22Summers

From the moment I arrived at 22Summers, I was made to feel genuinely welcome. The office itself is diverse, with a lively, creative energy, and the development team were incredibly open and friendly. Within a few hours of my first day, I found myself sitting in on my first development slate meeting. At the time it felt slightly intimidating - hearing experienced producers discussing ideas at speed and weighing up the potential of different stories - but it didn’t take long before that initial nervousness faded. By the start of the following week, I found myself contributing to conversations and sharing thoughts of my own.

Over the course of my placement, the team encouraged me to trust my instincts and always showed genuine interest in my contributions during the brainstorming sessions. Seeing my ideas inspire real excitement was incredibly encouraging, and I was delighted whenever I was asked to move forward on a story I suggested.

As a Development Researcher, I became quickly familiar with creating timelines, beat sheets, and doing a lot of internet deep diving! One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that development requires thick skin. Not every idea (even a good one!) will become a documentary. However, this taught me to appreciate how collaborative development can be. Ideas are constantly evolving, and a great suggestion - that maybe did not have the legs to go further - might spark a discussion that leads somewhere completely different, or a half-formed thought can grow into something much stronger once the team starts building on it together.

One of the highlights of my time at 22Summers was the opportunity to join a shoot for one of their productions. Being on set was an invaluable learning experience. I had the chance to observe an incredibly talented director and series producer at work, and to see first-hand how contributor interviews are handled with care and sensitivity. Watching that process unfold gave me a much deeper understanding of the responsibility that comes with telling real people’s stories.

My placement was originally due to last four weeks, but I was delighted when it was extended by an additional two weeks before my next placement began. That extra time allowed me to continue building on what I had learned and to feel even more embedded within the team. I’ve learnt so much from the incredible producers I had the honour of working with. From spirited team meetings and activities to one-to-one chats, everyone was always so happy to answer any questions that I had, and offer advice that I’m sure I will draw on for the rest of my career.

I’m incredibly grateful to the 22Summers team for their support, encouragement and willingness to involve me so fully in the process. It was a brilliant experience, and one that has strengthened my confidence and enthusiasm for working in the unscripted industry.

KEO Films

For my second placement, I was honoured to have been given the opportunity to join KEO Films as a Researcher on Once Upon a Time in America. As a big fan of the previous Once Upon a Time productions, I was incredibly excited to get an insider perspective on the process of making such a premium series. From day one, the team was supportive and collaborative, always happy to answer the many questions I had - which made it easy to settle in quickly. I was also thrilled to discover that two other members of the team are fellow Grierson alumni. Being surrounded by people who had once been in the same position as me made the experience feel particularly encouraging and full circle.

Moving from a placement in development to one embedded in production felt like a natural progression. It has given me a much clearer understanding of the lifecycle of a documentary, from the earliest stages of shaping ideas through to the practical realities of bringing those stories to screen.

As a Researcher on the project, much of my time has been spent immersing myself in a very specific subject area and quickly becoming familiar with a wide scope of information. The process has challenged me to work efficiently, sift through large volumes of material, and identify the details that could help shape compelling narratives. Over time, I’ve grown more confident contributing my thoughts during discussions, moving from initially observing the producers and director in meetings, to actively suggesting potential story arcs and characters.

Once Upon a Time is singular in the fact that you explore extraordinary, big events, solely through the incredible testimonies of the ordinary people that got caught up in them. Being on this placement, I’ve been given the chance to hone my instinct for spotting a compelling story, and to understand the subtle craft of weaving together multiple perspectives to build a cohesive and engaging narrative. Pre-production is an evolving process, and I’ve been able to see first-hand how stories are constantly refined as new research, contributors and ideas emerge.

Another highlight of my placement was the opportunity to sit in on an edit for one of KEO’s productions. Seeing how small editorial choices can subtly shift the tone and emotional impact of a scene was a fascinating insight into another crucial stage of the making of a documentary. It was a reminder that storytelling continues to evolve long after filming has finished.

One particularly valuable experience during my time at KEO was attending a two-day training course on trauma-responsive psychological first aid. The course focused on how to approach contributors sensitively, particularly when working with people who may be sharing difficult or personal experiences. I feel incredibly grateful to have received this training so early in my career, and the tools and awareness it provided are something I will carry with me into all future work with contributors.

My placement was originally scheduled for four weeks, so I was incredibly excited when I was offered a two-week extension. That additional time has allowed me to deepen my understanding of the project and continue contributing to the team in a meaningful way.

I’m extremely grateful to the wonderful team at KEO Films for this amazing experience. This placement has strengthened my research skills as well as my editorial instincts, and expanded my understanding of the production process.