I thought it would be appropriate to share with you some of the highlights of 2005 as they related to GMV Productions and to me personally.

FEBRUARY: The year kicked off brilliantly with the FITEXPO in Pasadena which is run in conjunction with the Iron Man Pro Contest.  This is a 3-day expo for not only bodybuilding and fitness, but also for powerlifting, strongman events, seminars on training and healthy living, and much more.  The number of booths grows each year and it is a chance to meet your favourite bodybuilder, male or female, and pick up some good deals at the booths.

What I love about this event is the variety from seminars to posing by Ronnie Coleman, Lee Priest, Gunter and many more to the multitude of interviews we shoot with master interviewer Kenny Kassel. 

At the Iron Man Pro, a fantastic highlight was the titanic battle between Lee Priest and Gustavo Badell for the title.  Both were in best ever condition with Gustavo scoring his first ever pro victory by narrowly edging out Lee. 

Not to be denied was super poser Melvin Anthony who took the best presentation award – easily.  He is the best I have ever seen.

One week later we visited Mr. Ripped, Clarence Bass, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  This time we were not shooting any video of him as we had done the year before, when we shot Ripped 3.  Clarence was in tremendous condition and jokingly said we may shoot another DVD together when he is 70!

MARCH:  In March it was back to San Francisco for the annual San Francisco Grand Prix.  In a way, it was a re-run of the Arnold Classic in Columbus one week before, but with  the top 2 placings reversed.  In another close one, Chris Cormier took first this time with Dexter a very very close second.  I felt it could have gone either way, and my money was on Dexter.

One week later it was Chris Cormier and Lee Priest going head to head in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix.  Sean and Ollie shot this event for GMV and Lee was in absolutely sensational condition.  He won his home Grand Prix with Chris Cormier second.  It is interesting to note that in both Lee’s Grand Prix victories he has beaten Chris Cormier.  The previous time was in San Francisco when Lee won his first ever pro show.  After the Aussie Grand Prix, Sean and Ollie shot gym workouts with Ronny Rockel and Jaroslav Horvath before they headed back home to Europe.

For Tina and I, our reward at the end of this contest season was a short visit to Yosemite, which is one of the natural wonders of the world.  What a backdrop that would make for an outdoor posing for a future bodybuilding production.  If any top physique star wants to shoot at this location right after the San Francisco Grand Prix please email me.

APRIL-MAY:  Our good friend and expert German bodybuilding cameraman, Timo Sorger shot FIBO for us and then the NABBA European Bodybuilding Championships.  Star of FIBO was Alexander Fedorov from Russia.

JUNE:  This was a personal fantasy month for me.  Over the last 39 years I have been waiting for an hoping for an invite (or excuse) to shoot a major event in South America.  In 2005, the NABBA World Championships were held in the city of Natal in North East Brazil.  It was without doubt the longest journey I have ever made to a bodybuilding contest but worth every second of the 30 hours of travel time to get there.  Apart from the contest which was an extremely high standard, I had video or gym shoots with some of the winners: John Citrone, Andrea Carvalho, Loana Muttoni, Olga Tikhonova and more.  Other stars I worked with included Chris Wall, Luke Nichols, Renne Toney etc.  I will also never forget how hot and humid it was shooting poolside or on the hotel roof!

JULY:  At the end of my South America trip, I shot a gym workout and posing video with Christian Lobarede in his home city of Santiago, Chile.  He is the only pro bodybuilder living in South America, and this was a memorable shoot  for the intensity and charisma displayed by Christian (Toro) Lobarede.

OCTOBER:   It was time for the annual pilgrimage back to UK for the NABBA Universe.  This year it was held in Southport and my long term friend and help Clive Jaques and I made the 5 hour drive from Cambridge to Southport on the night before the big event.  This time it had a record number of competitors at 170.

It proved to be another bonanza for Brazil As they took 4 titles, Charles Mario as overall Amateur Mr. Universe; Joao Bispo de Andrade, Masters over 40 Mr. Universe; Andrea Carvalho  Overall Figure winner and Loana Muttoni Miss Fitness Universe.  They presently boast the strongest NABBA team in the world.

Two days later I arrived in Las Vegas ready for the Olympia weekend.  It was a great and well-deserved victory for Ronnie, Jen Hendershott and Yaxeni Oriquen.   However it was not a great time for GMV as we were unable to obtain video press passes for the first time ever at the Olympia.  The only footage I did manage to get, were some outstanding interviews at the Expo.

The organizers decided to try new things and new people at the Olympia as well as a new venue, The Orleans.  However we will certainly be bidding for the Olympia DVD rights for 2006.

