Satusfaction

Drum Studios for Sky Arts

Wednesday 19^th April

Exec Producers: Danny Carvalho & Sadia Butt

Editors: Joe Swanson, Brian Campbell, Mohsin Bhatti and Jonnie Case

New Series Alert!

Painting Birds is a delightful new comedic, ornithological series.  Before his comedy days Jim Moir was an artist and he has now returned to his life long passion. Jim and his wife Nancy explore some of Britain’s best beauty spots, joined along the way by a few famous friends every week. Their challenge is to create an original piece of bird art celebrating the unique species native to that region over the course of a weekend.

The series had a herd of Faction editors who all had a great time working with Drum Studios on the show.

Mohsin Bhatti who edited Episode 1 said “’Jim and Nancy were a joy to edit because they have such a laugh along the way – looking forward to working on Series 2!”.

Joe Swanson did the stunning Scotland episode and discussed, “I loved working on it. One of the nicest jobs I’ve ever done. Beautifully shot, lovely team and all from the comfort of my home suite!”.

Brian Campbell shared his experience and explained: “I now know what a Chough is, where to spot them, and how to paint them, (I haven’t seen any since making the programme though). It was quite a relaxed edit, watching someone paint. At the end of the episode when Jim took his finished Chough to the gallery owner selling his work – she loved it – which was a very similar reaction from the Exec on the series when she viewed our episode. I’d like to say she was well-chuffed, but there were far too many Chough gags in the show already! A good series, working with nice people, and birds.“

The series gets The Critics Choice in the Times and starts on Wednesday 19^th April.  Check it out on Sky Arts / NOW at 9pm.  

Released on 21st April on World Earth Day

Exec Producer: Caroline Hawkins

Editor: Dom Lester

Oxford Scientific Films for National Geographic / Disney +

National Geographic has a brand new four part documentary series coming to our screens on Earth Day ‘Secrets of the Elephants’.

From Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron, the series travels the world from the Savannahs of Africa to the urban landscapes of Asia to discover the strategic thinking, complex emotions and sophisticated language of elephants. It’s narrated by Natalie Portman and features renowned National Geographic Explorer and elephant expert Dr Paula Kahumbu.

The four episodes each follow elephants in different terrains and challenges.  Dom Lester edited Episode two which focuses on Elephants in the Savannah. He informed us that Savannah elephants live in huge herds due to the abundant food and space, this means they are possibly the most socially developed, loving and caring elephants. They also pass down knowledge from one generation to the next through language and lessons.  He said “This is illustrated in some of the grandest of events I’ve had the pleasure of cutting. They are empathetic towards each other and have intelligent rituals passed down from generations that elephants from other parts of the world don’t”.

Summing up the edit experience on this one, Dom said that “It’s amazing the detail this show goes into and how much fun it’s been, we had so many great stories and footage that ended up on the cutting room floor as we worked to find the best episodes.  All turned round in an incredibly short amount of time from commission to delivery”.

It sounds like an incredible series and with Nat Geo stating that Secrets of the Elephants will change everything you thought you knew about elephants forever, we can’t wait to watch!

Secrets of the Elephants will be aired on Earth Day on 21^st April on National Geographic / Disney +

The Faction ladies glammed up last night and escorted editors Abraham T, Graham Taylor and Sam Thompsett to the RTS Awards.

In the Arts Category The Evolution of Black British Music  (Fan Studios & Motion Content Group for BET UK) won, a huge congratulations to Sam and all the team.

Gazza won in the Documentary Series category.  Graham Taylor sweated blood and tears over this edit, he’s seen the project through from its inception and his hard work has really paid off – congratulations GT and Director Sam Collins.

Louisa, Satu and Sophie had a fabulous time, and even stayed up until 2.30am (they still have it in them..)

A fabulous night was had by all!

Award season is here, the BAFTA nominations have been announced and it’s been a bumper crop for the Faction editors!

The ‘Current Affairs’ category includes ‘The Crossing: Exposure’ documentary which was edited by Ella Newton. This documentary has already won the RTS Television Journalist Award 2023 for Current Affairs-Home – bit showy offy Ella!

In comedy Rosie Jones is nominated in the ‘Best Entertainment Performance’ category for Rosie Jones: Trip Hazard. Connor Snedecor and Dan Knight both edited episodes from the series.

Tim Fielding worked on two series which are in the running; The Masked Singer and also The Traitors which was a new commission for the BBC last year and was a real ratings hit!

Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams has been nominated under ‘Reality and Constructed Factual’, Southshore bought in Charlie Webb to help finish Episode 2 and he thoroughly enjoyed working on this heart-warming series.

