Arthur Provis

Who is Arthur Provis?

Arthur Provis is an English cinematographer and producer, best known for co-founding AP Films with Gerry Anderson.

As a former Navy photographer forging a career operating rostrum cameras, he met Anderson filming a series called You've Never Seen This about unusual circus acts. Finding a shared interest in film-making, Provis teamed with Anderson creating AP Films with the original intention to make commercials. As a result of an advert featuring a puppet, the company was approached in 1957 by Roberta Leigh to create a children's series The Adventures of Twizzle for Associated Rediffusion. This led to AP Films' early puppet shows including Twizzle, Torchy the Battery Boy and Four Feather Falls, although Provis left the company amicably in 1959 following disagreements with Anderson over future strategy.

Whereas Anderson went on to produce his own puppet programmes, Provis continued his association with Roberta Leigh, producing and filming the puppet series Adventures of Sara and Hoppity and Space Patrol.