Hot Aches Productions was founded in 2004 by adventure filmmaker, Paul Diffley. Our first major climbing DVD, ‘E11′, followed Dave MacLeod making the first ascent of Rhapsody (E11) in Scotland. ‘E11′ won thirteen international awards and is now widely regarded as one of the best climbing movies ever made. E11 is still one the best selling rock climbing DVDs in the UK. Since then we have filmed Dave Macleod on many other hard climbs, as well as several of the world’s top rock climbers and mountaineers including James Pearson, Andy Turner, Sonnie Trotter, Steve McClure, Matt Segal, Johnny Dawes, John Dunne and many more.
We are based in Edinburgh, Scotland, but we love to travel to anywhere with beautiful mountains or great rock climbing. We record our films using the latest HD video cameras to give you the most engaging experience when watching our films.
We have a passion for making rock climbing films and mountaineering films which we hope comes across in our work. We believe that video is a fantastic medium for sharing our love of climbing and all the great stories that climbing and mountaineering generate.
Paul Diffley
Paul is a multi-award winning adventure film maker, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
As well as creating his own productions under his Hot Aches label, Paul also works as a freelance cameraman, director and editor for the broadcast industry.
His experience ranges from hanging off ropes filming live outside broadcasts of rock climbing to following adventurers and athletes pushing their limits. He is accustomed to using the latest HD video cameras and is highly proficient with professional video editing software. Paul is equally at home shooting video in challenging mountain environments using ropes and rigging gear as he is conducting an intimate and sensitive interview in a subject’s home.
Aside from his professional interest in adventure sports as a film maker, Paul is a lifelong rock climber and general outdoor enthusiast with a love of mountain environments and a passion to portray their special qualities through the medium of film.
Matt Pycroft
Matt became a staff member at Hot Aches in 2011. He worked as a cameraman and assistant director on The Long Hope. He studied for a degree in Adventure and Media and completed a year long internship as a photography assistant and videographer. Matt has a passion for adventure sports and has been climbing, snowboarding and surfing since he was young.
Matt has worked in a variety of roles, on a wide array of locations. These range from filming aurora timelapses in Arctic Greenland to shooting poverty stricken farmers in rural Malawi. Matt has filmed a range of adventure activities including ice climbing, rock climbing, kayaking, sailing, wind surfing, skiing, paragliding and power boating. He is also experienced in shooting from different craft including dog sleds and gyrocopters.
He is experienced in working in extreme and remote locations, and is no stranger to hauling camera and rigging equipment around in the mountains. He specialises in the use of jib and grip equipment and operates a series of cranes, dollies and steadycams which have been modified for use in hard-to-reach places.
Adrian Samarra
Adrian is the newest member of the Hot Aches team, joining only a few months after graduating from the University of Lincoln’s School of Media with a 1st Class Honours Degree in Media Production (as well as earning himself ‘Best Video Production Student 2012′).
During his time at university, he has worked on various Hot Aches projects including ‘Wideboyz’ and ‘Odyssey’.
Adrian feels at home working in extreme environments. His experience ranges from filming in the heart of winter in Arctic Norway, being dropped on a Glacier in the Alaskan Great Range to film technical mixed mountaineering and chasing down grade 5 white water in his kayak filming kayakers in the Swedish wilderness.
His interests include sport climbing and bouldering, drinking coffee and his most recent pastime; converting his van into a camper!
We Support
John Muir Trust – Bronze Member
Scottish Wildcat Association
Climbers Against Cancer