Graham Taylor is trying to compete with Ella for the most awards, Graham edited episode one of  ‘Aids: The Unheard Tapes’ which is in the ‘Specialist Factual’ category, it has already been nominated for an RTS Award!

Lastly David Abramsky had great fun editing Taskmasters which is up for Comedy Entertainment and Lem Lawrence worked on the FX for Somewhere Boy which is up for Best Drama series.

Congratulations and good luck to all of the nominees!

The BAFTA Television Craft Awards will take place on Sunday 23 April and will be hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathanand. It will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday 14 May at 7pm.

Editor: Simon Holmes

Studio Lambert for BBC One

Series starts Weds 22^nd March 9pm BBC1

Series 3 of Race Across the World sees five teams race 16,000 kilometres across the breadth of Canada. Their skill, ingenuity and determination are put to the test as they embark on their journey without access to smartphones, the internet or credit cards. Armed with only the cash equivalent of the airfare to fly their route, the teams travel at ground level through some of the most remote regions in the world.

Simon Holmes edited Episode 2, he was keen to get involved with this one as he loves an adventure series and confirmed that this was ‘a real adventure in storytelling. Race is a massive challenge but a great show to work on, a proper exercise in character and competition.’

In Episode 2, the race to St John’s continues as the five teams leave Haida Gwaii and head into the heart of the Yukon towards the second checkpoint, the former gold rush boom town Dawson City.

Race Across the World season 3 starts Wednesday 22nd March at 9pm on BBC1.

BBC Studios for BBC One

Exec Producer: Mark Radice

https://www.satusfaction.com/editors/tom-deverell/Editor Episode 1: Tom Deverell

If you are missing your Strictly fix then check out this brand new series!

Strictly Come Dancing stars Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are leaving the ballroom behind and packing their bags to head to the sunny island of Sicily in this brand new series from BBC Studios Entertainment, Anton and Giovanni: Adventures in Sicily. Tom Deverell edited the first episode of the series where Giovanni acts as Anton’s guide as the pair discover what the amazing island has to offer. They explore Mount Etna, authentic old towns and Sicilian cuisine and of course they can’t resit a little dance along the way.

Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures In will air on BBC1 from Tuesday March 21 at 9pm, running at the same time on subsequent Tuesdays.

The Nominations have been announced for the RTS Programme Awards and we are extremely excited that so many Faction editors are in the mix!

In a press release, RTS Chair Kenton Allen said: “It is incredibly important to champion the outstanding content being made in our industry from both established and up-and-coming talent. 2023 was another year of attention-grabbing, thought-provoking, world-class television”.

Sam Thompsett joined us in 2021 as a junior editor and we are dead impressed that the documentary series – The Evolution of Black British Music he worked on has been nominated in the Arts Category. It looks at the evolution of the black British music and rave scene from the early 1990s to the present day, from jungle, garage, grime, funky house and afro swing to road rap and drill.

Graham Taylor is really showing off as two documentaries he edited have been nominated. Firstly AIDS- The Unheard Tapes, he cutEpisode 1 which looks at the Aids crisis as never told before, by those who survived – and those who did not. The documentary uses the audio from archived interviews with each narrator’s voice lip-synched for television by an actor, it was made by Wall to Wall for BBC2 and is nominated in the ‘History’ category. And as if that’s not enough Gazza has also been nominated in the ‘Documentary series’ category.Graham edited both episodes about the iconic footballer Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne. A deeply personal portrait of the troubled footballing legend presented as a revealing exposé on the lengths the tabloid press of the 90’s went to secure their stories. Western Edge Pictures for the BBC.

My Dead Body: Matt Lowe edited this moving documentary. It follows Toni Crews, a young mother of two, who was diagnosed with a rare terminal cancer. She made the decision to donate her body to science and the film follows Prof. Claire Smith, as she continues Toni’s story by dissecting her body in a series of educational workshops whilst covering the effects on Toni’s family. It was made by Maverick for Channel 4. Nominated in the ‘Science and The Natural World’ category.

Abraham Teweldebrhan and Steven Struthers both worked on Workerbee’s Idris Elba Fight Schoolwhere the former kickboxer himself provides seven disadvantaged young people from across the UK with lessons in discipline, focus and determination by putting them through an experimental boxing school, in an attempt to give them the tools to change their fortunes. Nominated in the ‘Formatted Popular Factual category.

Tim Fielding and Janet Shaw worked on The Traitors. This new series made by Studio Lambert where contestants in the game move into a majestic castle and work as a team to complete a series of dramatic and challenging missions to earn money for the prize pot. Three of the contestants are secretly traitors, who will attempt to deceive and manipulate their way to the prize by eliminating ‘loyal’ contestants. Nominated in the ‘Entertainment’ Category.

