GOOD year, bad year? As 2013 draws to a close, we ask Nicole Kleeman, executive producer at Glasgow-based Firecrest Films: ‘How has it been for you?’.
Briefly, what is it that you do?
We make current affairs documentaries and specialise in investigative journalism.
Choose three words that sum up 2013 (so far), from a professional point of view.
Front page news.
In 2012, what was your biggest ambition for 2013, and to what extent did you achieve it?
Our ambition was to increase our output and to have more impact, and we did both – considerably.
How has 2013 (so far) been for you, personally?
2013 has been a breakthrough year for Firecrest. This year, we’ve made seven films, including two Panorama investigations for BBC One, four investigations for Channel 4 News, and our latest programme, Secrets of the Discount Stores – for Channel 4 Dispatches – is on air at 8pm tonight.
Our Channel 4 News report about the Lib Dems’ Lord Rennard I’d say was truly agenda-setting. We have also reported about private companies responding to 999 call-outs, allegations of sexual abuse at elite specialist music schools and claims of widespread mis-selling of interest rate swaps to small businesses.
Any changes this year in technology, legislation, the economy, etc that have had a relatively significant impact on the business?
None I can think of. It’s the superlative team of journalists and filmmakers here that have made 2013 the huge success it’s been.
What looking forward to, in 2014 – personally and professionally?
Continuing to work with the best journalists and filmmakers, and continuing to have formidable support from Channel 4 and BBC for what we do.
