Fri, 10 May 2019
Brian Reed (Host and co-creator of S-Town) and Richard Miron (Director/Producer of For the Birds) explore the real life mysteries and strange tales that inspired their work. Chaired by Lyndon Saunders (University of Salford). This talk was part of the 2018 Doc/Fest Exchange: Head Space programme of special talks, films and activity, with a focus on mental health, supported by Wellcome. |
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Fri, 22 February 2019
In 2017 the Grenfell Tower tragedy shook the nation: claims of gross negligence, government cuts, and lack of political action angered communities, and the demand for justice and call for change began. For many the tragedy highlighted the deep divide in society, and a local story missed by the media elite disconnected from the ‘real world’. A panel of journalists, filmmakers and activists from Sheffield Doc/Fest 2018 discuss their own responses to disaster. The panel is chaired by Siobhan Sinnerton (Channel 4) with Jonathan Rudd (Parable), Simon Hattenstone (Guardian) and Nendie Pinto-Duschinsky. |
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Fri, 18 August 2017
The popular documentarian and journalist, Stacey Dooley returned to Sheffield Doc/Fest 2017 to discuss the art of uncovering surprising and shocking stories. At the heart of Stacey’s documentaries lies her passion for investigating social, economical and cultural issues affecting young people around the world. Stacy talks about her career, her campaigns against child labour and latest slate of docs for BBC3. |
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Fri, 4 August 2017
From blue flashing crime scenes to tense interrogations, the thirst for True Crime is insatiable. So how do content creators keep one of the longest running documentary genres fresh and exciting? How do US crime docs compare to the UK? And in a world when every move can be publicly scrutinised, how do you navigate press teams, consent and full open access from those trying to make our cities safe?
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Fri, 2 December 2016
A powerhouse in the documentary world, Sheila Nevins has shepherded scores of the genre’s best films over many years and, as President of HBO Documentaries, is one of the US’s most powerful documentary executives. Sheila talks with Nick Fraser about some of the many hits in a career that has garnered nearly thirty Emmy awards. |
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Fri, 11 November 2016
The harmony of photography and story has been the goal of professional cinematographers throughout cinema history. But how is the perfect marriage of image and narrative achieved and what choices do the director and cinematographer make to best visually express the story? A panel of distinguished documentary filmmakers discuss the creative and practical process and offer valuable insights into the dramatic choices directors and cinematographers make. |
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Fri, 22 July 2016
As the BBC Charter Renewal moves into its final stages with a White Paper due soon and the possible privatisation of Channel 4 currently on the government’s agenda, the future of these public institutions is in doubt. A distinguished panel at Sheffield Doc/Fest debated the issues facing public service television including: the film producer and Labour Peer Lord David Puttnam; Ralph Lee from Channel 4; Hugh Harris from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport; and Patrick Holland from the BBC. Supported by Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield. |
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Fri, 13 November 2015
Newsnight has been the BBC’s flagship news and current affairs programme for over 30 years. Newsnight Editor, Ian Katz, joined the programme in 2013, before which he was Deputy Editor and Head of News at the Guardian newspaper. In conversation with Nick Fraser, Ian will discuss Newsnight’s introduction of a short form documentary element to the programme and the relationship between nightly current affairs, short form content and documentary. With speakers Ian Katz and Nick Fraser. |
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Fri, 6 November 2015
Climate change is one of the major issues of our time. But covering it on TV is a huge creative challenge. Broadcasters are keen to give it more air time, but they want producers to find a fresh approach. In this session we explore how climate change can be reframed, so that it is seen not just as an environmental issue but one which affects all aspects of life. Sponsored by IBT With speakers Joe Smith, Emily Shuckburgh, David Glover, Cassian Harrison and Mark Galloway. |
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Fri, 30 October 2015
Throughout the year, Doc/Fest has been holding a series of Interactive Filmmaking Workshops around England, supported by Creative England and in partnership with Crossover Labs. These workshops have been investigating six different interactive storytelling platforms; Klynt, Racontr, Korsakow, Popcorn, Interlude Treehouse and Storygami. Reporter Gemma McKinnie will deliver the final verdict on each platform, and will be joined by a panel to discuss the pros and cons of each tool. Supported by Creative England With speakers Gemma McKinnie, Clare Tavernor, Florian Thalhofer, Maria Gemayel, Gerald Holubowicz and Philo van Kemenade. |
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Fri, 23 October 2015
The relationship between filmmaker and subject is a topic hotly debated by filmmakers, academics, and journalists. Methods such as undercover filming, encrypted communication and Skype allow filmmakers to reach individuals who may otherwise be reluctant to speak or difficult to meet in-person. However, unprecedented access to a compelling story can come with a risk to the individuals at the centre of the film. When the telling of a story has potential consequences, how can a filmmaker ensure the protection of their subjects? The panel members discuss circumstances in which the presence of a camera can be risky business. With speakers Orlando Von Einsiedel, Juliana Ruhfus, Beadie Finzi and Kim Longinotto. |
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Fri, 16 October 2015
A panel discussion on the options available to filmmakers to create an impactful documentary score. We look back on how documentary scoring has evolved over the last 90 years. Have MIDI technologies and electronic plug-ins replaced the need to spend the time and money recording live musicians? Has technology given us more expressive and creative possibilities to storytell with sound in different ways? We will hear audio examples to see who can really tell the difference? The session will inform filmmakers and producers on the realistic options available, and give leading composers a chance to discuss which tools, money and direction they need from you to best perfect your score.
