Directing
Sid Perou
Born 1937-04-19 · London, UK
Sidney Allen Bruce Perou, born April 19, 1937 in London, is a British cinematographer and director known for his work in caves. He has been called "world famous in caving and broadcasting", "probably the greatest cave filmmaker of all time", and "the man who brought caving to the masses". His work has received international acclaim. In the mid-1960s Peru worked as a sound recorder at Ealing Studios when they were part of the BBC. Because of his recreational caving experience, he was assigned to work on the documentary Sunday at Sunset Pot in 1967. The documentary detailed the attempted rescue of caver Eric Luckhurst from Sunset Hole. Peru was first assigned to work on the documentary as an assistant soundman. However, due to physical and technical limitations of the initial cameraman and Peru cave experience, he was asked to take over filming operations. It was Peru's first underground filming experience. After Sunday at Sunset Pot, he left his job at the BBC to move to Yorkshire, as he had decided he wanted to be a filmmaker. In Yorkshire, his first commission was for The World About Us to film The Lost River of Gaping Gill in 1970. As a cinematographer and director, Peru has participated in the creation of more than a dozen cave documentaries and more than 50 films in total. headlights. In 2010 Peru retired from acting and emigrated from the UK. Along with Lionel Friedberg, Peru won an Emmy in 1993 for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Informational Programming for his work in Lechuguilla Cave which appeared as part of a 1992 National Geographic special, Mysteries Underground. While Mysteries Underground won the most prestigious prize of any project in Peru, several other documentaries won regional awards or prizes at cave-related film festivals. The documentary The Lost River of Gaping Gill won Best Television Reporting at the 7th International Speleology Film Festival in 1984, Silver Gentian Award at the Trento International Film Festival in 1985, Pye Color Television Award for Best Production regional in 1985 and shared "best history or adventure film" with Hollow Mountains of Mulu at the Festival International de Cinéma Espeleològic in 1984.[10] The series Beneath the Pennines won the Grand Prize at the International Speleology Film Festival in 1978, as well as the Regional Program of the Year award from the Royal Television Society. Peru is the author of a book about his experiences titled 30 Years as an Adventure Cameraman.[8] In 2010, Martin Baines released a documentary about life in Peru called The Sid Peru Story. Peru's first marriage was to Alison Wellock, a woman he met while planning to film The Lost River of Gaping Gill. They married on March 27, 1971 and had two children: Martin and Tom. Alison died in 1996 at age 47 following an illness.
Acting credits
Behind the camera
NR"The second of three films by Sid Perou that trace the story of rock climbing from its simple and accessible beginnings to the exclusive world of today's dedicated rock athlete. In this episode, Peter Livesey, the Yorkshireman who pushed back the frontiers in the 70s relives the criticism and acclaim of his great climbs. A TV series by Sid Perou produced by the BBC."
New Extremes
1980
NR"The last of three films by Sid Perou that trace the story of rock climbing from its simple and accessible beginnings to the exclusive world of today's dedicated rock athlete. In this episode of Rock Athlete, Ron Fawcett puts on an epic first ascent on the famous 'Cromlech' in the Llanberis Pass of North Wales. His phrase 'Come on arms!' became a climbing catch-phrase after the film was transmitted. A TV series by Sid Perou produced by the BBC."
First Ascent
1980
NR"The first of three films by Sid Perou that trace the story of rock climbing from its simple and accessible beginnings to the exclusive world of today's dedicated rock athlete. In this episode of Rock Athlete, leading Northern climbers in action show how the increasing use of technical aids eventually led back to the primitive contest between man and rock. The film starts with film footage of the Abraham Brothers climbing the Napes Needle in 1915 and ends with Ron Fawcett soloing Tensor on Craig y Castell (Tremadog). A TV series by Sid Perou produced by the BBC."
In Search of New Summits
1980
NRThe golden age of cave exploration falls well within living memory. Veteran caver Jim Eyres, of the British Speleological Association, relives the last great Pennines discovery - the Lancaster Hole - which allowed access to miles of river-ways, caverns and grottos beneath the western dales.
Beneath The Pennines: The Lancaster Hole
1977
10.0No synopsis available yet.
Realm of Darkness - The Elusive Depths of Mexico
1982
10.0Caves of Glass is a documentary from director Sid Perou's Realm of Darkness series, focusing on the ice caves of the Austrian Tennengebirge Alps, including the Eisriesenweld and Eiskogelhöhle. It features Austrian speleologist Fritz Oedl, Belgian speleologist Guy Meauxsoone, and Ian "Tommo" White of the Northern Caving Community. First broadcast on Channel 4 on February 15, 1986, it won a Special Mention at the 5th Barcelona International Festival of Esoteric Cinema that same year.
Realm of Darkness - Caves of Glass
1986
10.0Caves of Glass is a documentary from director Sid Perou's Realm of Darkness series, focusing on the ice caves of the Austrian Tennengebirge Alps, including the Eisriesenweld and Eiskogelhöhle. It features Austrian speleologist Fritz Oedl, Belgian speleologist Guy Meauxsoone, and Ian "Tommo" White of the Northern Caving Community. First broadcast on Channel 4 on February 15, 1986, it won a Special Mention at the 5th Barcelona International Festival of Esoteric Cinema that same year.
Realm of Darkness - Caves of Glass
1986
10.0Sid Perou follows the attempt of climbing Europe's highest and most extreme rock face, the Troll Wall in Norway, using free climbing methods. The documentary features Hans Christian Dossieth, Colin Brooks, Steve Bancroft, Chris Gibb and Sid Perou.
Troll Wall: The Vertical Mile
1981
7.5No synopsis available yet.
The Fingertip Phenomenon
1984
NRA through trip down Simpson Pot and out of the Valley Entrance of Kingsdale Master Cave. Filmed over a dozen trips, it features cavers from the Happy Wanderers Cave and Pothole Club. It was commissioned by BBC Leeds, and was first broadcast on BBC One in October 1972.
What A Way To Spend A Sunday
1972