Makers of programmes ranging from BBC’s Big Night In to the YouTube Originals Stream #WithMe explain how they produced their shows in the strict conditions of lockdown.
They used every technique available to them, from disinfecting the home of comedian David Walliams to giving TV chef Gok Wan lessons in operating a camera through his kitchen window.
The programme-makers offer specific hints and tips to those wanting to make quality content safely during the coronavirus pandemic.
About the programmes
James Mundie, line producer, and Peter Wallis-Tayler, series editor, are talking about Pandemic: Emergency (w/t). Made by Dragonfly Film & TV, the three-part documentary series for Channel 4 captures how West Midlands Ambulance Service dealt with the unprecedented challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Executive producers Colin Hopkins and Peter Daley are talking about the BBC’s Big Night In. It was one of the early high-profile shows produced during lockdown. Organised in under three weeks, the team entered uncharted territory as they produced the show under strict health and safety regulations.
Vivek Sharma, deputy editor, is talking about This Morning. The long-running ITV show was classed as an “essential service” by the government when the pandemic hit. Vivek explains how they kept it on air during lockdown.
Kevin Batchelor is a director and founder of Electric Robin, a boutique creative production house specialising in short form and branded content. He is talking to Michael Perry, producer and director of Endemol Shine, about Stream #WithMe, a YouTube Originals four-hour livestream designed to support, entertain and educate viewers in lockdown.
About the events
The video is edited from recordings of remote events that took place in June 2020. The events were supported by the ScreenSkills Television Skills Fund which invests in training for the freelance television workforce thanks to contributions from the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5. It was part of a ScreenSkills programme managed by the Indie Training Fund to support freelancers to upskill and stay connected, helping keep the industry resilient in the coronavirus pandemic.
Take our course
To learn how to work safely on productions, go to our online coronavirus basic awareness on production course.