FACTUAL


important to retain Clarkson’s impatience and bombast. “Both are part of him.


Who he is. And because of that, you knew it would rub him up against the patient world of farming. Even so, he also had to be humble – to acknowledge his lack of knowledge and not make the whole thing a panto.” Casting was critical – and widely praised by those who watched the series and fell in love with agricultural advisor ‘Cheerful Charlie’, incomprehensible stone waller and head of security Gerald, tractor driver Kaleb, and Clarkson’s better-half-turned-farm- shop-keeper Lisa. Though arguably the word “casting” is a misnomer. “Everyone in it just works there,” Wilman


stresses. “There was no auditioning. We got fucking lucky. Because they all knew the farm, they all know exactly what they are doing.” And, of course, it worked.” With the first pandemic lockdown


occurring five months into the shoot, the logistical challenges of the year-round outdoor production in all weathers turned out to be less challenging than COVID-19. “Technically, it was quite a simple job to shoot a farm,” he says.


Yet while following the course of a


year sounds like a simple series arc, it was anything but. And once production began, it was soon clear that the multiple stories – and hectic pace at which they arose – needed theming to be easy to follow.


THE AUDIENCE WE FOUND IS SOMETHING WE ARE ALL IMMENSELY PROUD OF


“The biggest job was keeping across lots


of different story strands - unlike with The Grand Tour, where you have one story across a ten to twelve-day shoot and it’s all pretty linear. With this, all the different story strands


felt a bit like spaghetti,” Wilman continues. “COVID was the hardest part as we had


to go to minimum crew – down to just one cameraman – and Lisa ended up shooting parts. It was tough for a while, but we got through it.” The surprise to all involved was the


series’ reception. “The audience we found is something we are all immensely proud of. Because this meant we’d achieved what we set out to: a snapshot of a warm, dysfunctional farm knocking along on hard work,” he says.


“Is lightning in a bottle something to be


proud of? I don’t know, but we were all very happy about it.”


The internal and external training programme enables students and runners to learn more about the world of post-production. From university talks, work-experience and networking


opportunities to in-house masterclasses and the opportunity to train with senior staff; the ENVY Academy provides its ‘students’ a unique means of developing themselves and their skills.


CHARITY The commitment to great work doesn’t stop there, over the last few years ENVY has increased its efforts within the local community and continues to seek out opportunities to make a difference.


To date they have supported and raised money for a variety of causes and charities such as: Mind, Euston Food Bank, Family Action Toy Appeal and the UCLH.


envypost.co.uk ENVY Academy talk @ University of West London Family Action Toy Appeal televisual.com 17 BD


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