Against All Odds: UK Fixing and Camerawork
Nine days of UK fixing, production coordination and camerawork for an international documentary about Olympic trampoline medallist Bryony Page.
A nine day UK documentary shoot for a compact international crew
Media 3.14 brought a Spanish led team to the UK to film Olympic trampoline medallist Bryony Page for the Against All Odds series. The schedule ran from 16 to 24 November 2017 across Wrenbury, Sheffield and Lilleshall, combining interviews, training and observational material.
The three person field team needed dependable access, permissions, routes, transport and equipment support while moving quickly between contributors and locations. Every crew member also covered practical camera and production tasks as the documentary developed.
Local fixing combined with hands on camera support
Producer Alicia Olivares Lupiáñez commissioned Jay Rozanski as UK fixer alongside director filmmaker Peter Porta and scriptwriter Pep Blay. Jay coordinated locations, local contacts, permissions, travel and equipment requirements throughout the shoot.
Jay also worked as a camera operator, contributing B roll and sharing camera assistant, grip and production support across the small unit. The nine day production became the completed Olympic Games film The Gymnast Who Lost Her Moves.
In numbers
A personal sporting story for an international series
The Bryony Page episode of Against All Odds explores a difficult period in the British trampoline gymnast’s career. A movement she had performed for years became a mental barrier, and the film follows the work required to rebuild confidence on her route to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she won silver.
Media 3.14 developed the documentary for an international audience. Producer Alicia Olivares Lupiáñez brought the team to the UK, with Peter Porta directing and filming and Pep Blay working on the script. We joined the compact field unit through Jay Rozanski, combining local fixing with hands on camera support.
Nine shooting days across the UK
Filming ran from 16 to 24 November 2017. The schedule moved between Bryony’s family base in Wrenbury, training and interview locations around Sheffield, and the national sports facilities at Lilleshall. A Nottingham office sequence also formed part of the production planning.
The treatment mapped approximately 12 interviews alongside training, family, coach and location material. That approach called for a crew able to move between formal conversations and observational B roll without losing time to unfamiliar routes or local arrangements. Each day depended on access, contributor timing, transport and equipment reaching the right place together.
Fixing that kept a visiting crew moving
Alicia introduced Jay to contributors and suppliers as the production’s UK fixer. His work covered local research, contacts, permissions, routes, transport, parking, location logistics and equipment support. That preparation gave the Spanish led team a dependable base while the schedule moved through several cities and sporting environments.
Fixing also continued during production. Plans had to respond to contributors, travel conditions and the practical needs of a small crew carrying camera and lighting equipment. Jay’s local knowledge helped the team arrive ready to film and gave Peter and Pep more time to concentrate on Bryony’s story, interviews and visual development.
Camera operation within a compact field team
Jay Rozanski worked as camera operator within the compact UK field team. The small unit shared practical camera assistant, operator, grip and production assistant duties as each location required, and Jay contributed B roll and camera operation alongside his fixing responsibilities.
The working kit plan centred on a Sony FS7 Mark II and a Sony A7S, supported by locally coordinated equipment and lighting. This flexible structure suited a documentary moving between interviews, training sessions and observational material. It also meant production support and image making could stay connected: the person solving a location or access problem understood the shots the director needed once the camera was ready.
The finished Bryony Page documentary
The completed episode was published by the official Olympic Games YouTube channel as The Gymnast Who Lost Her Moves. Peter Porta directed the Bryony Page film, and his wider Against All Odds work through NBC, Eurosport and beIN.
The finished programme brings Bryony’s account, training environment and Olympic journey into one personal narrative. Our credit remains focused on the UK contribution that helped make those scenes possible: local production coordination, practical location support, B roll and camera operation across the nine day shoot.
Positive feedback from the production team
After the final shoot day, Alicia reported that Peter was very happy with Jay and the work he had delivered. The response reflects the value of combining two complementary roles within a small documentary unit. The local coordination kept people, places and equipment moving, while the camera contribution supported the visual material gathered on location.
For international producers filming in the UK, the project shows how an experienced local partner can add both logistical confidence and production capability. We supported the visiting team from preparation through nine days of filming, then saw that work become part of a finished documentary with a continuing official destination online.
For practical planning advice, read our Design, Do, Build and Deliver process. Explore our Pathways documentary film series for related production work.
For another television format, explore our production of The Short Film Show, where studio conversations and independent films came together as a finished series.
Frequently asked questions
What was our role on Against All Odds?
Jay Rozanski worked as the UK fixer and a camera operator, covering local coordination, permissions, logistics, equipment support and B roll.
How long was the Bryony Page shoot?
Filming ran for nine days, from 16 to 24 November 2017.
Who directed the documentary?
Peter Porta directed and filmed the episode for Media 3.14, with Pep Blay working on the script.
Where can the finished film be watched?
The film remains public on the official Olympic Games YouTube channel as The Gymnast Who Lost Her Moves.
