Critical Update Regarding VMI Bristol

VMI opened the Bristol division in 2015 and moved into its current building in St George a year later. Run by Gary Davis and Jon Noad, VMI Bristol was set up specifically to cater for natural history programmes and documentaries, stocking specialist cameras and larger lenses/grip and acting as a full satellite branch of VMI. 

However, changing marketing conditions post-Covid, saw a sharp contraction of Bristol-based productions, to the point where VMI has made the difficult decision to close this branch in September 2025, resulting in all operations now being centralised at our London office, where we will continue to service our national clients. 

Over the last 10 years, VMI Bristol has serviced cameras and lenses for some extraordinary productions and here are a few highlights.

A Real Bug’s Life featured on Disney+ was produced by Plimsoll Productions for National Geographic and the combination of the Phantom VEO 4K camera and Infiniprobe TS 160 lens allowed the team to get up, close and personal with the featured critters, whilst also attaining an impressive slow motion – with each individual wingflap visible on screen. 

Earth at Night in Colour, produced by Offspring Productions for Apple TV used the incredible 4m ASA Canon ME20F-SH camera to achieve super low-light scenes, shining light on a world we wouldn’t otherwise be able to see, with minimal disturbance on animal subjects. 

Nledi – One Little Elephant, was produced by Off the Fence Productions, which also used the Canon ME20F-SH camera in a bold plan to shoot a family of elephants 24 hours a day in the in Okavango Delta and included a dramatic sequence capturing the birth of an elephant in the wild, in colour with more depth than had ever been seen before.

Finally, The Battle to Beat Malaria, an incredible piece directed by Cat Gale and from the work of multiple production companies such as Wingspan Productions and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, for the BBC. Cinematographer Robert Hollingworth took advantage of the Phantom VEO 4K, RED V-Raptor, and InfiniProbe TS-160 to present the inside story of a historic new vaccine and the efforts against the world’s deadliest disease.

Despite the closure of our Bristol branch, VMI’s doors will remain firmly open to similar productions, as we can provide various national delivery options, as well as van deliveries. Importantly, VMI will maintain its impressive stocks of Phantom VEO 4Ks, Freefly Ember super slow motion cameras, super-low light cameras, our wide RED camera fleet, motion-control rigs and other specialist equipment, though producers will need to consider that these will now be supplied from our London hub, rather than directly from Bristol.