Through the Griersons, I have had the privilege of working at several incredible documentary production companies, including The Garden, Twofour and Lightbox. Most recently, I was invited to undertake a placement at Curious Films as a Researcher.

I had been excited by Curious’ output for some time, particularly after watching Boyzone: No Matter What in the lead-up to the Grierson Awards in 2025. I was struck by the care and attention to detail evident in their productions.

From my first day, it became clear that this same level of care extended to their team. I was warmly introduced to everyone in the office and immediately briefed on the project I would be working on, one I would describe as a dream project aligned with my career ambitions. The environment felt incredibly welcoming, and it was clear that the team was as excited to have me there as I was to join them.

At the outset, I was asked about my previous research experience and the areas I wanted to develop further. I expressed a particular interest in contributor access and was quickly given the opportunity to focus on this, researching and identifying potential contributors for interview. One of these contributors was ultimately interviewed on my final day, which felt like a fitting full circle moment and end point to my placement.

I found myself going down an exciting rabbit holes and quickly realised just how broad the role of a researcher can be. Each day brought new challenges, often involving contributors from entirely different walks of life. Throughout my time at Curious, my ideas were genuinely listened to and incorporated into the production process, which was both motivating and rewarding.

Having previously worked with sensitive material on 24 Hours in A&E in a live environment, I was particularly interested in observing how Curious approached pre-production for different but equally sensitive stories. It was especially insightful to support the Producer and Director in shaping the narrative, identifying connections between stories, and recognising gaps that needed to be filled through further interviews. The entire process answered so many lingering questions I had about the industry and has set me on a clearer path moving forwards.

I was also given plenty of on set experience and even went door knocking with my producer to track down leads: proper old school TV! It was a privilege to be in the room and working with such talented and experienced people, it was especially great to see how harmoniously Curious combines the workflow of both editorial and production teams.

Although my time at Curious may appear brief, it was an incredibly valuable experience filled with lessons I will carry forward throughout my career. The team has made it clear that they look forward to welcoming me back in the near future.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone I worked with during my placement, as well as the team at the Grierson Trust for making the opportunity possible.