise, Wish You Were Here, Caravaggio, Sign of Four and many commercials.

 

• Supplied the equipment for Gerry Anderson’s Terrahawks, developing a unique 16mm camera for the production, capable of stable multi-pass sequences at speeds up to 150fps fwd/rev, delivering demanding production requirements on-time/budget.

 

• Successfully negotiated the European rental agency for the Image 300 Camera, a high speed 35mm camera system originally developed for the US space program.

 

• Supplied the Image 300 for the 'Mine' sequences in 'A View to a Kill' accompanying the camera as specialist technician.

 

• Designed and engineered a variety of equipment to meet industry needs, notably the 7.5mm low distortion lens, available to clients before the Zeiss 6mm and 8mm lenses.

 

• Responsible for the sync pulse camera modification that enabed the famous forward and reverse comedy chase sequences in the 'Benny Hill Show', supplying modified cameras for many years.

 

• Patent for Focus Track design, originating the first lightweight track, dolly and jib system. Egripment continue to make the Focus Dolly, and Focus Track continues to re-sells today.

 

• Acquired Skymount, the CAA approved helicopter camera mount, developing global sales, maintaining the product and ensuring continued CAA approval, later selling the system to Optex.

 

• Secured multiple sales agencies for equipment manufacturers, notably the Academy Scientific & Technical Award winning Egripment Tulip Crane, as well as the FGV Panther Dolly system.

 

• You can learn more about Cinefocus here...

1970 to 1974

 

• Freelanced as a Camera Mechanic

 

 

• Contracted to Ardmore Studios, Ireland, servicing the following films:
• Pensylvania Here I Come
• Black Beauty
• The Red Barron

 

• Conracted to the camera rental companies - Samuelson's Film Service, Rank Kerly and Cinerental.

 

• Successfully delivered camera maintenance for 16 weeks on 'Papillon' with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hofman, filming on location in Spain and Jamaica.

 

• Delivered a 6 month contract as General Manager, London, for Cinemobile Inc.

 

• Contracted as Camera Maintenance Engineer on 'The Messenger' filming in Morrocco.

Coefficient Films, Merton Park Studios | Technician | 1969 to 1970

 

• Coefficient Films was a Camera Rental Comnay operated by the legendary Roy Moores.
• Serviced the following films:
• Virgin Soldiers
• Women in Love
• Sping & Port Wine
• Get Carter
• Twinkle

 

• Dubious Patriots You Can't Win Them All starring Tony Curtis and Charles Bronson - Camera Maintenance on location in Turkey.
• Man's Fate - Scheduled as Camera Maintenance, Film cancelled.

 

1968 to 1969

 

• ITN Kingsway, additionally contracted to Rediffusion Films - Service Engineer.

 

1967

 

• BBC News, Alexandra Palace - Service Engineer for all types of newsreel equipment.

 

1966

 

• BBC Film Studios Ealing - Technician for Film and Electronic Equipment.

 

1964 to 1966

 

• Evershed Optics - Test engineer for studio systms, then an entirely new concept. Progressively moved into film and editing equipment. Studied optics and hydraulics.

 

1959 to 1964

 

• Evershed Vignoles - Apprentice instrument maker.