MATT HOPKINS

We’re hugely grateful for all of the attention our little film got over the weekend since it’s broadcast. Thank you to everyone who took the time to watch it and share your experience of the film - I t’s made all the effort from the production team and Dave’s family worth it. Most important to us have been the countless messages we’ve received from those within the sight-loss community for whom the film has struck a deep chord. For those who missed it, don’t worry - it will be available on iPlayer for some time.

I often feel overwhelmed by the direction we’re heading in with the climate crisis, especially now. But working with @earthshotprize has given me a small glimpse of hope. Last year, I spent a huge chunk of time Series Directing 15 films about people who aren’t just talking about change—they’re making it happen. Each film follows an Earthshot finalist, telling the story of their climate solution—something they’ve built from the ground up and turned into real impact. This project came together with some incredible people here in the UK, and across the world. Here are a few grabs from our series overview that we’re releasing very soon. All longer films are airing now on BBC iPlayer. #earthshotprize #climateaction #sustainablefuture #impactfilm #filmmaker

Grabs and BTS from a new one with BBC StoryWorks creating three docs about the global energy transition for COP 28. The films look at emerging technologies and opportunities, as well as the huge challenge of transitioning our energy systems at scale. Huge love to all involved in bringing this quick turnaround job to life. Full films on my website. Credits: Client: BBC StoryWorks BBC EP: @rootholland BBC Senior Producer: @ellendefaux Featuring: Nouf Alelweet, Gustavo Barrios, Sarah Al Harthey Production Co: The Progress Film Company Head of Production: @nicolasimsmckechnie Director: @hopogram Producer: @jbinks23 Service Production: @akamediadigital Service Producer: Nadya Tereshina Production Coordinator: Gaby Dundee Production Manager: Pieter Oosthuizen VP Studio: @fractalstudio.ae DoP: @marcusdomleo Focus Puller: @glenda.kd Stedicam: @tomlebaric 2nd AC: Raymond Mouriss Gaffer: @abood_morad_gaffer Best Boy: Ahmad Hamad Spark: Tabraiz Rasool Spark: Muhammad Diaz Spark: Sami Allah Key Grip: Ruelito Dagos Sound Recordist: Lorenzo Eelen Equipment: @gammaengineeringmiddleeast Post Producer: @miaxerrimondragon Screen Editors: @ckellyediting @jacobaustinlavelle @meng.valeria VP Techs: @fractalstudio.ae Editors: @john.jeanes @ckellyediting @jacobaustinlavelle Colour: @matthieu.toullet @company_3 Colour Producer: @edwinelkproducer Sound Design and Mix: James Cobbold @machinesound.co

The Film I’ll Never See has been nominated for Best Broadcast Factual at the Royal Television Society North East & Borders awards. Huge love to all the incredible people from the NE who grafted so hard on this, and the wonderful places you welcomed us to. I’d barely spent any time in that part of the country prior to making this, but feel blessed to have experienced it first hand.

The importance of failure | A clip from ‘A Failure of the Imagination’ which which has always stayed with me and I wanted to share to mark @mcmasterchef and the @silolondon team latest evolution, celebrating the grit and determination they have displayed over the years. Forever proud to have been part of the Silo story. So much love to team who helped me bring this special one to life: @xavogram @vladb.c @jamesocmusic @joe__munday @untruth.co Full film on my website in bio x

Grabs from a project shot way back last year in the UAE - ‘Voices of Vision’ for The Emirates x BBC Storyworks. An wild journey meeting people across the country who’d made The Emirates their home and built lives and businesses across culture, design, food and tech. Huge love to the team who grafted on this one across production and post. Full films on my website. BBC Storyworks EP: @rootholland BBC Storyworks Director of Branded Content: @alessio_nesi BBC Storyworks Creative Producer: @gwil_doe Director: @hopogram Producer: @miaxerrimondragon @jbinks23 @bophanie_lun DOP: @jameskilleendop 1st AC: @callumtunmore 2nd AC: Ranga Ranamuka, Raymond Mouriss Gaffer: @abood_murad_gaffer , Ahmed Hamad Sound Recordist: @kanerodrigues Service Production: @akamediadigital Service Producer: @belchonog Production Coordinator: @gabydundee Location Manager: @the_sea_salt_tour Editors: @ollyfcooper @john.jeanes Colour: Company 3 Colour Producer: @edwinelkproducer Colourist: @d.phipps.colour Post Sound: @machinesound.co Sound designer: @noisy_jim Featuring: Ahmed Abdulhakim | @3.fils @tomarnel | @theguilddubai @hattemmattar | @mattar.ae Paul Bishop | @wearebishopdeisgn @rdebbas | @wmotors Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim | @mohammedalmansoori Sky Kurtz | @purehaarvestsmartfarms Patricia Roig | @BocaDubai Mahmoud Adi | Sharooq Partners Magnus Olsson | @careem Dany Farha | @becocapital Dr Saeed Alhassan Allhazraj | Manhat

