Topic: Documentary about allotments

[HarryK]

DOCUMENTARY LOOKING FOR ALLOTMENT STORIES

 
 
WILD PICTURES are an independent television production company based in London that specialises in quality, high end access based documentaries for all the major broadcasters like including BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4.

 

We are making a documentary and are looking to hear from people up and down the country who have allotments.

 

Allotments are quintessentially British and have become increasingly popular over the past few years with waiting lists growing ever longer as a consequence. As well as being a great way for people to produce food for themselves they can be a great deal more. Many allotments are communities of like-minded souls who look out for each others’ patch and share tips on the best way to guarantee a good crop of butternut squash. Others are hotbeds of competition where people strive to grow the biggest or  best fruit/veg for the annual competition.

 

We’re looking for people who are passionate about their own allotment.  So we’re looking for stories like these:

 

Are you passionate about your allotment? Does it take up most of your waking hours?!

Maybe you’ve won growing competitions like the biggest or the best fruit or veg?

 

Are you part of a group of allotmentees who have become like a family to you?

Do you have rather charismatic allotment neighbour who has been there for years?

Are you part of a highly prized allotment with a very long waiting list?

 

Or has your allotment become the subject of strife for whatever reason?

How competitive are you or fellow allotmentees?

Do your fellow allotmentees drive you mad because their raspberry bushes are more bountiful or because their patch is a disgrace?

 

I’d love to hear from you, as we are interested in all sorts of allotment stories hearing from people from all sorts of allotments from all areas of the country so either drop me an email or give me a call and let me know what it is that makes your allotment experience different.

 

If you think your allotment has something going on about that we should hear about then please do get in touch on the details below.

 

Harry

0207 428 5629

harry@wildpictures.co.uk

www.wildpictures.co.uk

[ceres]

As a commercial company I imagine you hope to make money from your documentary.  What payment can people who help you expect in return for their time?

[elvis2003]

I doubt very much there will be any payment Ceres,besides being able to show your plot off to the rest of us!
R x

[ceres]

Well if that's so, maybe HarryK needs to be upfront about it so people can make an informed decision abvout investing their time.

I'd hope too that anyone contemplating inviting a film company onto their plot would seek the consent of their Council/Association/Committee and neighbours.  Allotment sites are already targetted regularly by thieves and vandals.  Broadcasting locations where low-lives can stock up their pantry for free or get an easy haul of kit to flog at boot sales doesn't seem hugely smart.

[elvis2003]

When the BBC came to our plot the location or site name wasnt mentioned,or our surnames. i did get permission from the council. Didnt think i needed to and acted out of courtesy,but did print off the email i got back saying yes fine go ahead,just in case. was great fun and if you are interested i would reccomend it!

[ceres]

This isn't the BBC.

[BarriedaleNick]

I was involved with a photo shoot on my plot last year.  Now I don't know if in this case if it would involve any filming or photos on actual sites but I can tell you it can be more trouble than you might think.  We had to have a meeting about the thing due to insurance considerations and whether it was legal for us to accept payment (we are a self managed site).  We thought it through and put up notices to let everyone know and it still caused a bit of a rumpus.  Mainly as on the day there were - 1 photographer, 2 assistants, 1 runner, one stylist, one hair/make-up person,two others from the agency involved and a driver..Not everyone was happy even though the crew were totally lovely and respectful.
It went ok but I'm not sure I'd be willing to do the same again.

[Ellen K]

I think we need to know the brief.  So is it:

a) Gardeners World for Allotments - here's how I built a massive greenhouse for £100, a shed out of pallets for nothing, this is how I grow fabulous aubergines, etc

or

b) Allotments as Soap Opera: look at these nutcases trying to grow cauliflowers and arguing about the width of their paths in a uniquely British way.

There is some indication in the OP that it's the latter.  More about the people than growing stuff IYKWIM.  I'm sure you could make a documentary that shows allotmenteers to be a bit odd, but in a kind way.  But I wouldn't want to be involved in that, sorry.

[Tee Gee]

I agree with nick;

but I can tell you it can be more trouble than you might think

I watched the BBC doing the programme at Tatton Park show this summer and some of the exhibitors were pulling ther hair out because of the filming crew.

These exhibitors had spent a lot of time & money on setting up their exhibit just right, and I watched presenters & crew pushing there way through planted areas, sometimes disturbing the plants, most of which are only superficially fixed and therefore  easily toppled.


It reminded me of using my hose on the plot, i.e. it is under control  at the outlet end, but as I pull the hose to move forward, the hose behind me often gets tangled around plants and sometimes pulls them out or damages them, the same affect happened with the film crew's elecrical wiring.

So not for me I'm afraid!

[Squash64]

We've had quite a few visits from television companies and magazines over the past few years.  We were featured in Gardener's World with Monty Don and this episode, where Teresinha demonstrated how she grows plants to use as dye, and Ron showed his immaculate plot, is still being repeated. 

I am often contacted by the media because of our website and I can honestly say that we have never had a problem. 

[Tonythegardener]

I'm amazed that they came all the way to Birmingham Squash 64.  I doubt if they will make it 25 miles on and visit Wolverhampton even though we have last years National Champion allotment holder.

[shirlton]

A few years ago some group or other came to the plot we have just vacated .Went on to our plots while we were not there, trampled all over the flower beds just to take pictures of a scarecrow that they had brought with them and some tame crows to perch on it.
they had permission to do it but not from us.
 We never even saw the people who did it, but we did see the damage  they had done.
I suggest if people want to know about allotments then they should take one on for a year and then they would get first hand information.

[Squash64]

I'm amazed that they came all the way to Birmingham Squash 64.  I doubt if they will make it 25 miles on and visit Wolverhampton even though we have last years National Champion allotment holder.

Distance doesn't seem to be a problem.  The only local media who have been were BBC radio crews, the others are often based in London or Manchester.

[Squash64]

Following on from Shirley's comment about damage caused on her plot - I always make sure that I accompany any visitors wherever they go on our site. It can be a bit time-consuming but I enjoy talking about allotments to people who show an interest.

[HarryK]

Hi,

Sorry it has taken me a while to get back answer the previous questions but everything has been a bit thrown up in the air by Christmas.


Ceres:

In terms of money it’s slightly complicated as we are making the documentary for BBC1. We definitely wouldn’t want anybody taking part to lose money because of the film. We can compensate people for any costs that are as a result of us. We may also be able to make a small donation to allotment holders/associations but these aren’t likely to be huge as the sorts of budgets that we are working with are very different from programmes like the X Factor.

Having spoken to people over the past week or so it seems clear that there are often problems with theft. If and when we film at an allotment site this will definitely be something that we do after consultation with the local council or association. There’s something strange about the image of a thief breaking in to dig up some carrots.

Ellen K:

The film that we are making is more about life on allotments in the UK than a Gardener’s World for Allotments. It’s quite a fluid and evolving process so I’m not sure exactly what will be in the finished programme but the intention is to make a warm and affectionate film. We are not looking to make anybody look like idiots and if you have a look at our website (www.wildpictures.co.uk) hopefully you will be reassured by the sorts of things that we have done in the past.

Lastly I wanted to deal with the issue of damaging people’s allotments. We will generally be working in a very small team on the film and when filming I wouldn’t have thought there would be more than 2 or 3 crew members. We will therefore hopefully not be nearly as bad as people’s previous experiences.

If anybody has any further questions then please feel free to ask either here or you can drop me a line at harry@wildpictures.co.uk or on 02074245620

Thanks,

Harry

[Mr Smith]

I think Harry and his film crew would be made more than welcome in our neck of the woods LE13, :)