New Shoots is a 12-part series which gave deaf and disabled directors a chance to make their first documentary for Channel 4.
Redbird and Maverick Television were commissioned jointly by Channel 4 to select 12 new directors from a wide field and support them in developing their ideas into distinctive, contemporary 30-minute programmes.
We organised a fair selection process, built an experienced production team to support the directors, initiated and developed programme ideas, and ran training and development sessions for both the new and experienced team members in terms of working productively together. Our role was a to produce a series of lively, informative and thought-provoking programmes on 12 different subjects.
Gone to the Dogs Klaus Fried
Gone to the Dogs, is an intimate and exhilarating portrait of a night at the races at Walthamstow Dog Track. It focuses on the mixed fortunes of John and Betty Beck, two impassioned greyhound owners; 88 year old bookmaker Dougie, fighting the odds; and Gerry the gambler with a an ego as big as his winnings. Klaus Fried began as a runner in commercials and music videos, graduated to AD and has also written and directed drama. He is a lecturer in directing and screenwriting at LCC.
Sightseeing Blind Amar Latif
Linda, a blind 46 year old ex-dinner lady from Bradford, has never travelled anywhere without her family. But she’s off to Florence, and this time her guide is a complete stranger. Hashi is a 21 year old nightclub bouncer from Brixton who has never travelled overseas and has never met a blind person before. The only way Linda can fulfil her ambition to explore the visual treasures around her will be if Hashi can be her ‘eyes’ and find a way to describe them to her. The outcome is a remarkable journey of independence, visual perception and sight-seeing blind. Amar Latif is blind and appeared in the BBC series Beyond Boundaries. He runs his own travel company, Traveleyes, which organizes holidays and trips for blind and sighted travellers.
Elegy for the Elswick Envoy Nancy Willis
Nancy has driven her beloved Elswick Envoy for over 10 years. The Envoy was the first car designed to be driven from a wheelchair and it’s been Nancy’s loved and trusted friend. But lately it’s getting unreliable and starting to break down and she knows it has to go. As Nancy learns she will take possession of a brand new car in 4 weeks time, she sets off on a journey to uncover the history of the Elswick Envoy and find a suitable final resting place. Nancy is a visual artist and animator. She has worked as artist-in-residence at the Hammersmith Hospital, the Byam Shaw School of Art and is currently an artist-educator for the Whitechapel Gallery. Nancy has muscular dystrophy.
Crew Battles Bim Ajadi
A visually stunning exploration of the world of breakdancing, as champion Mouse, young pretender Kid and girl crew Flowzaic, battle it out on the dance floor. Crew Battles takes us on a compelling journey into the world of street battles, an urban subculture where dazzling physical performances replace guns and 4x4s as the measure of respect. From the city streets to an underground nightclub in Brixton, the film opens up the hidden world of breaking through the individual stories and powerful motivations of Mouse, Kid and Flowzaic as they reflect on their individual lives and experiences in the build-up to a major battle event, the Throwdown. Bim Ajadi worked as a short film director and an editor on VEE-TV, Channel 4’s groundbreaking entertainment show made by a young deaf team. He is also a graphic artist.
Monkey Lovers Peter Beard
Dawn and Lee have spent the last two years raising a family of twelve in their 3 bedroom house in Manchester: 4 kids, all under the age of 10 and a troop of 8 marmoset monkeys. Across in Yorkshire Jean and lodger Joe have turned their ordinary semi-detached house into a zoo with nearly eighty animals. It’s the monkeys that have really taken over though. There are 22 of them and just getting their breakfast is a three hour commitment. Monkey Lovers is an intriguing portrait of these two couples and their extended families. Dawn and Lee and Jean are Joe are passionate about monkeys, and happy open up the secrets of their daily routines, reflect on the ways the monkeys have taken over their homes and their lives, and share their fears and hopes for the future. Ex-doorman Peter, made his first film about an animal refuge centre in Bolivia as part of his graduation. He started working as a researcher with Darlow Smythson before being commissioned by 4 Real to make his first broadcast documentary.
