Research

At our first lesson back, we were fortunate enough to get the opportunity to go on the set of BBC3 drama 'Being Human' series 5. The director gave us a tour of the building and he explained how each department worked. We were able to take pictures of the set and the actors/actresses. Each department gave us advice on creating our own production and in particular the health and safety woman explained in great detail about how important the health and safety factor is in filming. 

In order to be working in health and safety, you had to be a mature qualified nurse, in order to help in emergencies. We watched one of the scenes be filmed which featured Phil Davies. He was playing a disabled man which had to use a wheelchair. It was exciting to see all the professional equipment being used and watching the scenes filmed in live play. One of the rooms which the Director shown us was completed re-made for the show. It had all old furniture and damp on the walls, and there was also a false window which shown Barry Island, as the hotel they are filming in is supposed to be filmed in Barry, but there were not any hotels available so they filmed in a hotel in Pencoed called The Maerdy.

Front of the Maerdy hotel, note the change of name to
'Barry Grand Hotel'

The woman in charge of Health and Safety was also nice enough to give us a portfolio of her work. Some of the shows she has worked on include: Being Human series 3, Summer open air concert, Being Human series 4, Teule, Stella, BT Commercial advert for TV, Tesco commercial advert for TV, BBC Casualty (Medical Advisor), Switch, Being Human series 5, Teule, Casualty (Medical Advisor). These shows range from 2010-2012.  
 


Different features in the portfolio included an accident book, risk assessments, potential emergency situations, supplies for medics, fast response bag, accident and illness form, medical referral documentation, disclaimer, patients own medication, set medic protocols and guidelines, equal opportunities policy, daily actives for medics on set, paper and electronic documentation protocols, safe storage of medical kit, oxygen policy, oxygen TREM card, confidentiality, complaints, environmental policy statement, health and safety policy statement, medical confidentiality, manual handling guidelines, clinical waste, certificate of incorporation of a private limited company. I was surprised at the high demand of detail needed for the health and safety aspect of working on a film set.

Jan, the health and safety woman, also wrote a list up of the different departments in the film set. These include; Executive Producer, Producer, Line Producer, Director, 3RDA/D, 2ND A/D, 1ST A/D, Sound, Electrics, Carpenters, Wardrobe, Makeup, Health/Safety, Accounts, Locations, Caters, Actors/Actresses, Extras, Arts Department, Preps Department,Unit Drivers.

A picture of the lighting used on set

One of the actors in the make up bus