Satusfaction

Windfall Films for BBC

Editors: Dominic Lester & Richard Lester (no they’re not brothers)

Get your fancy dress ready, yes it’s here, watched by over 160 million across the globe- it’s the Eurovision!

Digital postcards have been designed to introduce the audience to each participating act during the semi-finale and finale of the contest, the famous Eurovision Postcards will this year use pioneering drone technology and 360-degree cameras to take viewers seamlessly between locations across Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and each participating country.

Dom Lester has been working tirelessly with Windfall since February to edit these iconic postcards and has thoroughly enjoyed himself! He comments: Windfall did an amazing job on a hotly anticipated event with a huge amount of expectation.  It was so busy that at times it felt like I was working in a news room – hearing the crews coming and going, discussing the different locations and challenges they each would bring. 

This project was given the green light in December 2022 and had to be delivered by March 2023. The concept required filming in 111 locations, from Iceland to Australia, and of course filming in a war zone in Ukraine, and all requiring specialist crews.

Each postcard had 4 external 360 footage graphic elements plus text elements generated in unison with other partners involved in creating the show. It was amazing to be apart of such a great team on such an amazing project.

Obviously Satu was very worried about which editor was in charge of Finland, but it was in the safe hands of Rich Lester. He reports: It was great to discover and work with so many beautiful locations, artists and themes, with a wonderful team. I feel the tiny worlds and flip transitions add a unique dimension to the postcards and help unite the Ukraine, UK and host countries together in an interesting way. The talent were all taking part in different activities, which was also fun to craft into short stories.

The Semi-Finals have been on all week and the final is on this Saturday, Satu will be wearing her traditional Finnish costume for the big event – The Finns have not disappointed with their entry for this year…

The Daytime Emmy Awards have recognised outstanding achievements in television programming and crafts since 1974 and we are super proud to see Satusfaction editors’ work be nominated in this years, the 50^th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards!

Richard ‘Huggy’ Lace

Roy Williams

Belle Borgeaud

Huggy has been showing off all morning, practising his speech in the mirror as he’s been invited to L.A. for the Emmys! Huggy edited Hidden Life of Pets for Oxford Scientific Films. This factual series for ITV and Netflix takes a look at the weird and wonderful antics of people’s pets from around the world, interspersed with studio experiments based on scientific study. It has been nominated in not one but five Categories! Categories include ‘Single Camera Editing’ and ‘Sound Mixing and Sound Editing’.  We are super proud as this recognition reflects his exceptional editing skills and creativity. Well done to Huggy and the team at Oxford Scientific.

For the Love of Kitchens has been nominated in the ‘Lifestyle Programme’ category. Roy Williams worked on series one and two in which DeVOL, an England-based furniture manufacturer works with talented craftspeople to design stunning kitchens and interiors for clients. The series is made by Betty TV for Discovery and Magnolia Network. Well done Roy and the team at Betty TV.

Last but certainly not least,  Jose Andres and Family in Spain has been nominated in the Culinary Series Category. We loved this series for Discovery +. The world-famous Spanish chef and humanitarian, along with his daughters, embark on an epic family adventure to experience their homeland like never before. Belle Borgeaud edited the “Andalucia” Episode. Congratulations to Belle and the team at Nutopia.

A huge congratulations to Huggy, Roy and Belle and well done and good luck to all of the nominees.

The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast Friday 16h June on CBS

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