With speakers Kate Townsend, Ed Perkins, Patrick Jonsson, Brendan Woithe and Orlando Von Eiseiedel. |
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Fri, 9 October 2015
A panel of doc filmmakers explored the art of cinematography in documentary filmmaking. They will discuss the creative and practical benefits cinematographers bring to the documentary filmmaking process and how best to visually express the story and about collaboration between producer, director, cinematographer and editor. With speakers Stephen Robinson, Brian Woods, Joanna Crickmay, Neil Harvey, Anthony Wonke, Nicola Daley and Vanessa Engle. |
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Fri, 2 October 2015
In a career spanning 20 years, Dan Reed has established a reputation as one of the most dedicated and talented filmmakers working in Britain today. The award-winning The Paedophile Hunter is widely hailed as the best single documentary of 2014. His acclaimed Terror trilogy uses UGC, CCTV and interviews to powerful effect, depicting acts of terror in seemingly real-time as they erupt across everyday settings. His latest film, The Escorts, screening at Doc/ Fest, takes viewers into the world of high class prostitution; he is also working on a film about money laundering and grand corruption in London. Channel 4’s Deputy Chief Creative Officer Ralph Lee was in conversation with Dan Reed about his body of work exploring the darker reaches of our modern lives. |
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Fri, 25 September 2015
Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell, stars of ITV's hit documentary series Long Lost Family, came to Sheffield to share their insights into the making of a programme that delivers some of the most emotionally powerful scenes ever seen on television. The series, which aims to reunite relatives after years of separation, is a powerful study of separation, hurt, regret, growing up, identity, family and love. With Sally Benton, Leanne Klein, Davina McCall, Simon Dickson and Nicky Campbell. |
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Fri, 18 September 2015
How To Change The World has been wowing audiences at film festivals around the world. Here we joined producer Al Morrow, director Jerry Rothwell, editor Jim Scott and archive producer Elizabeth Klinck for a film archive masterclass. |
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Fri, 11 September 2015
Filmmakers around the world are facing grave consequences for expressing their creative viewpoint. Broadcasters are being pressured into delaying or cancelling the transmission of documentaries. Hostile nations are rumoured to have carried out cyber attacks following unfavourable portrayal. Are the potential risks to filmmakers and broadcasters outweighing the importance of a story? Is institutional self-censorship hindering vital stories being told? Does everyone have the right to a voice? We’ll hear from those who’ve been censored and those who’ve broken laws to tell their story. Our panel of noted filmmakers, broadcasters and journalists assess what freedom of expression represents in documentary filmmaking. With Ursula Macfarlane, Patricia MacBride, Parvez Sharma and Nick Fraser |
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Fri, 4 September 2015
It might be 2015, but when it comes to gender equality, we are only just emerging from the dark ages. In this session, we discussed the challenges facing women trying to forge a career in the independent documentary industry. While there are certainly glimmers of hope –a record number of women directors are featured at Doc/Fest this year – we can’t lose sight of the fact that this remains a male dominated world – as we looked for ways to redress the balance. With Cat Cooper, Corrina Antrobus, Leslee Udwin, Jeanie Finlay and Debra Zimmerm |
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Fri, 28 August 2015
A seminal figure of activist and 'engaged' cinema, British filmmaker John Akomfrah has been leading the charge for over 30 years. As one of the founders of the Black Audio Film Collective, which sought to use documentary to explore questions of black identity in Britain, Akomfrah has continually pushed boundaries in both form and content. We are delighted to be featuring a retrospective of his work in this year’s Doc/Fest. In this session he will discuss his remarkable career with Francine Stock, the presenter of The Film Programme on BBC Radio 4. With John Akomfrah and Francine Stock |
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Fri, 21 August 2015
Joshua Oppenheimer's films include the BAFTA award-winning and Oscar-nominated The Act of Killing (2012), and the companion piece The Look of Silence (2014) - winner of the Grand Jury prize at the 2014 Venice Film Festival. He is the artistic director of the Centre for Documentary and Experimental Film at the University of Westminster and has worked for over a decade with militias, death squads and their victims to explore the relationship between political violence and the public imagination. In this in-depth masterclass, BBC1 Film Programme critic Danny Leigh, unpicks Joshua's methods and motivations and explore the meaning of his controversial and boundary-pushing films. |
