DOCS: “There is a strong emphasis on empathy and understanding of the people whose lives we film. It is a huge responsibility to tell their stories”

For Day Three of our Whisper Does... series, we spoke with Creative Director Chris Grubb, to find out more about Whisper DOCUMENTARIES…

What’s your role at Whisper?

I’m the Creative Director, looking after documentaries at Whisper.

What's been your highlight over the last 12 months?

Delivering the Ben Stokes film that aired on Amazon Prime Video last summer, where we were lucky enough to partner with esteemed director Sir Sam Mendes. There was a screening event, attended by Ben’s team-mates and family, and Sam, it was the first time many of them had seen the finished film.

We are also tremendously excited about the imminent release of All Roads Lead Down Under, which is due to air on FIFA+ soon. This is a series following the drama and emotions of Women's football teams on every continent, as they bid for qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023. 

How and why does Whisper excel at documentaries?  

We know how to tell incredible stories and we place human stories at the heart of our narratives. There is a strong emphasis on empathy and understanding of the people whose lives we film. It is a huge responsibility to tell their stories and we try to approach productions with respect and objectivity. I think the trust we’re able to build with everyone involved in the process allows us to create something compelling. 

What’s coming up on the horizon for your team? 

We have a number of projects in early production, a lot of which I can’t talk about yet! One is a fascinating series with Red Bull rookies, the young aspiring riders hoping to one day make it in MotoGP.

What was your route to Whisper? 

I was at ITV for seven years before working at the BBC for 14, mainly in sport productions. I was lucky enough to work at a number of major events during that time. The appetite for sports content has always meant there are great opportunities in the genre to develop production skills and work on a variety of films from short promos through to long form content. 

What Partners do you work with? 

We work with all the major UK broadcasters, sports federations such as FIFA and UEFA and SVODS such as Amazon and Netflix. Basically, anyone who wants to tell engaging and authentic stories that can relate to audiences.

How would you describe Whisper? 

A place where everyone is encouraged to reach their potential and there is no limit to what can be achieved.