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I can finally mention this, after almost missing the opportunity. Last year I was filmed as an ‘on screen expert’ for the Quest series Wings of War. I pop up several times in Episode 6 of Season 1 as ‘Matthew Willis, Naval Aviation Historian’. I think the programme has turned out pretty well – nice and accessible to people who don’t know a great deal about the subject, but informative and not dumbing down.
The link to play the epside online is here https://www.questod.co.uk/show/wings-of-war/video/episode-6/EHD_195517B
ooh, hark at you, the hotshot expert!! 🙂 Well done, Daeds, this is fabulous. Exciting to be a part of, I imagine?
Well done indeed, Daeds. Authoritative, erudite and lucid. Once again you display that knack you have of making technical things clear to the layman.
Thanks all! This is my second TV credit, but the first was only for archive materials and this is definitely my first proper TV appearance. I don’t think I did too badly, though no doubt a lot of editing was required!
Yay! well done @daedalus!
It won’t let me watch it either but I am sure you are engaging, knowledgeable and quietly authoritative 🙂
Congratulations @daedalus!
Just finished watching this. Daeds – you’re a star. The depth of your knowledge and your passion shine through. Plus I thought the programme was a quality production. It told the story in an interesting and engaging fashion, simply enough for someone with no knowledge like me to follow but without talking down and without the endless repetitions and tedious reconstructions with actors that seem to mar so many documentaries. A real pleasure to watch.
I too really enjoyed this, Daeds. Thank you for sharing it. I’d never have found the programme otherwise, and it does cover some of the period of my WIP. The episode was really well paced and, as you say, didn’t talk down. I learned a lot and thought all the experts were well chosen – you most of all of course. I can find documentaries frustratingly slow. And I share Jane’s view that reconstructions generally don’t add anything much! But this programme was very good.
Thanks Libby, that’s really nice of you. Glad you found it interesting and informative. I thought they struck the balance pretty well, and as you and Jane felt, did not overdo it with reconstructions. The little bits they did have (a snippet at the start of the Eugene Ely segment and some sailors running through corridors on a warship in the Bismarck segment) added a bit of excitement and did not detract. And yes, it was a good range of experts. I was surprised by how much of me they used, given they had several other ‘general’ naval and aviation experts. If there’s anything relevant to your WIP that I can help with, feel free to ask
That’s really kind of you Daeds. I’m OK at the moment but there could well be something as I still do bits of research as I draft. I promise not to bombard you. My story deals with flying before and during WW2 but I admit I’ve kept naval aviation at arm’s length as something I don’t need to include, at least not in any detail.
You’ve already helped me with your breakdown of the movie. I looked up Coffman starters!
Good to know! Coffman starters are great. Basically using a shotgun cartridge to start an engine, minus the lead shot of course. I don’t just do naval aviation btw, my last nonfic was a biography of a RAF bomber pilot, flying instructor and test pilot before and during WW2. Any technical queries, feel free to ask
Thank you Daeds, I really appreciate it.
I’ve found your nonfic book on the Amberley publishing site and will order a copy forthwith! It’s a while since I read a pilot biog or autobiog and am looking forward to learning about Duncan Menzies.
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