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Oral History Interviews
Contemporary film and television history is difficult to research by recourse to archival sources alone because of the paucity of material available, or the difficulties involved in contextualizing this material. Personal testimony gathered from key figures provides a rich discursive field. Oral history sources, if interpreted judiciously, can reveal much about working practices, decision-making processes, and the performance dynamics of individual creativity within organisational structures. Interviews with key personnel have been a vital part of this research project. Not only have we learnt much about the operation of Channel 4’s film policy and the channel’s relationship with film-makers, but we have gained valuable insights into the ecology of creativity within the British film and televsion industries.
In the work of the AHRC-funded project ‘Channel 4 Television and British Film Culture’ (2010-2014), interview testimony has been vital to recovering the histories of Channel 4’s diverse contributions to British film culture since 1982.
Oral History Transcripts
Peter Ansorge
Peter Ansorge was a commissioning editor (Fiction) and Head of Drama (Serials and Series) at Channel 4, 1982-1997.
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Stuart Cosgrove
Stuart Cosgrove was Controller of Arts and Entertainment at Channel 4, 1994-2002 and is currently Director of Creative Diversity.
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Michael Darlow
Michael Darlow is a television director, writer and producer.
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John Ellis
John Ellis was the co-producer of Visions (Large Door/Channel 4,1982-1985).
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Alan Fountain
Alan Fountain was Senior Commissioning Editor at Channel 4’s Independent Film and Video Department, 1981–1994.
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Sara Geater
Sara Geater was a co-production executive in the Drama Department at Channel 4, 1987-1996 and Head of Commercial Affairs, 1998-2007.
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Robin Gutch
Robin Gutch was a commissioning editor in the Independent Film and Video Department and ran the FilmFour Lab, 1993-2003.
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Derek Hill
Derek Hill was film buyer at Channel 4, 1981-1994.
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Jeremy Isaacs
Sir Jeremy Isaacs was Chief Executive at Channel 4, 1981-1987.
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Diana Pearce
Diana Pearce (née Hall) was assistant to Chris Griffin-Beale in the Channel 4 Press Office, 1982-1989.
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Tessa Ross
Tessa Ross was appointed Head of Drama at Channel 4 in 2000 and, since 2002, has been Controller of Film and Drama.
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Roger Shannon
Roger Shannon was the co-ordinator and a founder member of Birmingham Film and Video Workshop. He also produced a number of their films.
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Rod Stoneman
Rod Stoneman Rod was Deputy Commissioning Editor at Channel 4’s Independent Film and Video Department, 1983–1993.
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Paul Webster
Paul Webster was Head of FilmFour, 1998-2002
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Stephen Woolley
Stephen Woolley was a co-founder and producer at Palace Pictures,1982-1992.
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In this section:
The Research Project
This four-year AHRC-funded project (2010-2014) is a collaboration between the University of Portsmouth and the BUFVC, assessing the impact of Channel 4 on British film culture.
A Film4 Timeline
Between 1982 and 1998 Film on Four directly funded over 270 productions, which provided a major boost to the British film industry and created an unprecedented bridge between television and film.
Film For All Seasons
Film on Four was the flagship strand for new feature films commissioned by Channel 4 between 1982 and 1998. Here you can browse the back catalogue, season by season, as originally broadcast.
Conferences
The Portsmouth-based research project hosted a dedicated conference at BFI Southbank in November 2012 to coincide with Channel 4′s 30th anniversary. Members of the project team have also disseminated research findings at a number of other conferences in the UK and internationally.
Channel 4 Film Blog
During the four years of the research project ‘Channel 4 and British Film Culture’ (2010-2014) a number of writers contributed blogs on aspects of Channel 4’s film activities.
About the project
Among its many innovations, the new Channel 4 made a commitment to fund feature film for broadcast on television and for selective cinema release. While some critics argued that it diminished cinema, many hailed Channel 4 as the saviour of the UK film industry.