And finally Ella Newton edited part 1 of Big Oil Versus the World. The series which investigates what the fossil fuel industry knew about climate change more then four decades ago. Drawing on thousands of newly discovered documents and testimony from scientists working on climate change research in the 1980s, the film goes on to chart how the oil industry mounted a campaign to sow doubt about the science of climate change. Made by Mongoose Pictures for BBC Two and PBS Frontline. Nominated in the ‘Documentary Series’ category.

A big congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck!

The awards will take place on Tuesday 28^th March

Blast Films

Director:  Mike Ogden

Exec Producer: Ed Coultard

Edited by Charlie Hawryliw

6^th and 7^th March on Channel 4

Outed: George Michael and the Fight for Freedom,  edited by Charlie Hawryliw.  There is quite the buzz around this two part documentary, it’s made the front cover of the Radio Times and it’s Critics choice in the Sunday Time’s!

In 1998, George Michael was arrested for a lewd act in a Los Angeles public toilet. This two part documentary tells the story of how his response to a potentially career-crushing event changed history and how he refused to be ashamed, speaking honestly and risking his career and reputation. Reflecting on a time when the outing of gay men in the media was commonplace, the series tells explains the culture war  between those who wanted to turn the clock back on gay rights and those who just wanted to live their lives, proud and free to be themselves. In a first for British television, the documentary will use the first-person testimony from public figures who were outed by the press, as well as journalists of the era, to unpack the history of outing and the fight for LGBT people to be out, proud and free to be themselves.

Outed is part of Channel 4’s special season of landmark programmes and specials marking 50 years of Pride in the UK .This bumper season of high profile content will reflect on  the incredible achievements and challenges of advancing LGBTQ+ rights and visibility over the last half century, while also platforming the diversity of identity and sexuality in the 2020s. 

Charlie edited both parts of this documentary, he really enjoyed working with the team at Blast films and particularly with the series director Mike Ogden. The subject matter is something that resonates with Charlie and it felt important to him to be able to contribute to telling the story.

George Michael: Outed airs at 9pm on Channel 4 on 6th and 7th March

Double Act for Discovery +

Editors:

Charlie Webb: Episode 1

Jayesh Lathia: Episode 3

Monday 6^th March at 9pm on Discovery ID

Discovery are calling this three part archive-heavy mini crime series “time for the victims to tell their stories” of the shocking, previously untold investigation that exposed the monster lurking behind the face of the Subway franchise’s “Jared from Subway” aka Jared Fogle.

Charlie Webb and Jayesh Lathia edited an episode each of this new original series. Despite their experience cutting true crime documentaries, they couldn’t help but be affected as they cut together testimonies from the victims of this friendly-faced pop culture persona who took advantage of his influence and sudden celebrity to manipulate the public opinion and his victims.

In 2015, the American public were shocked when authorities brought multiple charges of child endangerment against “Jared from Subway” and his business partner, Russell Taylor. Fogle was brought to justice largely down to the evidence from a female journalist Rochelle Herman who recorded their phone conversations before handing over to the FBI, eventually leading to Fogle pleading guilty to child pornography charges and traveling to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. The documentary also includes tough, emotional interviews with Taylor’s stepdaughters, Hannah and Christian, who were victimised by Fogle and their stepfather. 

Charlie Webb said that It was a “challenging edit at times due to the sensitive content and the fact there was so much to try and fit into just 3 episodes. But this series goes much deeper into the story then before with great archive, access from key witnesses and the victims speaking for the first time”.

Jayesh Lathia explains that “I edited Episode 3, where the main challenges were weaving the story of how Jared’s criminal acts were exposed together with testimonies from his victims. At its heart, this episode dealt with how public trust was misused and the devastating fallout this can have”.

Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster premieres Monday 6^th March at 9pm on ID and will be available to stream the same day on discovery+.

Raw TV for Netflix

Editor: Duncan Hill

Directed by Louise Malkinson

Release Date: 8^th March 2023

Three part drama-doc series that explores the unsolved disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 after it mysteriously went off the grid mid-flight.

On March 8, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 began its routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board. Forty minutes after take off, the plane disappeared from radar screens, and no one in charge could explain why. The search for the missing flight became the most extensive in aviation history.

This gripping three-part series MH370: The Plane That Disappeared uses powerful archive footage to reconstruct the night of the disappearance, it also includes interviews with the global community of aeronautical engineers, scientist, investigators, but ultimately, family members who have different ideas about the fate of MH370 and who are still looking for answers.

Duncan Hill spent 6 months editing episode one of this very complex story which takes a close look into the hours and days following the plane’s disappearance, including what happened when conspiracy theories and false accusations started to emerge.

MH370: The Plane That Disappeared is available to stream March 8  2023, which marks nine years since the aircraft went missing.