(Transcribed from notes taken at this lecture)
Multi-award winning documentary filmmaker Olivia Lichtenstein - Sussex alumnus
Just spent 2 years at Broadmoor hospital, to make 2 documentaries for ITV. Took 5 years to access the hospital (high secure psychiatric hospital; has many dangerous offenders). They never admitted cameras for their 150 year existence.
3 years ago Olivia was approached by ITV, asked would she direct a show about it. Agreed immediately (likes making films about crime, crossing boundaries, etc).
Contract at first = not allowed to film faces of subjects. Policed and heavily controlled in this environment. Took a lot of energy to continue filming. (We were shown at this point a clip of the documentary)
Olivia has been working with the same composer for 20 years. She often works with the same editor. She enjoys collaborating with the same people - calming and reassuring.
When she started filming, film was very expensive s it was kept disciplined, and footage was kept to a minimum. She almost prefers this to theopen/unstructured shooting of digital formats now.
She liked to spend a few weeks on-location with her subjects before filming. Helps with research and development. Was unable to do this at broadmoor.
Important to build relationships with individuals (helps to provide access).
Has to juggle filmmakers' viewpoint with a producer's viewpoint. Compromise a lot.
