Experience
We’ve covered many world-wide events and documentaries that you’ve seen on TV. What you don’t see is the behind the scenes decision making made by people like us. We know how to cover all the bases using the right people and the right equipment. No one likes to work with someone who hasn’t done their homework, who promises and doesn’t deliver. Organization and planning is an integral part of every job we undertake.
Cocklins Video delivers a quality product at a superior quality level. As a small business we can devote the time and resources we have to you. We are easily accessible by phone, e-mail and in person. We can handle and manage a variety of tasks consistently.
We give our clients the best results possible for their projects while giving them the most for their money. Whether an informational, motivational or training video, we will plan and effectively organize your needs into a successful product. We work with you throughout the decision making process to obtain the goals and objectives of your video. We bring together all the people and elements you require in a cost-effective way. We are easy to work with as confirmed by our lengthy list of happy, long-time clients.
In addition to working in the United States, we have a long history of world-wide experience. Basing ourselves first in Florence and later in Rome, Italy we traveled with our equipment to cover assignments around the globe for the American TV networks. Assignments have taken us from the mountains of Afghanistan to the skyscrapers of Malaysia to corporate boardrooms across America.
May 2011
Cocklins Video produced a message from the president of Kearney & Company on their $50,000 donation to a scholarship fund. We shot this using the Sony F3 in the company conference room using a teleprompter. The President is reading his remarks from a teleprompter and sitting on the table to make the delivery personal and informal while still indicating a position of importance. Lighting is focused on the individual; background is slightly out of focus. Video link
Fall 2010-Spring 2011
Danya International contracted us to create educational and information videos of caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Each caregiver gave sensitive and emotional interviews in their home along with b-roll of the caregiver and their autistic child/children. A Behavior Support Facilitator with experience in dealing with ASD children facilitated the videotaping. Interviews and b-roll were shot with the Panasonic 2000 camera. A graphic/video open with music was created to coordinate with text materials. The end products were DVDs with authored menus. Video link
Spring-Summer 2010
Cocklins Video used the Canon 5D and shot in 1080i to create an 18 minute recruitment/informational video for Sheehy Auto Stores. In this video the President of the company is the narrator and also appears on-camera using a teleprompter.
Use of a dolly and mini-jib allowed us to get movement into a static environment. Mounting the jib on the dolly gave us high moving shots adding visual interest to the video and gave us the ability to pan around cars and move around the showrooms in a work environment. Complex graphics and special effects were created in the edit process. Video link
August-November 2010
Using the Canon 5D and shot in 1080i Cocklins Video created two 15 minute training videos for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. In these videos, there is no narrator - employees and managers narrate the videos from on-location interviews. In the edit process we used special effects, time lapse photography, sound effects, captured mouse movement and the actual computer screens using the program Captivate. All deliverables were compliant with Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Video link
August 2010-September 2010
Principal Photographer on a High Definition Documentary shot with the VariCam on the Bentley Mulsanne motor car for National Geographic TV. We traveled to Manchester, England in August of last year and immediately drove to Nantwich, a small town a few miles from the Bentley factory located in Crewe, England. For more information on what equipment we used and how we shot it go to our blog.
June 2008 – April 2009
We traveled to 4 African countries the summer of 2008 to create a 30 minute high definition video for USAID and the Academy for Educational Development (AED) about NetMark, their successful program to eliminate malaria using insecticide treated mosquito nets. We had a month shooting in Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal. A 30 minute HD documentary, 3 minute trailer and 3 individual vignettes on specific elements of the malaria prevention program were created. Video link
January 2008
Produced a series of interactive flash training videos for 7 main departments of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) in Washington DC.
A complex project involving the creation of a program structure to house a series of training videos presented using flash video and Adobe captivate on the company intranet. All 7 training videos are represented as floating balls, each titled as a specific program application. The viewer is able select a specific program of interest and that program is broken down into menu sub sets, allowing the viewer to learn about the entire program or navigate to find a specific item for review. The menu sub sets are all individually labeled on dropdown tabs for easy navigation. Video link
Samples of some of the following videos can be found here
July 2007
Photography and Sound on a High Definition Documentary shot with the VariCam on the 2007 Oshkosh Air Show for the National Geographic "Inside Series". The Documentary aired on PBS in 2008.
February 2007
Produced a National membership recruitment video for the DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution. We traveled across the United States interviewing DAR members on their community projects. This 10 minute award winning video received 5 Telly Awards. Video Link
December 2006
Cocklins Video was contracted to produce an informational interactive DVD for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or PBGC in Washington, DC. 83,000 DVD's were delivered to the client.
June 2006
Cocklins Video was contracted to produce a motivational video for the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or PBGC in Washington, DC. We used our Ikegami DV7W DVCAM camera to create this award winning motivational video of the BAPD division within the PBGC. The objective was to create an uplifting video to show at the opening of their June 2006 conference and to include as many employees as possible. In this video, we let the Director and Deputy Director narrate the video, and interspersed employee sound bites. We shot for 5 days, did over 41 interviews, and used sound bites from 31 interviews in the final video. In the edit process we used special effects, sound effects, and attention-grabbing graphics to add visual interest.
