GAFFER STORIES LIGHTING SPECIAL
With a wealth of experience and an
relationship that would continue for the best part of the next 16 years. “Over the course of that time period, Evans would get me to do reshoots and additional photography he couldn’t do,” recalls Mills. “That turned into doing the second units on his films, and I started building a reputation and getting asked to do my own films.” From there, his career trajectory soared when he undertook additional photography on Star Wars: Rogue One , a pivotal moment he identifies as his first big break. “It was almost like a film in itself, I was on it for around 16 weeks,” he shares. This opportunity not only propelled Mills into other projects, but also led to collaborations with renowned cinematographer Greig Fraser, notably on Dune: Part One . When asked about his favourite equipment, Mills says it’s a tough call given technology’s rapid evolution, but he’ll always be a fan of a battery/wireless light that can go anywhere in an instant, thanks to the practicality and versatility. Despite the technical challenges inherent in his day job, he says the biggest obstacle is being separated from his family during lengthy shoots. “I did both Dune: Part 1 and Part 2 , and combined, they took me away from
impressive filmography to his name, Mills is one of Hollywood’s most in- demand gaffers A seasoned gaffer, Jamie Mills’ CV features some of the biggest Hollywood productions of recent times, from The Batman and Dune to Ready Player One and Harry Potter . It all started at the tender age of 17. Planning to become a domestic sparky, he headed to his local college open day and filled in an aptitude test. His excellent result caught the attention of Lee Lighting, which was looking for new recruits at the time and invited him to become an apprentice, setting him on a course that led to a gig on long-running police procedural The Bill , followed by 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider . Here, he worked alongside leading gaffer Perry Evans, beginning a close collaborative
BORN IN THE DARK Mills has worked with Greig Fraser on multiple projects, including 2022’s The Batman
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