TWO years ago, Scots aid worker, Linda Norgrove, was killed during an attempt to free her from Afghan rebels.
In ‘Lorgan Linda – Linda’s Story’, being screened tonight on BBC ALBA (from 2100 to 2200), Linda’s parents, John and Lorna Norgrove, are filmed as they travel from their home on the Isle of Lewis to Afghanistan, on their first trip to the country where their daughter died.
Here, producer, Ann Morrison – of makers, Mac TV, based on the Isle of Lewis – answers the questions…
Who commissioned the production?
BBC ALBA‘s head of service, Margaret Mary Murray, and MG ALBA head of content, Alan Esslemont.
Who are the key personnel in making the programme?
The documentary was directed and shot by Douglas Campbell and researched by Elly Welch.
Our Afghanistan ‘fixer’ was Thomas Wide and the production manager was Melissa Thomson. The editor was Craig Nicol.
Kit and software?
The programme was shot on XD Cam PDW700 and edited at MacTV on Avid Media Composer 5.5.
What were the main challenges in making the programme?
The logistics of filming in Afghanistan. It is obviously a difficult shooting environment anyway but our shooting schedule coincided with a particularly turbulent time in March, with the burning of the Koran by US soldiers and also the shooting of 16 civilians by an American soldier in Kandahar.
After on-going consultation with the BBC’s High Risk teams in London and Kabul, travel to Afghanistan was postponed at the last minute. Once the local situation had calmed sufficiently we were able to reschedule. Good local information and experienced crew were absolutely essential. All crew had previously undertaken Hostile Environment training.
What have you learned and enjoyed from the experience?
The procedures and support of the BBC High Risk team was invaluable. Their advice was always calm, clear and informed from their local bureau. The combination of our experienced UK-based fixer, working with his own network of local drivers, fixers and translators, worked extremely well.
Obviously this type of production needs lots of flexibility both in planning and, once on the ground, filming.