May 2006
Principal Photographer on a High Definition Documentary shot with the VariCam on the Ferrari 900 Series motor car. We traveled to Maranello and Florence, Italy and shot this documentary for the Ultimate Factories Series for National Geographic. I used smaller cube cameras taped to the outside of the body of the car along with a snorkel lens to go inside the engine. I also used a Panasonic HVX200 time laps function to watch the Ferrari 12 cylinder engine being built in compressed time. (Photographers note: this had to be one of the better assignments in my life's work!)
August 2005
Principal Photographer on a documentary titled "Super Chopper" for National Geographic Explorer using the Panasonic High Definition VariCam. We shot most of the production overseas in England and Italy with an extensive amount of aerial shooting (18 hours) using various helicopter mounts.
July/August 2005
Completed HD video on explorer John Smith for National Geographic TV. Recreations and aerials where shot throughout the Chesapeake Bay region using the Panasonic HD VariCam.
January/February 2005
Tsunami: Animal Instincts. Documentary completed and aired April, 2005 on Discovery's Animal Planet. Traveled to Sri Lanka & Thailand after the tsunami to investigate why wild animals knew in advance to seek high ground before the coming tsunami.
Spring 2003
2 1/2 months in Baghdad, Iraq and Southern Afghanistan for National Geographic Specials Unit. Principal Photographer for an hour long documentary on the U.S. Military's Special Operations Unit entitled “Inside Special Ops". Aired November 5, 2003 on PBS.
Fall 2002
Baghdad, Iraq. National Geographic Explorer Series. Principal Photographer for a documentary about Iraq on the Brink of war.
Fall 2001
Afghanistan. ABC News Prime Time. Photographer. Covered the fall of Kabul and the liberation of the city.
Fall 2000
Afghanistan, Tajikistan. National Geographic. Principal photographer for two documentaries on the Mujahidin leader Ahmad Shah Massoud. Spent four weeks in country working with Sebastian Junger, author, and Reza, National Geographic photographer. First documentary “Afghanistan Revealed” was shown as part of the National Geographic Explorer Series in 2001, for which Stephen received a National Emmy for photography in the fall of 2002. A separate hour long documentary “The Forbidden Zone” was created for National Geographic TV's “Frontline Diaries”.
Summer 2000
Kuwait, USA. The Discovery Channel: Principal photographer for hour long documentary, "Inside the Kill Box, The Gulf War", shot on super 16 and video. Show premiered January 14, 2001.
June 1998
Japan, Malaysia. The Discovery Channel: Overseas Photographer for three documentaries on "Bridges", "Buildings" & "Tunnels", shot on super 16mm film. Three hour long shows aired January, February and March 2000.
May 1998
USA. The Discovery Channel: Principal Photographer for hour long documentary on the “Mississippi River”.
March/August 1997
USA, Saudi Arabia. The Discovery Channel: Principal photographer for one hour documentary "Strike Force" commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Air Force.
September 1996/April 1997
Japan, USA. The Discovery Channel: Principal photographer for a 2 hour special “Robots Rising”, shot on 16mm film. Gold Apple Winner National Educational Media Network, Top Awards in US International Film & Video Festival, Houston International Film Festival and Washington Film & Video Council.
March 1995/December 1996
Israel, USA. The Discovery Channel: Principal photographer for "Wings", an 8 and 12 part series on the history of jet airplanes.
March/December 1996
The Discovery Channel: Principal photographer for "Spies Above", a 1-hour special on satellites, shot primarily on 16mm film. Silver Medal, NY Film Festival 1996 for Best Science & Technology Documentary and "Critics Choice" in the LA Times, USA Today, the Washington Post and TV Guide.
November/September 1992/1993
Russia, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, UK, France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. For The Discovery Channel: Principal photographer for "Fields of Armor" a 12 part series produced by The Discovery Channel. Steve Cocklin was nominated for a National Emmy for photography for this series.
December/March 1990/1991
Combat Pool Photographer, Desert Storm, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait for ABC News with the 2nd Marine Division.
1980-1989 Based Overseas:
April 1988, Persian Gulf. TV crew for US networks onboard American Navy warships covering U.S. retaliation against Iran for frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts hitting mine in Gulf waters.
1987 through 1988
Based in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) covering the Gulf War for U.S. TV network pool (ABC, CBS, CNN, and NBC).
1987
Rome, Italy. Co-produced, shot and edited a 5 part series on Pope John Paul II. Purchased by over 15 markets in the U.S. during the Pope's 1987 trip to the U.S. Also co-produced a 40-min. documentary on the Vatican for worldwide home video distribution.
1985
Algeria & Beirut, Lebanon. ABC News: TWA Hijack. Obtained first exclusive interview with TWA pilot.
1984
Beirut, Lebanon. ABC & NBC News: U.S. Marines in Lebanon.
1983
Lebanon. ABC & NBC News: Palestinian factional fighting.
1982
Beirut, Lebanon. CBS News: Invasion of Beirut.
1981
Verona, Italy. ABC News: Kidnap of General Dozier, U.S. NATO official.
Rome, Italy. ABC News: Attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.
1973 through 1980
Buffalo, NY. Employed by WGR-TV (now WGRZ-TV) as a news photographer and by WNED-TV as a documentary photographer for a weekly TV documentary.