Northwest Vision and Media, create the bigger picture
October Films North
HOVERING over Manchester’s Northern Quarter, three stories above Café Pop, and thankfully escaping the recent Dale Street inferno, October Films North are one of the newest additions to the Northwest’s expanding production scene.
As a new division of London’s October Films, Managing Director Emma Worthington is hoping to breathe new life into broadcast television’s factual genre.
“October films have a very strong reputation for current affairs and factual Panorama-style documentaries, which is second to none, but they’ve been keen to expand the genre that they produce,” says Emma. “We’re building on the reputation that October Films has for telling a good story, adding a popularist edge to that.”
Fresh from an extensive career in Manchester-based factual television at Granada and then the BBC, Emma originally spoke with October Films last year with the idea of developing an independent presence in the Northwest. Together they swiftly applied for funding, and through North West Vision’s Regional Attraction Fund (RAF), October Films North was born in January 2007.
“It’s been good, it’s been all hands to the pump really,” says Emma on progress so far. October Films North currently have a slate of around thirty ideas, and half of those are out with commissioners. Six ideas have gone through to the second round already.
“Our relationship with commissioners is key really, and building those is what we’ve concentrated on for the first three months. It’s not only a case of meeting and greeting those commissioners, it’s also maintaining them, making sure that you deliver,” says Emma, explaining how working to get ideas commissioned can be a hard task.
“There’s a big reluctance among commissioners to take risks at the moment, either with new companies or with any kind of programme that’s slightly different. BBC3, for example, commissions programmes that are more exciting and innovative, but I think as an indie, never mind a new indie it is quite difficult to punch through.”
Despite this obstacle, October Films North are finding great support from all corners in their new surroundings. ”The people in London who run October Films have been very surprised by the community feel up here amongst the other independents,” reveals Emma. “I’m quite amazed by how much information is shared actually and I think there’s a real feeling that we’re all in this together.”
From Emma’s perspective, the BBC moving to Salford can only bring more opportunities to the Northwest. “It’s a shame that not more commissioning bases or a channel are moving up. But I think it’s really positive, and only good can come out of it,” she says.
Contact October Films North
Emma Worthington, Managing Director
E: emma.worthington@octoberfilms.co.uk
T: 0161 236 3281
