Barnaby Laws has left leading lighting company Panalux after nearly two decades to take up a new role helming the new London office of LA-based film crew agents Worldwide Production Agency.

It brings to an end his long career at Panalux, most recently as head of commercials and music videos, where he became one of the most important figures in music video production in London.

Having built his reputation on understanding the needs of the commercial and music video industries - and helping hundreds of music videos into existence, and to achieve high production standards with Panalux's lighting support - Barnaby is now looking to a roster of UK-based cinematographers and production talent, as well as representing the existing roster of US-based DoPs (including Matt Lloyd, Bjorn Charpentier, Jackson Hunt, Pat Scola, Larkin Seiple and Eli Born) at the new WPA UK operation.

“I'm thrilled to be the newest member of the WPA family,” he says, "I've been given the opportunity to build something special in London, a market I know intimately. As soon as I spoke to the partners I knew that the WPA ethos was so closely aligned with the qualities that built my career and that it was a perfect fit for me.”

"It's been a privilege to have been able to play a small part of some of the most seminal videos ever created in the UK"

From his first job in the film industry as a trainee electrician on a low budget feature over 20 years ago, Barnaby joined Panalux in 1997, holding positions in various departments and business segments - including features, TV and live events - but gravitating towards commercials and particularly music videos due to his knowledge and enthusiasm for the medium, and his eye for upcoming industry talent.

"I am eternally grateful while at Panalux to be involved in arguably the best years of the promo industry," Barnaby told Promo News yesterday. "I joined at a time when, I feel, promos hit the sweet spot of budget and creativity. It's been a privilege to have been able to play a small part of some of the most seminal videos ever created in the UK.

"While occasionally it's been tough, with deals and ever-shifting expectations, it's also been amazing to watch incredible talent grow and flourish, in both production and direction. The relationships music videos have given me are ones that have grown with me all through my career. I really hope that I can continue to support this and the next generation of promomakers, however I can, in the new direction I am taking as an agent at WPA."