New ITV1 Factual Strand unveiled at Edinburgh
ITV1 is set to launch a brand new documentary strand bringing together powerful stories and unique insight into our world from a range of individual sources.
Perspectives will be the umbrella title encompassing single, factual films from a variety of film-makers and, on occasions, presenters, offering their take on subject matter ranging from life in Britain today to the arts.
Perspectives will begin in 2011 with a run of five documentaries including pieces from award-winning film-makers Brian Hill and Antony Thomas, who, respectively, tackle Britain’s most common street-crime, mugging, and challenge perceptions of our country’s children, so often demonised in the daily news agenda. In addition, Andrew Lloyd Webber will tell the story of Pre-Raphaelite art, drawing on his stunning collection of works from that period, which rivals the world’s greatest museums, actor and miner’s son, Robson Green, directed by Oscar-winning Jon Blair, will tell the story of the Pitmen Painters, a group of Northumberland miners who became nationally recognised artists, and award-winning director David Pearson will follow a group of Cornish fishermen as this close-knit band of childhood friends deal with finding fame in later life as recording artists.
Perspectives was commissioned by Jo Clinton-Davis, ITV Controller of Popular Factual, with Alison Sharman, ITV Director of Factual and Daytime, and Peter Fincham, ITV Director of Television.
Peter Fincham said: “Perspectives will bring to ITV1’s schedule documentaries defined by distinctive and unique views, vantage points and voices, whether they be those of film-makers or people from a range of fields and backgrounds, addressing their subjects in a way that will enrich and refresh our own way of looking at the world around us. Each of the five films we have commissioned promises in its individual way to do just that.”
Summary of the five Perspectives films:
Mugged [WT] – Century Films - Brian Hill
Mugging is the most common street crime in Britain. In 2008 more than a million people were attacked by strangers. This film will uncover the human stories behind the statistics. How does it feel to be mugged; to be frightened and humiliated? Intercutting personal testimony with police actuality and CCTV footage, this is a forceful and dramatic film that gets to the very heart of our most common street crime. Directed by BAFTA award winner Brian Hill.
The Fisherman’s Friends [WT] – Twofour
This is the story of a group of Cornish fishermen and childhood friends who became the most talked about pop sensation since SUBO. The unlikely group now have a million pound record contract, a book about their life and a film deal. The film follows them over six months as men who have spent a lifetime working around a small, sleepy harbour face the glitz and glamour of the showbiz world.
Robson Green and the Pitmen Painters [WT] – Jon Blair Film Company in association with Wild Pictures
Robson Green, himself the son of a Northumberland miner, returns to his roots, with Oscar winning director Jon Blair, to uncover the true story of the band of miners known as the Ashington Group, who have recently been the inspiration for a highly acclaimed fictionalised play by Lee "Billy Elliot" Hall. They were ordinary working men who had spent years down the pits before organising an art appreciation class for themselves in the 1930s. Despite their lack of professional training, their works, which drew on their own lives, were bought by collectors and praised by connoisseurs, which begs the questions: what makes an artist, and can anyone paint?
Children of Britain [WT] – Mentorn Media
The news agenda has often demonised Britain’s children, portraying them as the cornerstones of Broken Britain. In this film, award winning documentary maker, Antony Thomas, authors a passionate reappraisal of children, giving them the chance to express their viewpoint of Britain and tell their often remarkable stories. Digging behind the stereotypes and statistics, Children of Britain will explore the hidden world of ordinary, inspiring children in the UK.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Pre-Raphaelites [WT] – ITV Studios
Famed for his hit musicals, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is less well known as a collector of art. But in this film he will reveal his passion for the Pre-Raphaelites as he shows us some of the best examples of this period from around the country and selected works from his own collection.
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