Filming Life on the Run

For Lincoln graduate Philip Krstic, BA (Hons) Media Production 2012, Channel 4's reality thriller 'Hunted' was like no other job he had done before. As a freelance assistant producer, he had to follow the fugitives wherever they went in the UK and help record their time on the run.

“One day I'd be running on the streets of Manchester city centre, and the next I'd be cycling up to 50 miles a day in North Wales.” Philip said. “Where we went and how we travelled totally depended on what the contributors wanted to do. We were simply there to observe and record their time on the run.”

“We had to be ready at all times with the cameras to film the drama as it unfolded. There was no opportunity for second takes - if we missed something that was it! Even the smallest interactions could play a huge part in their story on the run, so we had to make sure that it was all covered.”

Working on such a large scale production such as ‘Hunted’ highlighted to him just how much goes into the programme. From the commissioning, casting, prepping, health and safety, legal and financial side of things, there are huge teams of people who make the whole thing seamlessly happen.

Since graduating, Philip has worked on a variety of programme formats. These include a couple of exciting documentaries; one of which was following a teenage trans female, and another following Ian Wright set up football tournaments in Young Offenders Institutes in the hope to reduce recidivism.

He has also worked on programmes such as Channel 4's 'Food Unwrapped' and 'Superfoods' in which he travelled all over the world to prove or debunk health claims surrounding various foods.

Reflecting on his time at Lincoln, Philip said: “Having access to the wide range of kit the Lincoln School of Film and Media had whilst at the University certainly helped me when it came to using kit for broadcast productions. Often, even on entry level jobs in television, you're expected to have basic knowledge on how to operate cameras and use equipment. There's no question that what I learned at LSFM helped me get to where I am today.”

Philip is just over 5 years into his career in television and although the editorial side of television production predominantly consists of freelance contracts, he is always looking forward to what adventure his next project will bring.