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Fri, 14 August 2015
Shorts are taking the world by storm. Find out how new funding and distribution opportunities are helping that success. We’ll screen some of the best shorts from around the web, hear about Channel 4’s latest ‘shorts’ strategy and meet some pioneers who are using shorts to make the world a better place. Whether you are making shorts to get your story out fast, as a stepping-stone to long form docs or because you prefer your content in bite-size chunks, this panel will prepare you for your next ‘shorts’ encounter. |
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Fri, 7 August 2015
How do documentary commissioners win our attention in a crowded marketplace? Are the days of worthiness dead, replaced by documentary as brand enforcer and marketing tool for a channel? To secure a place in the schedules does documentary subject matter have to be provocative - grabbing tabloid headlines? Are commissioners and producers bringing important issues to their audiences? |
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Fri, 31 July 2015
From climate change to medical emergencies to self-experimentation and radical cures, science is rarely immune to controversy. Join journalist and presenter Jon Snow and documentary makers, Ingvil Giske (Good Girl), Teresa Camou (Sunu) and artist, Brian Lobel, to explore how to turn political hot potatoes into groundbreaking and insightful science stories with the potential to change lives. |
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Fri, 24 July 2015
Join comedian Robin Ince to explore the uncharted territories of unthinkable, forgotten and dream commissions. Following a scene-setting talk, Robin is joined by academic, David A. Kirby, writer and campaigner, Alice Bell and Executive Producer, Tom Gorham to glean from the history of science, the silver screen and science fiction. |
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Fri, 17 July 2015
Sheffield Doc/Fest welcomes historian and TV presenter Lucy Worsley to the 2015 Festival. Lucy’s inimitable way of bringing English history to life has made her a firm TV favourite. Her most recent programmes for the BBC include; The First Georgians: The German Kings Who Made Britain (2014) and Dancing Cheek To Cheek: An Intimate History of Dance (2014) with Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman. Lucy will share insights into her work as both a presenter and social historian, which focuses on where history meets human interest. |
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Fri, 10 July 2015
A masterclass with the celebrated American documentary filmmaker Brett Morgan. Dubbed the ‘mad scientist’ of documentary film by The New York Times, Morgan is best known for his films Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane, The Kid Stays In The Picture, about the legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans, and now Cobain: Montage of Heck, his portrait of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, billed by Rolling Stone as ‘the most intimate rock doc ever’. |
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Fri, 3 July 2015
A chance to hear BBC controller Kim Shillinglaw, who will discuss her ambitions for the future of factual on her channels, BBC 2 and BBC 4. Kim will be in conversation with the makers of the new BBC 2 series The Detectives, following a Greater Manchester Police specialist unit investigating sex offences. Kim will also talk about her wider ambitions for narrative and storytelling on BBC 2 and BBC 4. |
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Fri, 24 April 2015
Over the last few years Chris King has earned himself a reputation as one of the most creative and incisive documentary editors in Britain, bagging two Academy Award nominations, two BAFTAs, and numerous other awards for projects like Senna, Exit Through The Gift Shop, Our Way and Welcome To Lagos. In a conversation with Sam Anthony from BBC Factual Commissioning, Chris will share his unique take on storytelling, illustrated with numerous clips, as well as despatches from some of the most creative cutting rooms in the country |
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Fri, 17 April 2015
Taken from Doc/Fest 2012 |
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Fri, 3 April 2015
In the changing world of print journalism, newspapers and magazines have to adapt quickly to the increasing demand of readers on television, on the net, and even on their phones. In order to address this widening gap between news and technology, traditional print media have begun to incorporate video and film work to heighten, enhance and even stand for their work. This panel will discuss how media outlets are commissioning and incorporating video and how filmmakers can find a place, and a voice in this medium.
