Docu Filmmaking
totally disregard what I say but
at least I’ve been part of that
process and I love that.”
For someone who is so in
demand, Rachel is rather self-
effacing throughout our interview,
at the same time as revealing
what drives her, and why she is
so good at what she does. “I’m
blatantly not a business woman
really. I know it sounds a terrible
thing to say—a shocking thing
to say—I’m a crap producer
because I didn’t get into it to
make money. What are we
kidding ourselves that we’re
going to be really rich? I said
on a panel at Hot Docs I fully
expect to pay my mortgage off
and drop dead the day after!
And that’s something that I’ve The English Surgeon
countenanced, and acknowledged,
and I’m happy with it.”
She also returns more than once eyes to a totally different way of themselves from foundations So what would be her number
to the idea that she is “lucky” doing things.” This was back in and charities. They’ve looked at one tip to independent producers?
or that “it’s not about anything 2002 when the Ofcom ruling theatrical much more, and “I’d just find a couple of
particularly clever, it’s just about gave rights back to independent DVD and online. And they hundred quid, get yourself to
tenacity.” And while both of producers and she was working look at building grassroots Sunnyside, get yourself to IDFA,
these may be true, there is no with Luke Holland and Phil audiences for themselves, like go to BRITDOC, go to Sheffield
escaping the fact that Rachel’s Grabsky, two of the first film- Sandi DuBowski [the director [Doc/Fest]… These things are
success has largely been because makers in the UK to really and producer of Trembling incredibly important. And don’t
she was one of the first to make make the most of international Before G-d and a pioneer in think that it’s only commissioning
the most of international opportunities. It is not a new the world of online marketing editors that are important to
opportunities, whether that’s thing for feature film producers, for documentary] he’s doing A talk to, or funders, think about
Garbage Warrior
“I love the creative process where
people use me as a sounding board,
and they may totally disregard what
I say but at least I’ve been part of
that process and I love that.”
broadcast sales to territories in or even for documentary Jihad For Love now, and I keep talking to producers and
Europe and North America, or producers in Europe or North getting these e-mail updates… directors from other countries,
deals for theatrical distribution— America, but it is something And I know that they’ve got a and distributors; anybody that
evident in the recent success of that UK filmmakers are still really good formula going, and you can gain intelligence from
Garbage Warrior. getting used to. it’s probably always evolving, and information about what
Films that she has produced “We’re very lucky here, even and that’s because they have to people pay, what they like. And
have long had a presence on the though we get very cross, we do it. And in this country I feel it’s just fun as well, because you
international festival circuit but are very, very lucky that that people have been extremely feel like you’re a part of a bigger
before that, it was Rachel herself documentaries are supported. privileged, but things are community and there’s something
who was visiting festivals like In other countries, there just changing now. I feel really lucky bigger than our little UK
IDFA in Amsterdam. “It’s like isn’t the support… they’re more that I was introduced to that broadcasting world. It’s humbling
going to festivals opens your like artists who are funding world, that international world.” but it’s wonderful.” n
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