Paul O'Connor, News reporter and filmmaker
Paul O'Connor has been involved in independent video production since 1993. I picked up a camcorder to both record and support the thriving counter-culture in the UK. I have produced history documentaries, filmed direct action protests and produced news features
I smuggled a hidden camera into an Israeli prison to expose corruption and I have recorded many alternative life-styles.
My films have also been shown on Channel 4 and BBC and in the Tate Modern. My drive is to distribute stories rarely heard within the mainstream. I won a Digitial Hero award for my media work. I have won awards for my films in Germany, USA, Canada and the UK.
I smuggled a hidden camera into an Israeli prison to expose corruption and I have recorded many alternative life-styles.
My films have also been shown on Channel 4 and BBC and in the Tate Modern. My drive is to distribute stories rarely heard within the mainstream. I won a Digitial Hero award for my media work. I have won awards for my films in Germany, USA, Canada and the UK.
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I co-founded Undercurrents in 1994 as an alternative news agency. Together we established a unique independent distribution for videos produced by grassroots environmental and social justice campaigners. My archive images are broadcast regularly on most TV channels including Channel 4, ITV, CNN, Netflix and BBC in various news and current affairs programmes. I have trained human rights and environmental campaigners in video skills across the World. I co-founded the annual BeyondTV international film festival and The Sol Cinema, a unique solar powered mobile movie theater.
You can contact me via paulo@undercurrents.org or Telephone 07973 298359 
Filming a survival series
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Get in touch with Paul O'Connor
You can contact me via paulo@undercurrents.org Telephone 07973 298359 I also write a Blog for undercurrents |
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 Training young people
Read more... I wrote an article in the Guardian about my work. MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH PAUL New Internationalist magazine Video exhibition at BFI BBC about filming protests Read interview with me in a film industry magazine Read interview with me in Oxford Mail The Guardian on producing Undercurrents 
Filming Reclaim the Streets 1997
Filming in Nepal 2001
Filming interviews in Spain 2010
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FilmographyI have produced hundreds of films with a diverse range of topics. They include;
Breaking News- (1999) documentary exploring how the police control the news agenda. Winner of best documentary British BAVA Awards 1999 If I had a Hammer (1996)- Exploring the story of how four women disarmed British war-planes sold to Indonesia using household hammers. Major Resistance (1998) – directed 2x 30minute programmes exploring dissent in Britain. Broadcast on Channel 4 television Alt World (2001)- directed an investigation into the arrests of journalists in Britain. Broadcast on Channel 4 Landless Workers' Movement (2001) -cameraman in Brazil for feature on Channel 4 Globalisation and the Media (2001)- how the mass media shape public opinion. Winner of best documentary. Winner Tokyo video festival 2003 / Winner One World Canada 2002, Evolving Minds (2002)- Producer-A documentary exploring alternatives to the Mental health system Reach for the Sky (2004)- Documentary exploring links between Climate Change and Aviation. The Only Clown in the Village (2006)- how a British-Asian entertainer helped Tsunami victims.Winner best Welsh Independent Film 2006. Bike2Oz- (2008) Cycling 12,000km rather than damaging the climate by flying. Tewkesbury Medieval Fayre (2008) Reenactment societies converge into one field A-Z of Bushcraft (2010) Online video series about woodland skills Adventures in Welsh (2010) Swansea group promoting Welsh speaking for young people Inside Israeli prison (2011) Smuggling a camera into a prison to expose how Israel lock up internationals wishing to visit Palestine Roundwood Timber Framing (2011) A step by step guide to eco-building with Ben Law 6 sculptures in 6 weeks (2012) Following 2 artists creating in the Welsh valleys. Produced for Neath Port Talbot council Spannabis (2013) Video reports on the largest Cannabis industry event on the planet. Cannafest (2013) video reports from Prague at a Cannabis trade event. Community Food Growing (2014) A resource for people in South Wales.Produced for Creative Rural Communities Pride in our Farming families (2014) Helping farmers to diversify. Produced for Creative Rural Communities End to Coal (2016) The largest UK direct action protest to shut down an open cast coal mine Trident (2016)- Report about a month of protests to stop nuclear weapons in UK. Open Cast Coal (2016)- A video report from Germany about mass occupation of coal mine. Anti-Fracking Gathering (2016)- Manchester held the largest UK rally against Fracking Yarlswood Detention centre (2016) Mass protest in support of detained refugees Power Trip (2018)- an insight into the frontline resistance to the Fracking industry in the UK Thanksy (2019) Artist leaves food and clothing as street art. Produced for WalesOnline |
Filming the largest ever direct action protest in a coal mine (May 2016)
Paul and the Sol Cinema
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Arriving at the BAFTAs 2018
Filming woodland timber building
Filming November 2016
Paul co-founded the Sol Cinema
Filming Fracking protests 2017
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