Sreya Biswas

FOUR WEDDINGS - US ITV AMERICA for TLC

Field Producer 

10 x 120 minutes 

Genre: Reality 

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Working on the re-boot of this much loved reality wedding series, as Field Producer I was responsible for the teams in the field for episodes based in Georgia, Tucson and New Mexico. Directing crews and self-shooting bio films of each of the brides preparing for their big day, both individually and with their future grooms and families as well as hang-out days with their fellow brides. 

On the wedding days, I multi-camera directed crews from the ceremony to reception, filming all the action of the weddings and the guest brides experiencing them without interfering with the day's events. I conducted the master interviews of the guest brides after the ceremonies that make the backbone of the commentary. 

This series is due to go out in February. 

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HORIZON: BEING TRANSGENDER -  BBC for BBC 2

1 x 60 minutes 

Self-shooting Producer Director 

Genre: Science, Observational Documentary 

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In my own commission for the BBC’s most famous and long-running science strand, Horizon, I directed a film exploring what it means to be transgender and what happens to you biologically and psychologically when you transition through the eyes of the people living it. We followed 6 people from the US and the UK as they embarked on their incredibly personal journeys.

As the Producer Director, I self-shot and crew directed the documentary and working with my team we cast and filmed in the USA, South Korean and the UK. As Supervising Post Producer, I worked with my edit team to ensure that we upheld Horizon's high standards while sensitively portraying what it is like to transition your gender. 

 

999: WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY - BLAST FILMS for CHANNEL 4

24 x 60 minutes 

Supervising Post Producer 

Genre: Fixed Rig, Observational, Factual 

Across the UK, the emergency services are trying to keep the streets safe. But it's not an easy task. This observational series follows the amazing work of police, ambulance and firefighters in Swindon over a 3 month period. 

As Supervising Post Producer, using cases from across the shoot, and interviewing key victims, addicts and emergency personnel, our film looked at the increase in heroin and crack addiction since the ban of legal highs in 2016 and the immense pressure facing police and paramedics as they battle to treat addicts and victims.

A difficult topic to approach, the film not only showed the hard work of the emergency services, but also highlighted the bigger issues surrounding addiction - how with budget cuts to rehabilitation and support for addicts, the police and paramedics are picking up the pieces. 

THE REAL MARIGOLD HOTEL - TWOFOUR BROADCAST for BBC 2

3 x 60 minutes 

 Supervising Story Producer 

Genre: Factual Entertainment, Observational Documentary, Travel

Inspired by the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, we took 8 British celebrities to see what it would be like to retire in India in this light-hearted but inspirational travelogue. With retirement costs increasing dramatically in the UK could retiring to India really be a possibility? How would the celebrities cope living in such a different country with such a different culture?  

As Supervising Story Producer and with an in depth knowledge of India, I worked alongside the Series Producer to develop the narratives for the series before the shoot. What could we do that was authentic, yet challenging, entertaining but reality and that these celebrities would actually do in their own lives.

On location in India, I ran a 30 person crew – Indian and English with the Co-EP developing stories that were unfolding, getting rid of those that weren’t working and trouble-shooting any problems logistically or narratively.

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24 HOURS IN A&E - THE GARDEN for CHANNEL 4

36 x 60 minutes 

Supervising Producer Director (Post) / Supervising Gallery Producer (location) / Supervising Floor Producer (location) 

Genre: Fixed Rig Documentary, Observational 

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With a fixed rig of over 100 cameras, filming 24 hours a day, we followed the amazing work of medical staff and the often life-changing events of the patients and their families in one of London's busiest Emergency Departments.

As Supervising Gallery Producer, I worked with a team in the gallery and a team on the floor in the emergency room, deciding which patients to follow on their medical journey and the staff treating them. We were often filming multiple stories at one time. 

As Supervising Post Producer Director, I ran two edit suites simultaneously. Going through all the footage from our 24 hour period, we decided on the cases and medical staff to feature and cut it all down to 50 minute duration film, without ever losing the heart of the series. Interviewing the patients' families and friends was key to finding more about the patients and their lives and to find out what happened the moment disaster struck. 

As Supervising Floor Producer, I ran the team on the floor across the emergency room, liaising with staff and patients for consent and working with the gallery.

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DISPATCHES: THE BRITISH PROPERTY BOOM - VOLTAGE TV for CHANNEL 4

1 x 60 minutes 

Producer (Location and Post) 

Genre: Current Affairs, observational documentary 

From Dispatches - Channel 4s flagship current affairs strand, this film followed the winners and losers of the booming British housing market. And by looking at the bigger social issues as costs soar, we found out what it's really like to be part of the British Property Boom. 

As Producer (location and post) I was responsible for casting the contributors, finding the stories and working with the director self-shooting the film. We observationally followed a number of people who were trying to navigate the property market - from the first time buyer unable to get on the property ladder, to the lifelong resident being pushed out through gentrification to the overseas buyers looking for a bargain. 

 

The Love of Money - UK BBC 2 / Discovery US 

3 x 60 minutes 

Producer (Location and Post) 

Genre: Current Affairs, Documentary 

September 2008 saw the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the start of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Through the BBC, we were able to recount the story with those that were involved that fateful weekend and the events after it.

As Producer, I spoke to the key people involved on and off-the record to create a minute by minute account of what happened and why Lehman’s was let go. We put together a series interviewing some of the top people involved – in the UK from the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to the head of Barclays Bob Diamond and in the US from Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain to former Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner.

The majority of the film was filmed in the US.