Channel 4 documentary

[Lelee]

Hi all

I received the following email and thought it might be of interest to some:

 ' Linda,

I was reading the on the PADA forum and came across a posting by yourself. I was interested to read it because our company True Vision has been commissioned by Channel 4 to make a film that is to focus on the issue of how substance misuse affects the family of the users, and in particular, the children of users.

Throughout our fly-on-the-wall film we aim to be non judgemental, simply reflecting the reality of the situations we witness. 
What we are trying to do is to go behind the prejudiced knee jerk view, or tabloid froth, and show what the daily reality of life is like for a user who has children. We realise that this is a very delicate situation, and that each individual would need to judge whether it would be right for him or her to become involved in our film.

We are looking at filming several different situations, from a kinship carer who is now looking after a drug using relative's child and how that relationship works, to someone who is going into treatment to get their child back.

In addition to these two examples, we seek your input as to exactly what the best jigsaw of characters should be to be representative of the situation across the UK today. We could perhaps divide the film between Scotland, Wales and England - as there seem to be some fairly significant differences across the borders.

We hope that by making this film we can tackle some of the public’s misconceptions about drug use and show the families’ need for effective support. 

True Vision is an award-winning documentary production company with an established track record of making sensitive films about families and children living in difficult circumstances. The attached filmography includes a complete run down of our films. 


Our intention with any film is to give people, who otherwise have little voice, the chance to be heard and bring about positive changes. As makers of BAFTA winning films such as Evicted , Orphans of Nkandla and China's Stolen Children we have shed light on issues that go largely unnoticed.  In the case of almost all our films the public response has been overwhelming – in some instances policy shifting. [She attached Changes Inspired document]

I hope you feel that this is a promising project, and if so I would very much like to discuss the project further as we believe it is imperative that we work alongside the right people.

 
Tim Lawton
020 8742 7852

www.truevisiontv.com'

[saramcgrail]

Just a quick note to say I was contacted by these film makers in January about this project and had a number of discussions with them. I was left with the feeling that they were not looking at the subject responsibly or in a balanced way. I was also concerned about their attention to the welfare of the parent and children they were working with. In particular I felt the on screen identification of the children of drug users living in difficult circumstances warranted greater thought than a quick phone call afterwards to make sure things were ok (the film makers proposed follow up support).  Following a meeting with them I detailed my concerns in an email to which I recieved the response that they were no longer looking at this project as they felt the concerns I had raised were too tricky for them to deal with (this was in March). It would appear they have since changed their minds.  I would encourage anyone working with this company to exercise extreme caution.

Sara

[Jimi]

Hi

True vision are planning another documentary for this autumn read below

>
Vast numbers of children in the UK are affected by drugs and alcohol.  For many teenagers drugs and alcohol are a rite of passage, whilst countless more witness first hand the devastating affects that substances can have on the lives of their parents, siblings and friends
.
This Autumn Channel 4 are dedicating a week of programming to look at how drug use affects communities across the UK. In conjunction with primetime feature documentaries, Channel 4 Education have asked True Vision to make a series of half hour films giving 14-19 year olds the chance to talk to others about their experiences and observations of, and feelings about, drug mis-use.

Each film will feature one main character, who will be identified on screen. The films will very much represent the perspectives of the young people themselves and where possible we would hope that their family and peers would become involved as well to broaden the picture and raise different issues.
 
The films will say what young people really think about drugs – the good as well as the bad.

True Vision is an award-winning documentary production company with an established track record of making sensitive films about families and children living in difficult circumstances. [See attached filmography]

We are due to deliver the films in September which may sound like a long time off, but putting together something like this does take time to do responsibly and comprehensively. I hope you feel that this is a worthwhile project, and if so I would very much like to discuss the project further as we believe it is imperative that we work alongside the right organisations.
>

There are 3 researchers Tim Lawton, Dave Foulkes & Sarah O'Connell who worked for True vision.
They are always looking for potential subjects for their projects. Off course its commerce end of day.
I advise one to secure ample fiscal remuneration via a favorable contract with adequate insurance.
Ensure sophisticated physiological,phycological & social support in case unforeseen circumstances
proves traumatic.

Exposure could cause unwanted attention from local vigilantes. That sort of thing would happen
in many middle class private & working class council estates I can think of around the nation &
may even require resettlement in extreme cases.

Off course to be fair it could turn ones life around with a cathartic domino effect which motivates
one to secure a happy & economic prosperous future ?

Better be cautious and think twice, then thrice before you decide to sleep with the devil.

jimi

[Tony.B.]

