Grand Designs

[Drellingore]

'ello folks. Those familiar with my posts may have noticed me talk about our build being chosen for Grand Designs.

I was very keen, the missus much less so. To spare you the details, she agreed begrudgingly because I'm insensitive and pushy, then wasn't happy, so I pulled the plug, but she's since had a (entirely voluntary!) change of mind and it's now back on. 

 

In a few different threads it popped up, and people had questions (like "why on Earth would you want to do that?!"), and voiced a few preconceptions that haven't been really matched with our experience thus far. Even our architect had a negative perception of the production process, which suffice to say the production team were surprised by. I don't think our contracts include any NDAs, but they do ask that we don't over-share the progress of the build, as that would spoil the narrative of the episode when it eventually airs.

I figured I'd start a thread so if anyone's curious (and maybe is considering applying themselves) I can answer about the general process, without polluting other threads with off-topic stuff.

About Grand Designs:

• All the people we've interacted with are very nice, and very considerate. They've been super patient with our internal debates, and they've been super-supportive of the missus and her concerns.
• They haven't (yet, it's early days) dictated anything to us about timelines. Their only asks have been 'if you can, tell us before something happens so we can decide whether to film it'. The perception that they'd insist on us delaying things for the benefit of their filming schedule seems unfounded. Sure, they said that they would ask if things could be moved if it'd help them out, but they also said that they wouldn't dream of telling people when they can/can't do works. They wouldn't have any leverage to do so anyway!
• We haven't done anything with Big Kev yet, but the producers are lovely and so far have been unintrusive. Follow you around, ask some questions, and maybe ask 'can you do that whilst I get it from this angle.'
• In summary, based on our limited experiences so far, I think some of the negative perceptions are unfounded. Let's see if I say the same in a couple of years! But one of my motivations for this post was to help spread the word that so far, they seem good people.

 

About the decision:

• I'm a bit of a show-off, so I like this kind of thing. I do keynote talks at conferences, host a podcast for work, used to teach martial arts, so I'm comfortable being in front of people.
• It seemed like a great way of sharing the build and the site. I find it motivating knowing that other people will see what we're doing, and that somehow makes it more real to me. 
• I found it validating that the show wanted to film the build. It felt a bit like 'winning', and that someone thought what we are doing is cool.
• It'll be good to document it for ourselves, the kids, and any grandchildren. I'd thought about trying to film it myself and doing a YouTube channel, but having done a podcast for work I can now see that'd be a boatload of work to do to an acceptable standard.
• The missus works in the industry, and is studying for her Part 2 in architecture. The exposure will, I'm certain, be great for her career. Even if she doesn't yet agree!
• You get a letter to prove that they're filming you, so you can tell suppliers that they might be featured. Each build gets a page on their site, and you can list key suppliers. This should help us secure discounts, and also motivate folks to not arse-up the build - I don't think many people want to be seen as a massive problem on national telly.
• We've already had some doors open as a result of their involvement. 

 

So basically, what we have learned from this is that I'm insensitive and needy of external validation 😆

Edited Saturday at 14:29 by Drellingore

[JohnMo]

23 minutes ago, Drellingore said:

basically, what we have learned from this is that I'm insensitive and needy of external validation

Insensitive moment - Is that another way of saying, a spoilt sh!te. 

[Andehh]

 We debated applying as we have an interesting build... But the privacy, and sheer emotions of it all can be hard enough without film crews etc adding to it. Can be fun on the ups... Less so when you're dealing with a major issue, and you realise 10million people will be watching & judging you on it. 

[Mr Punter]

I went paragliding with Tim who did the first GD build.  He didn't seem too traumatised by it.

[G and J]

I’d love ours to be on grunge designs if they paid the £20k they should.  I think it’s a bloody cheek that they don’t pay to film.  I guess there’s enough peeps who are happy to help them make TV cheaply.  Perhaps those self builders too financially focussed to do it for free are less likely for their project to go wrong and create the jeopardy/failure storylines that I imagine keep the viewers glued, so a bit of self selection helping our cousin Kevin (with apologies to The Undertones).

 

Our build is way too boring a design anyway, to my eye a lot of their builds stick out like a sore thumb, resembling either an office block or the atrium at my local Asda.  Once ours is built I’d prefer peeps to walk by without noticing it, because it kinda looks right in the row.

 

At the best of times I don’t enjoy tripping over people who are in my way, and I imagine film crews wouldn’t take kindly to being dumped on the road every time something I need to focus on is going on.   If they gave me a video camera to wear on my head while on site it might work for us, not otherwise.  Probably easier to contemplate if it’s your subcontractors that will be inconvenienced rather than one’s self.

 

In reality Each to their own.  May your project go well and may you end up happy with the result.

[G and J]

Just now, G and J said:

kinda looks right in the row

Or if not then I’d hope they think it looks better than what was there before.

[Drellingore]

16 hours ago, JohnMo said:

Is that another way of saying, a spoilt sh!te. 

Quite probably!

[SteamyTea]

14 hours ago, G and J said:

If they gave me a video camera to wear on my head while on site it might work for us, not otherwise

The TV work I have done is not far off that. 2 people, the camera operators, who also did the lighting (Best Boy) and the director, who also did the sound ((expletive deleted)ing helicopters taking off from Culdrose).

Was all very easy and relaxed on site.

The studio side was a different thing all together. About 20 people, tonnes of gear and wires everywhere. 

The director/producer was a tyrant, the Best Boys had to sort all the mess out.

 

Was good fun, especially the time I had to find, control and be filmed with some rare breed farm animals for a medieval film (that got canned).

[G and J]

13 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

The TV work I have done is not far off that. 2 people, the camera operators, who also did the lighting (Best Boy) and the director, who also did the sound ((expletive deleted)ing helicopters taking off from Culdrose).

Was all very easy and relaxed on site.

The studio side was a different thing all together. About 20 people, tonnes of gear and wires everywhere. 

The director/producer was a tyrant, the Best Boys had to sort all the mess out.

 

Was good fun, especially the time I had to find, control and be filmed with some rare breed farm animals for a medieval film (that got canned).

So grunge designs is likely to be even cheaper to film than I thought, so that makes them even tighter for not paying their perpetrators.

[SteamyTea]

21 minutes ago, G and J said:

makes them even tighter for not paying their perpetrators.

I got paid quite well.

I was approached about using some of my storm footage a few months back, no pay, told them to not bother. They seem to think that giving an 'amateur' just a credit is enough. 

We should really point out that we have minimum wage in the UK (why I dislike voluntary work).

Though we do all contribute days and weeks of hours on here, for (expletive deleted) all, except the occasional abuse.  But I pay for entertainment.