Making the move from AP to Director, with the team from 24 Hours in Police Custody

Join WFTV and The Garden for a conversation with three of the directors from the most recent series of 24 Hours in Police Custody. Poppy Begum, Sophie Oliver and Emily Turner all made the move from AP or Producer to Director via the series. The panel will discuss making the move, how to effectively grow and invest in talent and what positive learnings can be applied from their experiences at 24 Hours in Police Custody.

Now in its eighth year, 24 Hours in Police Custody is both critically acclaimed and more popular with audiences than ever. Using a combination of fixed-rig and single camera filming, this series provides unprecedented access to some of the UK’s most dramatic police investigations – showing each case in extraordinary and compelling detail. The films unfold as real-life crime thrillers, but they also tackle pressing social issues like knife crime, human trafficking and domestic violence.

Sophie Oliver is a Shooting Producer/Director with over 11 years experience in documentary and factual programming making. Sophie has forged a reputation for producing and directing films that have heart and purpose within intimate personal stories. As well as securing complicated access to fascinating stories and institutions whilst navigating complex legal and compliance issues. Her recent credits include a two-part special for the Channel 4 series 24 Hours in Police Custody and BBC1’s Ambulance. She is currently directing a 3-part drama-doc series for Channel 4.

Poppy Begum's  directing credits includes 24 Hours in Police Custody and an hour long film for Channel 4. Poppy is also an established journalist and Producer known for her wide ranging and thought provoking work from her documentary about Stealthing and sexual consent to young people going on a ‘birth strike’ because of their mental health to ex-muslims leaving Islam for Vice. Poppy is also a radio host and presenter and has hosted an award winning podcast discussing the taboo and very often stigmatised issues around sex and sexuality within the Asian community. Her front of camera work has seen her present on BBC3, Vice News and Channel 4. Career highlights include winning the Best Podcast Award for Brown Girls Do it Too (which has run for two successful series), becoming the ARIA 2021 Gold Winner in the Best New Presenter category, pitching and presenting a film about ex-Muslims leaving the faith and shooting her first film for 24 Hours in Police Custody. She is passionate about human-interest stories and social issues and hopes to give listeners access to conversation around issues that aren’t always reflected in mainstream media.

Emily Turner has been working in documentaries since 2010. She has worked across a range of singles and series. Emily has a passion for getting into difficult to access worlds. She produced BBC2’s Protecting Our Foster Kids, C4’s BAFTA-nominated Kids On The Edge and Superkids: Breaking Away from Care with the poet Lemn Sissay. She has also worked in development at Wellpark Productions, 72 Films and Story Films - where she helped to develop the factual dramas The Interrogation of Tony Martin and Deceit.

Host - Fozia Khan is a Development Executive at Amazon Studios where she works across Unscripted in the UK Originals team. Prior to joining Amazon, Fozia was commissioning Editor at Channel 4 in the documentaries department where she worked across 24 Hours in Police Custody and commissioned Damilola: The Boy Next Door and Is Covid Racist? Before joining C4, Fozia was a Channel commissioner at the BBC where she worked alongside Patrick Holland on BBC Two and as an Executive Producer at the Garden Productions.

How will the online event work?

This event will be live streamed via Zoom.us. Viewing details will be sent via your confirmation.

Attending participants will not be visible to others and will be muted throughout the session. After the talk, there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask their questions to the panel by using the Q&A feature.

This event is for existing WFTV members only.

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