Luke Ridley is a documentary filmmaker currently based in London. His interest in filmmaking has stemmed from his passion for photography, naturally progressing from still to moving images and finding his genre as a documentary storyteller. After joining BA Filmmaking at Kingston School of Art he has explored the diversity essay films have to offer through a number of student films and student screenings.
Luke’s work is mainly focuses on documenting the authorship of other creative minds within his films. His unique style of essay films are constructed by recording interviews and combining them with different forms of imagery such as animation and photography. Luke makes essay films as a way of discovering more about a topic and answering philosophical life questions or a question he has set to answer himself, eager to gain wider understanding through his filmmaking process. During his second year at university Luke directed The Animator, 2018, essay film exploring how the subconscious of an artist can visually sneak into their work and come to light once reflected about through interview, the film was screened at the BFI in a student showcase the same year. The project was self-directed and used editing skills (Premier Pro, Avis and After Effects) and camera operating skill acquired at university.
Luke has experimented with many roles within filmmaking, finding himself suited to directing and editing positions due to his assertive nature and strong visual language. During his graduating year he directed one film and edited another. Taking on the role of Director in Print to create a documentary film on his father, Mike Ridley, alongside editing a fantastical escapism film on the theme of imagination called Gerasco. Luke chose to focus on the eventful journalism career of his father for his graduate film because, he feels that he has real life stories that deserve to be heard alongside breaking down stigmas of journalists. The film is composed of an honest interview between father and son, with visuals constructed from archived newspaper clippings and film, his own documentary style footage and animated elements created with family belongings. Gerasco was screened at Screentest film festival in the UK and Family Film Fest in the US.
During his time at University, Luke worked and continues to work as a video editor for a national newspaper, editing videos for news packages. Throughout this time he has been able to make valuable contacts and gain industry insight which has prepared him for the competitive environment of the filmmaking industry. After university, Luke aims to work within the British film industry as a freelance runner, whilst continuing to develop his own personal practice. Carrying on from his dissertation, he plans to continue researching further into authorship and artistic expression through a variety of mediums.