Lee J. Buckley

Lee is a seasoned professional in the film industry who possesses a unique talent for blending various modern filmmaking techniques armed with personal knowledge of various departments while pushing the boundaries of what is achievable. Starting his journey as a Production Assistant, Lee quickly realized that being on set was his true calling. Determined to advance in the industry, Lee seized an opportunity to transition into the Grip Department after working on several low-budget productions. Through perseverance and dedication, he accumulated his permitee days while taking on non-union work in Grip, Electric, and Dolly Grip roles, which allowed Lee to acquire hands-on experience across a variety of roles on set. This unwavering commitment led to a progression of shows, propelling Lee up the ranks within the Grip Department until he was promoted to "A Camera Dolly Grip". With IATSE 891 Union Status achieved, Lee expanded his expertise controlling Camera Cranes as a Pickle Operator. In this role, Lee developed a reputation for being able to execute dynamic camera moves with various Telescoping Camera Cranes . As Pickle Operator, Lee had the additional task of managing the intricate relationship between a Dolly Grip, a Camera Operator on a Remote Head, and the actors while maneuvering a rotating and extending Telescoping Camera Crane, with lens heights reaching upwards of 100 feet. By then, Lee had accumulated over 10,000 hours of experience in camera movement and its dynamics. Lee had an opportunity to further develop his skills in Motion Control and Virtual Production with the introduction of the Technodolly, a $2 million hybrid of various cranes with a 15' Robotic Arm capable of fully articulated controlled and repeatable movement along a track measuring up to 60', whilst live-streaming positional data to composited real-time environments such as MAYA or UNREAL. As a Technodolly and Camera Operator, Lee has developed numerous new techniques from allowing actors to roam freely while interacting with a doubled version of themselves on a previous take, to, being part of wrapping CGI Apes onto Actors. By executing Motion Control, Lee was responsible for managing a complex process which was not only extremely expensive but also carried the added responsibility of being the visual representation of an entire day, based on input from a multitude of departments. In this role, Lee's performance was directly related to his understanding of how each of the other departments work, and their interaction with his motion control process. Lee crafted complex motion control shots across the globe, making significant contributions to renowned productions such as the 2018 'Best VFX' Oscar-nominated film, War for the Planet of the Apes, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek Beyond, Night at the Museum III, Tales from the Loop, The Shack, Tomorrowland, Batwoman, The X-Files, Formula M, Age of Adeline, Jim Henson Productions, Once Upon a Time, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, Arrow, Witches of the East End, Falling Skies, Almost Human, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, The Returned, The 100, Backstrom, Splitting Adam, Supernatural, The Man in the High Castle, Prison Break, Zoo, Dead Of Summer, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Coca-Cola, Fargo Seasons I, II & III, Legion, and Altered Carbon. With a unique set of skills that included operating "A" Camera, managing complex motion control processes, managing different departments and their inter-relationship with the credibility acquired from having worked in various roles, Lee was recruited to oversee a research studio for Amazon's most recent Lord of the Rings content, "Rings of Power". In this role, which entailed two exclusive years in New Zealand, Lee was responsible for finding ways to execute complex shots, including capturing moving camera shots within a scaled real-world environment using Virtual Production techniques. Script-highlighted shots were meticulously planned in Lee's bespoke studio, ensuring technical feasibility. Once the solutions were developed, captured on camera and composited, they were reviewed in the dailies and, upon approval, Lee and his team executed the process on the main stage on main unit. Following his work in "Rings of Power", Lee has worked as "A" Camera Operator in a variety of shows and feature films in various environment, including extreme hot temperatures in the Cayman Islands and extreme cold temperatures in Kananaskis, Canada. Lee's unwavering commitment to pushing creative boundaries and his ability to seamlessly integrate various filmmaking techniques make him a unique asset in the industry. With a rich portfolio of diverse and visually captivating projects, he continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of film. When he is not working behind the camera, Lee can be found sailing, flying floatplanes, running marathons, freediving or racing VR SIMS.