The Black Line Productions team.
Barcelona has stories lurking around every corner; it’s Black Line Productions’ job to uncover them. Prapti Mittal, Harriet Davies, Ben Appleton and Roman Weston—four talented filmmakers from India and England—work day and night (literally!) to tell those stories, making diverse documentaries about the people and narratives they find in Barcelona’s narrow streets.
Prapti (Morning Person)
6:00 No alarm, I wake up and drag myself out of bed to brush my teeth. After making some good ol’ fashioned chai, I sit on the balcony for a while.
7:00 House deep cleaning time featuring Alt-J—obsessive cleaner here!
8:00 I start making a to-do list for the day and do all the small admin stuff that comes with being an entrepreneur (and an expat).
9:00 I start working on more creative things and slowly start getting in the mood for work, before cycling in at around 10:00 or 11:00.
Harriet (Coffee and Creativity)
9:30 The morning starts slow: I cycle down from Gracia, past the Sagradada Familia, ringing the bell as I pass tourists standing in the road. I barely have to push the pedals all the way to the office, and sometimes take a small detour along the beach.
10:00 I start the morning with a strong coffee at BCombinator (our offices), a big marker at the beginning of the day. I settle in, check my emails and begin a conference call with one of our co-producers about a documentary, writing or shoot scheduling. A big chunk of my morning goes into developing creative projects and finding ways of moving them forward.
12:00 Writing sessions begin around this time, after we have finished our emails and meetings. The writing process usually includes bringing together research, thoughts and visual styles for the final film. This process is an experience of bouncing ideas off each other and finding a strong narrative. This can last hours, sometimes six to eight.
14:00 Group lunch starts about now, a nice time to take a break. We sit in the park near the beachfront with our lunches, mainly brought from home, and discussing anything but work!
Ben (Out and About)
15:00 I’m happy when I work out of the office: I like being out in the sun. Most shoots in Barcelona happen around this time when businesses have their siesta. Grabbing the camera, I’m usually out of the office by 15:00.
16:00 The nature of documentary filmmaking means we get to meet all kinds of people. And not just normal people: passionate people, people trying to do something, to tell a story and create a message. That’s why I think filming is my favorite part of the process. Shoots can last anywhere between three to six hours, so most of my afternoon goes like this.
19:00 A great thing about being in Barcelona is that it’s easy to have a post-work drink with someone, as everyone lives nearby. So, after the shoot, I’ll often meet people for tapas, or in the park for some beers. Sometimes I’ll go to the beach for a quick after-work swim, too.
21:00 Tonight’s dish is a Thai curry. Music is playing in the kitchen as the food simmers, while I choose what to watch while I eat (probably a horror film or a documentary, I can fall asleep through either!)
Roman (Night Owl)
22:00 Earlier, when studying at the INto- INdustry program with Otoxo Productions, I was definitely more outgoing, but a lot of my time now is spent in my cave, editing video. I mostly only go out on weekends now.
23:00 Preparation for an editing session: some Cheetos and beers. I find a few editing tutorials that I can take inspiration from, and search for the right music for the video.
MIDNIGHT If I haven’t broken down from the music search, I am now fully ready to go on an editing journey.
3:00 It was 23:30 five minutes ago, I swear! (Anyone who’s ever edited video knows what I mean…)
4:00 I usually sink into bed around this time.
Black Line Productions
Dedicated to hard hitting documentaries with a direct social impact, Black Line Productions is committed to using film as a medium for influencing change. You can see examples of the Black Line team's work at blackline.productions.