Make Me A Tory Daniel Cormack
For film-maker Daniel Cormack, the thought of nailing his colours to the Tory mast is nothing short of horrific. But can this disillusioned Labour voter do the unthinkable and turn Tory? From swilling port with the pampered Hoorays of the Oxford Conservative Society, to picking up litter in a muddy field with the gung-ho teenage Tories of the Wirral, to a one-on-one chat with David Cameron himself, Daniel travels the country to find out exactly what it is that modern Conservatives believe and how they see the future of this country. Make me a Tory is an accessible and revealing look at the political movers and shakers who form the future of the Conservative party…and one man's journey through their world. Daniel Cormack worked in development for various film production companies before setting up Actaeon Films and directing his own first short film. He also teaches excluded teenagers in West London.
Stabbed Ray Harrison Graham
Stabbed is a film led by raw testimony which explores the stories of 4 people who have been affected by knife crime. Frank led a violent life on the streets before becoming a victim himself; Mark and Dave both experienced unprovoked knife attacks; and Anne lost her son in a random and senseless killing in broad daylight. Stabbed examines some of the myths and realities of urban life on the streets. Programme support needed Ray Harrison Graham has worked in the theatre and as an actor, writer and director with award-winning experience in television drama. This is his first documentary.
Lost Luggage Lucy Bennett
Ever wondered what happens to the hundreds of suitcases lost at airports each week? Well look no further. Lost Luggage tells the heart-warming story of where some of these suitcases end up. Set at an auction house in South London, the film follows auctioneer Christine Sachett and her customers as the suitcases go under the hammer, contents unseen. The colourful cast includes style-savvy Lillian, always on the look out for new clothes for her wardrobe and Tarot wielding Georgina who believes her cards will direct her to the best buys. Buying other peoples suitcases is often a gamble, but one thing is guaranteed. The contents offer an insightful glimpse of the journeys and identities of strangers - as well as the colour of their pants. Lucy Bennett has previously worked as an AP in television documentaries.
When The Drugs Don’t Work
Twelve year old Joanne Ashurst and thirteen year old Kane Lewis’s lives have been dominated by pain. Joanne suffers from ulcerative colitis, a disease of the bowel, that causes chronic pain in her stomach. The pain has prevented her from going to school, seeing friends, and having any independence from her parents. Kane has complex regional pain syndrome in his his legs. On some days he’s out playing football, others he can barely walk. When the Drugs Don’t Work follows Kane, Joanne and their mothers on a unique three-week residential pain management course in Bath, in a last attempt to find freedom from the dominance of pain in their lives.
Racing Town Jocelyn Cammack
What happens to the local residents when the Cheltenham races come to town? Pensioners, Gwyn and Cyril live quietly in a suburb of leafy Cheltenham. But during Race Week, when the jockeys, gamblers, punters and tinkers converge on the town, Gwyn and Cyril turn into the ultimate landlady and landlord, moving out to the caravan on the driveway to accommodate six strapping lads from Kent. Having visitors during race week is the nearest thing they get to having family of their own. Second hand toy-seller Liz Coe becomes a one woman accommodation agency for race week – inspecting over 400 rooms and houses for the 65,000 visitors to race week. And this year, local snapper McKenzie is taking the opportunity to get a piece of the gold cup pie by becoming photographer-in-residence at Ladies Day. Racing Town explores the untold tales from behind the scenes at Race Week and the intriguing ways local people reinvent themselves and why. Jocelyn Cammack has previously developed and directed her own short film dramas and worked as as 1st AD in TV drama and feature films.
Driven Richard Butchins
When he lost his right arm in a motorbike accident 30 years ago, ex-policeman and champion racing driver Gareth set up Bulldog Spirit – the only driving school for the disabled in the UK. Left Hand Drive explores what it takes to make Gareth so determined to teach disabled pupils Phil and Sarah to drive. Richard is an independent film-maker currently working on a feature documentary about America’s last travelling freak show……
Quizzers Paul Whittaker
In backrooms across Britain the traditional world of the pub quiz is evolving and a new breed of ‘professional’ quizzers is emerging on the circuit. These are dedicated individuals who think nothing of quizzing four or five times a week and whose rigorous training regimes echo the intensity of Olympic athletes. CJ de Mooi, a regular on Eggheads, is a committed competitor who has one eye on the rankings and the other on his fiercest rival Beth. But will the six hours a day he trains be enough to secure him victory against her? Quizzers CJ, Beth and a group of British hopefuls as they journey to Paris to compete at the European Championships for the title of Europe’s Top Quizzer. Paul Whittaker worked on over 30 short films before setting up his own Media Production Company in Cardiff. Quizzers is his first broadcast television production.