It's not all glamour though. Margaret Wicks is in the middle of simultaneously editing a film about an NHS trust and transferring their Arctic Challenge programme to a DVD when I arrive for interview. It looks like five pairs of arms and three brains might be quite handy. "Doing everything in house definitely means more work, and there are often massively long hours involved," admits Margaret, "but in the end it gives you much more creative freedom over finished product, so it's definitely worth it."
"five pairs of arms and three brains might be quite handy"
The creative control starts with inception of the programme right through to final editing and delivery to the broadcaster. Richard and Margaret come up with new programmes simply by bouncing ideas off each other over a cuppa in their kitchen. It seems hard to reconcile the award winning production company whose films are shown all over the world with such an image of cosy domesticity, but as Richard points out, TV and radio production is becoming ever more atomised, with small independents like them serving the commissioning editors. Perhaps partly as a result of this grounding in the local region, Triple Echo's latest production is devoted to concerns about the imminent changes to Scotland's environment about to be precipitated by climate change.
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A cyborg existence: Margaret Wicks in one of the Newtonmore editing suites
See larger pic
Triple Echo are currently putting the finishing touches to a six-part series on the subject for BBC Radio Scotland's Fresh Air strand to be broadcast starting in February. "It's really an in-depth look at the reality of what climate change means for Scotland's landscape and people," explains Richard. "It's very rare for bodies like the BBC to commission new research, but they have allowed us garner the views and predictions of numerous experts in their field to predict the likely effects on Scotland, and present them in a way that we can all comprehend."
The results says Richard, are disturbing. "We're all used to the idea of the climate change happening now, but to be honest, I think it's fair to say that most of us have a pretty vague idea about what it will actually mean in practice - apart from it getting warmer," he says. "But in the programmes it becomes very obvious that it goes much, much further than that." Because of a BBC embargo Richard can’t reveal too much detail but adds, "There will be quite stunning revelations for anyone who works and plays outside - or simply just lives in a house for that matter."
"mountains - and climbing them - will never be far away"
On a less worrying note, Richard and Margaret have also been working on a radio series about the inhabitant's of Scotland's remotest community on the Shetland island of Foula. 'I've always been interested in how people live their lives, and the largely self-contained community of small islands in particular.' The results of the documentary will be aired on BBC Radio Scotland in April.
Given Triple Echo's past track record however, it’s obvious that mountains - and climbing them - will never be far away. "We're currently developing a major new TV series with a global theme," reveals Richard. "It'll be like a kind of like The Face, except with a worldwide theme." Apart from being different in scale to the other climbing series Richard considers this is the way TV production is going. "Even small outfits like us have to think about how out programmes might play globally." And even 'local’ programmes sometimes travel remarkable distances. "One of the climbers who worked with me on my first series on Scottish mountaineering was amazed to see himself on a TV when he walked into a bar in Kathmandu - it was The Edge being shown on BBC World!"
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Stevie Haston cuts loose in 'Wild Climbs' See larger pic
Nevertheless, Richard is proud of Triple Echo's strong roots in the Highlands. "I've been lucky enough to do a lot of international travelling as part of my work," he says, "but it always seems to me that the Highland landscape always compares very favourably with just about anywhere else when you come back home. I don’t think I could really work anywhere else now!"
Triple Echo's series on Climate Change in Scotland will be broadcast in BBC Radio Scotland's 'Fresh Air' strand for six weeks from Wednesday February 19th at 11.30am, repeated Thursdays at 10.30pm.
A series about life on Scotland's most remote inhabited island, Foula, is scheduled to air in the spring, weekly for four weeks from Monday April 7th at 11.30am, repeated Tuesday at 10.30pm.
Colin Wells
16/1/2003