My personal congratulations to Ronnie on equaling Lee Haney’s record  of 8 consecutive Olympia crowns.  Also special congratulations to Yaxeni.  When I filmed her in her first ever Ms. O in Prague in 1998, I thought she had amazing potential.

After the Mr. Olympia, we had an excellent gym shoot with Ray Arde, who was then 4 weeks away from winning the Nationals and gaining his pro card.

5 days after the Olympia, Ronnie Coleman and my team were shooting Ronnie – On The Road DVD in Melbourne.  It was 3 days of hard core gym workout shot with three cameras, plus his guest posing routine at the Victorian Championships.  On the 3rd day shooting moved to my home city of Adelaide in South Australia for the seminar with posing at Fitness Warehouse, and then the legs workout.

This was without doubt the best, most exciting, most productive, in depth video shoot I have ever had.  Ronnie was fantastic to work with. He really busted himself and gave his all.  Not surprisingly, the fans love it and it has sold faster than any other DVD or video we have ever produced.

Who will be the next with GMV –  Jay or Dexter.  Let us know who you would like to next see get the full GMV treatment.

Now to my 2005 End of Year Awards:

Best and most significant production for the year:  Ronnie Coleman on the Road (best ever in fact!!).

Best Team of the Year:  NABBA Brazil both at the Universe winning 4 titles and at the Worlds in Brazil winning many titles.

Best Bodybuilding DVD Reviewer:  Matt Canning from Canada.

Most Promising new DVD Reviewer:  Steve Buccilli

Male Bodybuilder of the Year:  Ronnie Coleman equaling the record of 8 Olympia victories.

Female Bodybuilder of the Year:  Yaxeni Oriquen – double Ms. Olympia & Ms International.

Fastest Growing but most disappointing Class:  IFBB/NPC Figure has rapid growth, but a lack of any form of short posing routine.

Best IFBB Figure Competitor:  Davana Medina who won the Figure Olympia again.

NABBA Female Bodybuilder of the Year:  Andrea Carvalho – won overall Figure Miss World and Miss Universe (as did Lorna Muttoni with the much smaller Fitness Class)

Special Mention NABBA Female:  Olga Tikhonova of Russia who was the winner of the physique class  in the Worlds 2 years in a row.

Best NABBA Masters Over 50:  John Citrone, winning the World Championships at age 63.

NABBA Female Official of the Year:  Val Charles for tireless work processing a record number of competitors and officials at the NABBA Universe.

NABBA Male Official of the Year:  Brian Robinson for his work in leading the NABBA Universe Committee to record number of competitors over the last 2 years.  There was also the biggest Universe audience for some years.

Role Models of the Year:  Jen Hendershott and her never say die attitude, and Ronnie Rockel who came to Australia in March and earned his first Olympia qualification.

Comeback of the Year:  Lee Priest in winning the Australian Grand Prix and 2nd in the Iron Man Pro after a disappointing placing at the 2004 Olympia.

Best Male Presentation:  Melvin Anthony wins this award with ease from the Iron Man to a fantastic performance at the Olympia.

Best Bodybuilding journalist:  Bill Dobbins

Most Outspoken Bodybuilder of the Year:  Gustavo Badell for his strong and interesting comments at the Olympia.

Most Improved Bodybuilders of the Year:  Branch Warren and David Henry who both came from almost nowhere to achieve Olympia qualification at the last moment.  Close runner-up was Ronnie Rockel.

Olympia Rookie of the Year:  Branch Warren who placed 8th.

Disappointment of the Year:  Dexter Jackson and Lee Priest who both passed on the Mr. Olympia.

Most disappointed bodybuilder for 2005:  Jay Cutler on his 3rd straight 2nd placing at the Mr. Olympia.  He was most unhappy.

Most Rewarding and challenging amateur event covered in 2005:  The NABBA World championships held in Brazil.

Best Bodybuilding Master of Ceremonies:  Lonnie Teper – by a mile.

Biggest Loss of the Year:  No English Grand Prix.  However this loss was in a way our gain as CNP/Dorian Yates Approved became the new official sponsors of GMV Productions.  Dorian and Kerry usually run the English Grand Prix each year.  GMV has recorded every English Grand Prix since 1993.

Best Rock concert of the Year:  The Eagles Farewell Tour # 1 in Adelaide, Australia.  Don’t know if these guys all workout, but to play almost non-stop for nearly 3 hours and at their age was a fantastic achievement and showed great endurance and a high level of fitness.  Apart from that it was great music as well.