CREATIVE
LITTLE BIG WANDER
Action – Wander Films working with Jimmy Mulville from Hat- Trick Productions .
Filmmakers achieve mainstream TV breakthrough
WORDS : JULIE BURNISTON
Teesside ’ s acclaimed creative filmmakers , Wander Films , led by dynamic directors Lou Tonner and Chloë Clover , entered 2024 on a high note with news that will catapult their work onto television screens nationwide .
Over the past few years , the newlymarried couple have not only steered their content marketing agency to greater success , but have actively engaged with North East Screen , participating in various programmes and initiatives aimed at honing their craft and establishing themselves as esteemed filmmakers in the broadcast arena .
Now , their dedication and perseverance has paid off , with a coveted commission to produce three inserts for BBC One ’ s flagship daytime magazine show , Morning Live .
These short films , infused with a
Going national - Wander Films directors Chloë Clover and Lou Tonner with their development team at the BBC Studios . distinctive northern flavour , are set to captivate an audience of 1.2m viewers nationwide later this year .
“ We presented the show with topical stories with positive messages ,” explains Clover . “ It was crucial that the ideas were unique , yet in line with the Morning Live house style .
“ We ’ re buzzing that the commissioners loved our pitches , and we are now in production . Hopefully we will impress , and it will be an ongoing collaboration .”
Their success with the BBC extends further still , with Wander also selected for the prestigious BBC Small Indie Fund .
“ We found out in December 2023 , just before the Christmas break ,” says Lou . “ The Indie Fund provides support to independent filmmakers , offering mentorship , training and networking opportunities , along with financial backing .
“ We ’ re stoked to be chosen , especially considering the fierce competition , and it ’ s even more amazing that we are one of just four companies from the North-East to make the cut .”
A tight team of creatives holding fort at their Middlesbrough HQ has given Lou and Clover the opportunity to spread their creative wings , not just with the BBC but with E4 , where they made it to the top five for the channel ’ s Contestable Pot , which seeks out a big , bold commission with the intention of developing the next channeldefining format .
“ They decided not to put our idea forward for paid development but still , to get to the last five , it ’ s like , wow , how are we going up alongside such big established indies ?”
To offset any disappointment , Wander has since won paid development for a digital project with Channel 4 that will see them working alongside North East Screen once more .
“ Paid development is great because it gives us the opportunity to spend time with commissioners and work with them to develop ideas ,” says Clover .
Despite these amazing successes , Lou and Clover remain grounded , driven by their passion for nurturing talent and pushing for the greater success of Wander as a whole .
“ We ’ ve worked really hard in growing a fantastic team ,” says Clover .
“ Bringing on Liam Dawson as head of marketing has meant we are able to offer new services and we are about to hire into pretty much every department in the company . That ’ s some going in just over five years .”
Lou adds : “ We feel really passionate about growing talent in the North-East and on Teesside , in particular .
“ It ’ s always going to be a huge part of our agenda to create opportunity here .
“ It doesn ’ t really matter if we expand down to London or over to Manchester , it ’ s all going to be coming back to the North- East . This is our home .”
With Wander making such incredible strides just a few months into 2024 , what ’ s next on the horizon ?
“ Let ’ s just say , there is something huge that we are keeping under our hats ,” laughs Clover .
“ We can ’ t speak about it yet , except to say that by the end of the year , by end of summer maybe , there ’ ll be something prime time with our name on it . Something massive !”
For more details about Wander Films , visit welovewander . com .
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