Grreat advice Jimi
Though i would steer well clear and advise others to do the same.
Sorry i have exp of the media and this subject......trust me they are not interested in the stories we have to tell.
We, the Alliance and others, should be concentrating on getting our numbers at the end of such programmes as an action/helpline.
My Best
TonyB 

[Jim]

Whilst I pretty much agree with your sentiments I think we also have to be careful how much we blank the media.  If we refuse to engage with them it will be left to people we may profoundly disagree with to fill the void.  I think this is one way continuing negativeimagary continues to be taken as fact by the general public.  Harry Shapiro speaks very eloquently on this subject and I agree with him.  We need to engage with the media in a positive way.  If we do we are more likely to get positive stories.  Journalists react to certain stimuli (which can be boiled down to is this good copy) and if we present ourselves in the right way to them they can be our cyphers.

This is not sayign go ashead and engage with this particular programme.  It is a general appeal to people to try and think of positive responses to media interest rather than negative ones.  If we don't we won't have a voice and others will.

[Jimi]

Hi

First point, I did not start this post and am replying to expand and clarify.

Tim, Dave & Sarah have asked to meet me and I have so far declined.
I did research True Vision Productions http://www.truevisiontv.com/
Asked Tim to mail me 3 DVD's. Viewed then reviewed them. They're GOOD.
They are as professional as your going to get and well capable of making
a tasteful and balance solution focused documentaries.
 
So I checked they're prestigious and respected amongst there peers and based on
my findings i decided to post on their request & leave the decision to the individual.

Frankly, the chaotic families from hell I know round my way would really tell a
moving tale of burnt brains and learning difficulties and shite alcoholic parents.
And thats the families with teenagers from the posh middle class estate !
The council estate dwellers are the same only they wear more hand me downs.

Best advert for improving drug and alcohol screening in primary care you could
ever wish for.

Heading for me bunker!

Jimi

[Tony.B.]

Detox 5 Documentary on Channel 4 was a shambles Jim and the chaos that preceeded it and ensued from it was ridiculous......so in my mind not a good point. I am not totally against speaking to the media but the potholes are like quarries. Be careful is my message......having been involved in a some national media projects........ you need to be well prepared, Jimi makes this point brilliantly earlier in the thread. It can have a huge impact on your life too Jimi. So to clarify i am not for blanking the media but you need to be well trained to enter intop the dragons' Den.
My best
TonyB

[Jim]

I totally agree Tony, one has to be careful and get ourselves trained (I have been its great fun). I also agree about the detox 5 documentary, but that was just badly put together and badly presented rather than pernicious.  I wasn't actually a negative protrayal as such.  Krishna murty was such a total plonker it was untrue.  Malcolm Carr (the detox 5 manager) came over quite well I thought.

[Tony.B.]

Hmmm this training sounds interesting.
I agree with your other points wholehartedly.
I was being a little negative...... maybe to just get the point accross.....who knows.
You are right Jim we must engage.....in an informed, confident and non judgemental way..... even of the media
TonyB

[saramcgrail]

I think the detox 5 thing was really awful and was one of the people who complained to Channel 4 about it. I think it is unethical to offer someone a free treatment on condition that you can film it - and I believe that's what they did.  The way people were spoken about - the horrible lascivious dwelling on the most graphic details of detox ... I'm not sure it helped disabuse anyone of any stereotypes about drug users, nor do I think it gave a realistic portrayal of most people's experience of treatment.

Sara

[Jim]

But they do that for cosmetic surgry, heart surgery etc etc in order to make health documentaieas interesting it always means tryoing to extract every ounce of juice.  I didn't think this was any worse in that way because it was about drug users, the presenters made me feel ill, but they didn't set out to demonise the subjects, just to get the viewer to feel sympathy with them - therfore infantalising them - but they do that with every patient population they do this sort of documentary for.

[saramcgrail]

You think? I reckon it was far worse. There isn't often a tone of moral outrage about heart surgery - even if the person has smoked themselves silly and lived off a combination of fried eggs and pork pies for the past ten years. My recollections of the channel 4 detox jamboree included just that - the feeling that not only was this about getting well, it was about being a better person too.

Sara

[Jimi]

Hi

Which company was responsible for the Detox 5 documentary ?

jimi

[Jimi]

Hi

Was it this outfit ?

Firefly Film and Television Productions Ltd

http://www.fireflyproductions.tv/goingcoldturkey.htm

jimi

[simon]

I think the detox 5 thing was really awful and was one of the people who complained to Channel 4 about it. I think it is unethical to offer someone a free treatment on condition that you can film it - and I believe that's what they did.  The way people were spoken about - the horrible lascivious dwelling on the most graphic details of detox ... I'm not sure it helped disabuse anyone of any stereotypes about drug users, nor do I think it gave a realistic portrayal of most people's experience of treatment.

Sara

Sara,
You might believe that people were offerred free treatment but that is not what the staff from detox 5 told me. I do think the Nursing care shown on the programme seemed good.
When asked about detox5 I always say the same as the staff do - it's not for everyone and it's an option for a minority of highly motivated  people.