Recorded at Doc/Fest 2011.
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Fri, 27 March 2015
A Masterclass with Bedlam Productions' Gareth Unwin, Simon Egan and Simon Breen as they celebrate the success of The Kings Speech (2010) and discuss their latest documentary projects. They will also examine how the demand for history films often results in documentaries that become dramas. Taken from Doc/Fest 2011.
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Fri, 20 March 2015
Adam Curtis is a documentary maker with one of the most distinctive visual styles. Prolific in his blogging about some of the world’s most pressing issues, his films often reflect the opinions and arguments he has developed through meticulous research and rigorous planning. In various series commissioned by the BBC, Curtis has made extensive and imaginative use of their archive footage, often employing it as a visual accompaniment to his informative narrative. Recipient of Doc/Fest's inaugural Sheffield Inspiration Award and the winner of numerous other accolades, Curtis has built a reputation for consistently producing innovative output across different spectrums. His films can be broadly characterised by their thought provoking content, carried by twists of irony and laconic humour. His credits include The Living Dead, The Century of the Self and The Power of Nightmares, and span across a career stretching 25 years.
In this session from Doc/Fest 2011, Adam will be discussing the inspiration behind his latest documentary, All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace. The Three-part series questions that altruistic nature of the human species, and explores the philosophical parallels that can be drawn between machines and ourselves.
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Fri, 6 March 2015
British feature documentary hot shots come together to debate the space for docs on the silver screen. Every panellist will bring something different, from highlighting the importance of a story's international appeal, to enlisting a solid key crew, to using an authentic stylistic approach-feature producers, directors and distributors will be sharing their experiences with the audience.
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Fri, 27 February 2015
Recorded at Doc/Fest 2011. The mass media of the past century have been restrictive by nature, with audiences confined to a passive role- but that has now completely changed. The inclusive nature of the Internet invites open participation amongst storytellers and audiences alike, and that means putting the audience right and the centre of the action in a game-like fashion. Storytellers of every stripe will now have to learn a new grammar of storytelling, one that is only now being invented. The challenge for those working within the media industry is to keep up with these changes- and the question becomes, how can storytellers use the new possibilities at their disposal to their advantage?
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Fri, 13 February 2015
Join film legend Albert Maysles of Maysles Films in a conversation featuring selections from his unsurpassed body of work, which spans over 55 years of filmmaking. This masterclass is from Doc/Fest 2011. The inaugural recipient of The Sheffield Docfest Lifetime Achievement Award will take questions about his iconic work — from Gimme Shelter and Grey Gardens to Muhammad and Larry and current projects — and share his philosophy as a documentary filmmaker. He was the guest of honor at the Friday Night Gala Dinner. |
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Fri, 6 February 2015
Join legendary journalist and presenter Jon Snow for this Conversation session from Doc/Fest 2014. Jon will discuss his extensive career in television and share some highlights with the audience.
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Fri, 30 January 2015
Channel 4 pioneered the use of The Rig with The Family. Since then the technology has spawned many series from 24 Hours in A&E to One Born Every Minute and it’s now pushing into new territories such as The Marines. After having changed the way that we view many traditional observational documentary spaces, The Rig itself is now transforming. First the more mobile mini-rig used in The Chicken Shop and Nightclub Toilet and now the Digital Rig. Channel 4 commissioned RAW to take The Rig a step further and reflect our digital life - the thoughts and feelings that are captured on mobile phones and computer screens, but which don’t necessarily feature in real world conversations and interactions. This gave rise to the ‘D-Rig’ which has been used to explore the connections and secret life of students and teens, effectively providing a whole different narrative and perspective on their lives. For 4 months the D-Rig captured every text, call, tweet and Facebook update of twelve students alongside traditional observational filming. This data was then used on screen to tell the complete story of the social network of students. In this session Dimitri Doganis and Emma Cooper discuss the vision for the D-Rig, the impact it had on the narrative (effectively providing two sets of rushes), the implications of using the data and the reaction of the contributors to seeing their digital lives.
