Channel 4 Digital, headed by commissioning chief Sacha Khari, has greenlit its first original drama as well as three new investigative documentaries.
From Dark Pictures, Ori Pictures and GroupM Motion Entertainment comes Beth, a three-part drama written and directed by Uzo Oleh (Edicius). The science fiction series follows the relationship between a husband and wife whose life is thrown into turmoil following the birth of their daughter. The series will air over three episodes on Channel 4’s YouTube channel, as well as having a 1 x 45’ linear broadcast on Channel 4.
As for the factual commissions, Newcastle-based Northern Child, in collaboration with North East Screen, is making Codename: Project Inkjet (w/t). In this investigative documentary, journalist Snake Denton explores the legality of 3D-printed firearms.
Paid to Party, produced by Flying Shoe Films and Meldrum Dent, sees journalist and model Sydney Lima lifts the lid on the dark side of image modelling, where young models are often flown around the world to be paid to party – exposing an unregulated industry that can put aspiring models into potentially dangerous situations.
In the third factual commission, Hunting the BBL Butchers, journalist Mary Mandefield looks at the murky world of Turkey’s rogue cosmetic surgery clinics as she attempts to track down and confront the people responsible by posing as a customer. This 1 x 20′ investigative film is commissioned in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen.
Khari said: “This new roster of fresh and original digital commissions is an exciting progression in our Fast Forward strategy. In Beth, we have our first digital original drama which has attracted a stellar line-up of talent on both sides of the camera, showing that producers and talent alike are embracing our strategy to reach digitally-native audiences with quality British programming, wherever they choose to watch it.
All four commissions will air on Channel 4’s YouTube channels. Beth is funded by Channel 4 and GroupM Motion Entertainment’s Diverse Indies Fund. The Diverse Indies Fund was set up to support small and medium-sized ethnically diverse-led independent production companies to produce new projects.
