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Aug 2002 Index

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September 2002

A Caithness-based woodturner is turning to film making as a new venture, using the latest in digital technology.

Michael O' Donnell is based at Dunnet Head - the most northerly point on the Scottish mainland - and aims to make videos and DVDs for a range of markets including business and tourism and instructional videos for crafts.

Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) have helped Mr O' Donnell get his new project off to a good start by awarding him a funding package to buy the necessary equipment to be able to produce videos and DVDs.

E-business support from CASE will also allow for the establishment of a fully integrated e-commerce website so Mr O' Donnell can sell his products across the world.  Mr O' Donnell has already made two videos on the art of woodturning, 'Turning Green Wood' and 'Tool Sharpening for Results' which are selling well in Europe and America.

As well as these video titles, Mr O' Donnell has also produced several instructional books on the subject.

He is well respected in his field and is frequently asked to deliver teaching on woodturning, including trips to Australia, USA and Norway.

Trading as Face to Face Video, Mr O' Donnell said: "The new editing suite, which CASE have assisted us in purchasing, will give us complete control over the process from shooting to the final master tape. Dubbing with foreign languages will give us greater market penetration and with DVD fast becoming the new media, we plan to have our discs duplicated at Grampian Records in Wick.

"Our first business promotional video is for a tool making company in Sheffield which we are already in the process of editing."   Carroll Buxton, CASE chief executive said: "E-commerce allows businesses in any location to compete on a level playing field and is a priority for CASE, which is why we were happy to assist Face to Face Video.

"It is pleasing to see that traditional industries are open to diversification which is exactly what Mr O' Donnell has done.  He has a terrific skill which he wants to share with people the world over and what better way to do this than by via the internet and video."