NIO x Tom Dixon Launch teaser for a collaboration between electric car pioneers NIO and British design icon Tom Dixon as they partner on a custom build for the EC7 model ahead of the Shanghai Motor Show. Filmed around Tom’s studio in Coal Drops Yard it was absorbing to capture Tom’s process - rethinking the car through the lens of raw materials, form, and function. Thanks to the brilliant crew who brought this one to life in deepest, darkest December - a proper collaboration from start to finish. Client: Nio 
Brand Partner: Tom Dixon
Director: Matt Hopkins @hopogram Producer: Joe Binks @jbinks23 Production Manager: Charlotte Sinden
DOP: Matthew Ham @matthewdh Colourist: Karol Cybulski @imkarol.colour @harborpictureco Colour Producer: Sarah Banks @sarahlbanksx Focus Puller: Luke De Borde @litbyluke Clapper Loader: Abi Jones @abililyjones Key Grip: Matty McCabe @mattymccabegrips Grip: Tom Stansfield @tomstansfield_grip Gaffer: Jonny Boomer @jonny.boomer Spark: Max Hodgkinson @max_onthedimmer Sound Recordist: Ricky Barber @rickybarbs Hair & Make Up: Jojo Copeman @makemeupjojo Production Assistant: Elvis Scanlon 
Production Driver: Graeme Peacock
BTS Stills: Alex Jacobs @alexroryjacobs Production Company: Glass Onion Films @glassonionfilms

Since The Film I’ll Never See was released last week on @bbciplayer we’ve been inundated with messages from viewers who are also affected by sight loss, either directly themselves, or through a family member or friend. We are so thankful that they have taken the time to share their experience of the film. This are a small selection of the comments and messages (which we’re sharing with permission). It means everything to us that the film has struck such a deep chord with those in the sight loss community and that it is giving some form of understanding, strength and hope.

The Film I’ll Never See - Family 

In one of our earliest conversations, Amy told me “The journey for sight loss is not just about the person - it is always about the whole family.” That line stuck in my head and naturally led us to not just focus on Dave, but document the family as a whole experiencing the decline of his vision. As we filmed over the years, I wanted to really show what their relationships were like, how they communicated and supported each other through their journey. This actually came naturally as they’ve always been determined as a family to not bottle things up but talk about them. This led to some really hard conversations even as we were shooting, but what really shone through was that honesty formed a kind of collective resilience between them all.

Aside from the realities of sight loss, I learnt so much myself as a father, just from being around these moments and seeing how a family navigates something like this with a determination to stick together through the highs and low. Naturally, some of my favourite parts of the film are those fly on the wall moments between them, whether a couple together or the whole family. Link to film in bio. #bbcourlives #bbc #sightloss #documentary

The Film I’ll Never See - Solitude Across the three years I spent filming with Dave, solitude came up often in conversation. Not always in the dramatic sense, but as a coping mechanism for the quiet shifts that happen when sight begins to change. Many people talk with similar journey’s to Dave’s talk about how isolating sight loss can be, and although that loneliness wasn’t always present since I was around with often with other crew, we went to efforts to bring that reality into the film and that sense of distance still found its way into the frame. We often captured it while filming the in-between moments - travelling to appointments, waiting in corridors, stepping away from the family to take in a view that might be seen for the last time. Looking at these images now, I don’t think of loneliness, but strength, defiance and that calm determination of Dave’s story, but I know it’s something that can all too quickly change. Link in bio to full film.

Excited to share that The Film I’ll Never See launches TOMORROW on BBC iPlayer - Now live: /iplayer/episode/m002fxv5 
Incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved with this film. What began as an independent short has grown-slowly, steadily-into a 30-minute documentary for television. It’s taken belief, perseverance, and a willingness to stick with a story where change comes gradually but each step lands like a major beat. 
Filmmaking is a team sport, but it can also be a lonely path—pushing a project forward without always knowing where it’s headed. Huge love to the legends who were there from the start ( @ben.lankester @jasonpaulosborne @nicolasimsmckechnie ), helping get it off the ground almost three years ago and continuing to check in throughout. And to the brilliant team who brought it to life in earnest - thank you for fighting every step of the way to help tell this story and finally not to mention Kenny Toal and @theblindpoetofficial and family - huge love for making it all happen. 
Credits:
 Produced and Directed by: Matt Hopkins
Executive Producer: Kenny Toal
Production Manager: Clare Jeffery
Production Company: ITV Signpost in association with Untruth
Commissioning Editors for BBC: Diana Hare, Mark Harrison Cinematography: Ross Marshall, Jack Webber, Elliot Holbrow, Matthew Ham
Camera Operators: Richard Walker, Mike Brookes
Camera Assistants: Josh Lenegan, Callan Dooley
Sound Recordists: Mick Haydock, Colin Lang, Chris Lawton
Editors: Chris Urmston, Daniel Hearn, Matt Hopkins
Colourist: Mark Lediard
Sound Mix: John Cook
Original Music: Andre Louis I’ll post the link once it’s live. TX dates are still being finalised, but it’s looking likely to air at the end of July.

The Film I’ll Never See - finally delivered to the BBC. After more than two years following @theblindpoetofficial (Dave Steele) through the final chapter of his sight, what began as a self-funded short is now a 30-minute documentary that, I hope, does justice to his extraordinary journey. Dave’s determination to change how the world sees blindness is not just the story we’re telling at this pivotal moment in his life, it’s also what helped push this film up the mountain, one step at a time. It wouldn’t have been possible without the team at ITV Signpost, whose deep understanding of accessibility shaped every frame, and my edit team (@chrisurmstonfilmediting and @danhearneditor ) who rode the wave of a breakneck turnaround with me. I’m also proud that this marks a co-production credit for @untruth.mov the new home for my documentary work, growing from the roots of England Your England. The film will TX on BBC One and land on iPlayer sometime in July. I’ll be shouting and sharing more updates when it does - forgive me in advance.