Direct download: Behind_the_Digital_Rig-_The_Secret_Life_of_Students.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am UTC |
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Fri, 5 December 2014
Question: What connects Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill, Kim Longinotto, Molly Dineen, and Sean McAllister to name only a handful? Answer: They were all set on their journey by the man who founded the National Film & Television School- Colin Young. This session explores Colin Young’s influence on this inspirational generation of filmmakers. What will he do to inspire the next? Messrs Churchill, Dineen, Longinotto, McAllister and Broomfield will encourage The Great Motivator to reveal his secrets. What manifesto would he propose to young filmmakers now?
Direct download: Motivator_in_Chief_Colin_Young_reduced.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am UTC |
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Fri, 28 November 2014
In BBC2s Bafta- nominated series Protecting Our Children, unprecedented access took the viewer to the heart of the issues facing Britain’s social workers. But it also presented enormous challenges to the programme makers, as well as unusually at-risk contributors. So how did they do it, and what were the pitfalls along the way? Brian Woods, who has himself produced several award-winning films around vulnerable children, talks to the series producer Sacha Mirzoeff as well as contributor and social worker Ben Crang , and director of photography Petra Graf. |
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Fri, 12 September 2014
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Fri, 5 September 2014
Join BAFTA to hear from the team behind the extraordinary Frozen Planet, BBC 1’s natural history epic. Taking viewers on a captivating journey to one of the most remote parts of the world and nominated for five British Academy Television Craft Awards in 2012, Frozen Planet used cutting edge technology to capture planet’s harshest terrain, bringing to life the ultimate portrait of Earth’s polar regions. Filmmakers Dan Rees, (Producer/Director “The Last Frontier” and “On Thin Ice”, Cameraman Doug Allen and Elizabeth White (Assistant Producer/Director) will deliver this behind the scenes session on the making of Frozen Planet. |
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Fri, 29 August 2014
Direct download: Roger_Graef_Ethics_Masterclass_201_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:31am UTC |
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Fri, 22 August 2014
Selling your film on the international market is difficult enough without having to spend an additional £3-8k to reversion it because the music and archive isn’t cleared for world wide all media. Our panel brings leading international distributor Zodiak Rights and Getty Archive together to walk you through the process of acquiring a film and getting it ready for international sales. Producers who are looking to exploit their films beyond the borders of UK broadcasters will benefit greatly from a session that shows how to shoot for the world wide market. |
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Fri, 15 August 2014
Award winning film maker and director of the ground-breaking 'Up' series, Michael Apted talks about his career in both documentary making and feature films. |
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Fri, 31 January 2014
In today’s complex distribution landscape, the possibilities for releasing documentaries can go far beyond a single broadcast window. Join a panel of leading distributors to explore how we can work together to make the most out of our movies, including DVD, online, mobile formats, theatrical, and grassroots distribution. How is the new multi-platform, globalized media-scape impacting our potential reach? In a networked age, what is the changing role of the filmmaker, and those on the distribution end? How do we negotiate rights with all these new formats? And just how well is my movie going to play on an iPhone? |
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Wed, 4 September 2013
We may shoot with the best of intentions, but sometimes the people we film are left vulnerable or feel very aggrieved. Yet in this media-savvy age, where people willingly offer their lives, families, children, bodies and pets to be filmed, don't the public know just what to expect? This session probes case histories and experiences to examine what should be our moral "duty of care" towards those who have agreed to take part in our films. Just when does the subject of our desire to document, explore or expose become a victim of the process? |
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Thu, 29 November 2012
Alastair Fothergill's BBC TV series 'Planet Earth' was at the cutting edge of High Definition technology, following on from his award-winning 'Blue Planet' and its subsequent cinema version, 'Deep Blue'. This time though, as TV documentary moves ever closer to the big screen, a digital version of 'Planet Earth' was commissioned up front. Previewing some stunning HD material from the project, Alastair takes us through the problems, the pitfalls and the exciting cinematic possibilities of the world of HD production. |
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