How Do You Get a TV Movie from A to Z to TX in a Year?

with Barbara Machin and Jane Steventon

What do you do when handed the opportunity to create a feature-length film for TV in one year flat?

From pitch to post-production, adapting the Susan Hill novel The Small Hand was a fast-track, high-stakes commission from Channel 5, going from a one-pager in October 2018 to post-production and promotional campaigns in October 2019, ready for a Boxing Day transmission.

With insight into the low-budget challenges, editorial complications and shooting fundamentals required, writer Barbara Machin, producer Jane Steventon and director Justin Molotnikov track the key moments of development, triumph and compromise that took Susan Hill’s Ghost Story from inception to transmission.

Appearing in this session

Jane Steventon – Development Executive, Producer

Credits include Tracy Beaker, Casualty, Susan Hill's Ghost Story

Jane has worked in adult and children's scripted drama at Disney, CBBC, BBC and Lime Pictures.

Barbara Machin – Screenwriter, Showrunner

Credits include Waking The Dead, The Bill

Barbara Machin is the BAFTA and Emmy award-winning screenwriter who created BBC One’s worldwide-selling hit series Waking The Dead.