Warp Films drama Adolescence and Silverback Films’ doc Billy & Molly: an Otter Love Story were the big winners at this year’s RTS Craft & Design Awards.
Netflix four-parter Adolescence, which Warp co-produced with Matriarch Productions and Plan B Entertainment, took home five awards including a special award for its craft team.
“The ‘one-shot’ device which ran through all four episodes, was the product of meticulous pre-planning and collaboration across the entire production team,” said judges.
“The split-second co-ordination of drones, Steadicams, specially adapted vehicles and hidden crew was vital to shooting each episode in a single take. It was a genuine team effort – as the producers told us: ‘it’s like a gigantic play and everyone’s part is absolutely vital’.”
The hit drama’s tally also included an award for casting director Shaheen Baig, reflecting its success in making teenager Owen Cooper a “global superstar” in his breakthrough role, and in the sound, production management and production design categories.
Cooper has already won an International Emmy and yesterday picked up a Golden Globe nomination along co-stars Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty, with the series nominated for best limited series, anthology series or motion picture for TV
Billy & Molly
Meanwhile, Charlie Hamilton James was named best director (unscripted) for his National Geographic doc Billy & Molly: an Otter Love Story [main picture], which also cleaned up in the unscripted sound and photography categories.
Other winners included multicamera director Lance Kneeshaw, who helmed EastEnders’ live interactive episode; Mathieu Weekes and Bizibot Productions, recognised in the production design (unscripted) category for their work on Studio Lambert’s The Traitors; and editors Nikki McChristie (Ludwig, Big Talk/That Mitchell & Webb Company), Andre Prunetti (Boybands Forever, Mindhouse Productions) and Samuel R Santana Grenfell: Uncovered Rogan Productions for Netflix, and Simon Brasse (Sister/Noisy Bear’s Netflix drama Black Doves).
This year’s outstanding contribution award went to Hilary Briegel, a vision mixer whose BBC credits span more than 30 years of output including the Olympic Games, Play School, Jackanory, Only Fools and Horses, Top Gear and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
