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Documentary Strands Documentary strands include ONE life and Storyville. If the idea fits the brief for one of the strands listed, send it to the respective strand editor. Factual Genre Factual Features & Formats Specialist Factual Arts, Perf & Religion Current Affairs & Inv Documentaries Daytime Factual Strands Specialist Factual Current Affairs Documentaries Arts & Religion Contact Details for Independents e-Commissioning Member of the public with ideas can get information here Writers Room Link Durations - don't make your programme too long for your slot - check programme and credit durations here Interactive TV ideas are submitted to the normal genre teams ONE Life still
Contact Details for Independents
e-Commissioning
Member of the public with ideas can get information here
Writers Room Link
Durations - don't make your programme too long for your slot - check programme and credit durations here
Interactive TV ideas are submitted to the normal genre teams
ONE Life still
ONE life airs at 22:40 on BBC ONE. This strand aims to deliver surprising, high impact 40 minute films which reflect life in contemporary Britain.
ONE life has to continually evolve and therefore we are broadening our remit. Multi-narrative, zeitgeist films will become increasingly important.
The first film in the latest run, 'The Oldest Drivers In Britain', is an example of an idea which can be funny, quirky and poignant all at the same time. Films like the 'Oldest Drivers In Britain' don't have to be all the same shape i.e. I don't want to take one subject and intercut three stories, like many traditional documentaries do.
ONE life has tackled many medical stories. We will continue to make them but they have to be something special or a first. Whilst in general I want ideas to be more summer than winter, the series should also include films which tackle big, universal subjects like alcoholism, bullying and Alzheimer's etc. What we really need to think about is the methodology and approach - what's the story within the well worn subject area that's not been told before or is relevant now? Think of films like 'To Courtney, With Love' and 'My Life On A Post-it Note'.
Storyville:Barca Still
Storyville is the BBC strand for single, international documentary film. Storyville transmits weekly on BBC FOUR and also delivers a selection of titles each year to BBC TWO. The strand looks for ambitious, narrative, contemporary films from all over the world to commission in co-production with other funders, to pre-buy or to acquire. Durations vary but not less than one hour.
For more information about recent programming and more on the strand's editorial approach, please visit the Storyville website.
Page last updated: 16 December 2008
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