Joseph Bullman
{{Short description|English documentary and drama director}}
Joseph Bullman is an English documentary and drama director, known for his political films, including factual dramas Killed By My Debt (2018), The Left Behind (2019) and Life and Death in the Warehouse (2022), and documentaries The Man Who Bought Mustique (2000), The Seven Sins of England (2007) and The Secret History of Our Streets (2012–14). Bullman's films have received six BAFTA nominations.
Career
The Man Who Bought Mustique (2000), about Lord Glenconner, an English lord, was nominated for BAFTA{{Cite web |title=BAFTA Crafta Awards 2008 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2008/tvcraft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718162611/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2008/tvcraft |archive-date=2014-07-18 |access-date=2020-05-18}} and Royal Television Society (RTS) awards{{Cite web |title=RTS Awards 2007 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/educational-television-awards-2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013233643/https://rts.org.uk/award/educational-television-awards-2007 |archive-date=2020-10-13 |access-date=2020-05-18}} and was a favourite of David Bowie.{{Cite news |last=Helmore |first=Ed |date=17 January 2016 |title=First Lou Reed, now David Bowie. That's it for New York. It's over. |publisher=The Observer |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/17/david-bowie-death-thats-it-for-new-york |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414074027/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/17/david-bowie-death-thats-it-for-new-york |archive-date=14 April 2019}}{{Cite news |last=Holden |first=Steven |date=2001-05-09 |title=No Man is an Island or Owns One Forever |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/09/movies/film-review-no-man-is-an-island-or-owns-one-forever.html |url-status=live |access-date=2020-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527155940/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/09/movies/film-review-no-man-is-an-island-or-owns-one-forever.html |archive-date=2015-05-27}}{{Cite journal |last=Hury |first=Hadley |title=All is Vanity. A Chasing After Wind |url=http://flaneur.me.uk/06/the-man-who-bought-mustique/ |url-status=live |journal=The Flanuer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516032610/http://flaneur.me.uk/06/the-man-who-bought-mustique/ |archive-date=2020-05-16 |access-date=2020-05-18}}
England is Mine/Dogumentary (2002), made with Lars von Trier's Dogme 95 movement, is a film about an English football hooligan finding love and redemption at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan.
The Seven Sins of England (2007), shot in Bullman's home town, filmed modern day binge drinkers and hooligans delivering the real words of Edwardian yobs, 12th century binge drinkers and Victorian louts. It was BAFTA-nominated{{Cite web |title=BAFTA Craft 2008 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2008/tvcraft |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718162611/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2008/tvcraft |archive-date=2014-07-18 |access-date=2020-05-18}} and won the Grierson Innovation Award{{Cite web |title=Grierson Awards 2008 |url=https://griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/past-awards/2008/the-grierson-awards-2008-winners/#award11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726170401/http://www.griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/past-awards/2008/the-grierson-awards-2008-winners/#award11 |archive-date=2018-07-26 |access-date=2020-05-18}} and a RTS Award.{{Cite web |title=Royal Television Society Awards 2007 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/educational-television-awards-2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013233644/https://rts.org.uk/award/educational-television-awards-2007 |archive-date=2020-10-13 |access-date=2020-05-18}}
Each episode of The Secret History of Our Streets (2012–14) depicted the history of a single London street.{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Phil |date=June 2012 |title=Preview: 'The Secret History of our Streets', Phil Harrison visits modern Deptford for an insight into London's disappearing working class |publisher=Time Out |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/events/preview-the-secret-history-of-our-streets |url-status=live |access-date=2020-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327084725/http://www.timeout.com/london/events/preview-the-secret-history-of-our-streets |archive-date=2016-03-27}}{{Cite web |title=The Secret History of Our Streets, Deptford |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEam6jk9LFQ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229044901/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEam6jk9LFQ |archive-date=2020-02-29 |access-date=2020-10-04}}{{Cite web |title=The Secret History of Our Streets, Ep4, Portland Road |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyUhMIEZh0I |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227150324/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyUhMIEZh0I&gl=US&hl=en&has_verified=1&bpctr=9999999999 |archive-date=2020-02-27 |access-date=2020-10-04}}{{Cite news |date=6 June 2012 |title=Secret History of Our Streets, Review |publisher=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jun/06/secret-history-of-our-streets |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729144952/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jun/06/secret-history-of-our-streets |archive-date=29 July 2020}} It was BAFTA-nominated and won a RTS award for the Best History Series and the Grierson Audience Award.{{Cite web |title=Grierson Award Winners, 2013 |url=https://griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/past-awards/2013/the-grierson-awards-2013-winners/#award4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330001952/https://griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/past-awards/2013/the-grierson-awards-2013-winners/#award4 |archive-date=2020-03-30 |access-date=2020-05-18}}{{Cite web |title=Royal Television Society Award Winners, 2013 |url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924083022/https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2013 |archive-date=2019-09-24 |access-date=2020-05-18}}
In 2018 Bullman turned to scripted drama, dramatising real life stories. His first drama, Killed by my Debt (2018), was the true story of Jerome Rogers, a young gig economy worker, who, overwhelmed by the pressure of debt arising from two traffic fines, took his own life. The film led to a national campaign and calls for reform in the UK Parliament.{{Cite web |last=Nagesh |first=Ashitha |title=How Debt Kills |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/How_debt_kills |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622020907/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/How_debt_kills |archive-date=2020-06-22 |access-date=2020-05-18 |publisher=BBC}}{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Rupert |date=26 May 2018 |title=Debt collectors held to account after traffic fines claim a life' Rupert Jones, The Guardian |publisher=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/may/26/debt-collecting-bailiffs-traffic-fine-suicide-jerome-rogers |url-status=live |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503140948/https://www.theguardian.com/money/2018/may/26/debt-collecting-bailiffs-traffic-fine-suicide-jerome-rogers |archive-date=3 May 2020}}{{Cite news |date=2018-07-17 |title=New Addington teen's tragedy prompts Parliament visit |publisher=Inside Croydon |url=https://insidecroydon.com/2018/07/17/new-addington-teens-tragedy-prompts-parliament-visit/ |url-status=live |access-date=2020-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717211129/https://insidecroydon.com/2018/07/17/new-addington-teens-tragedy-prompts-parliament-visit/ |archive-date=2018-07-17}}{{Cite web |title=Event with Rogers Family on the urgent need for bailiff reform |url=http://www.appgdebt.org/223-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013233644/http://www.appgdebt.org/223-2/ |archive-date=2020-10-13 |access-date=2020-05-18 |publisher=All Party Parliamentary Group on Debt}}{{Cite web |title=Foreign Press Association Awards, 2018–19 |url=https://www.fpalondonawards.org/#categories |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008172305/https://www.fpalondonawards.org/#categories |archive-date=2020-10-08 |access-date=2020-10-04}}{{Cite web |title=Broadcast Digital Awards, Best Drama |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-digital-awards-2019/best-drama-programme-killed-by-my-debt/5140833.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704034911/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-digital-awards-2019/best-drama-programme-killed-by-my-debt/5140833.article |archive-date=2019-07-04 |access-date=2020-05-18}}{{Cite web |title=Confessions of A Bailiff |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/clip/95188efe-f39b-4f28-baca-7893e6f392ce |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007010433/https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/clip/95188efe-f39b-4f28-baca-7893e6f392ce |archive-date=2020-10-07 |access-date=2020-10-04 |publisher=BBC Three}} It won the BAFTA and RTS awards for Best Single Drama,{{Cite web |title=Bafta Winners, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLoPRifW1ec |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013233659/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLoPRifW1ec |archive-date=2020-10-13 |access-date=2020-05-18}}{{Cite web |title=Winner, Royal Television Society, Best Single Drama |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_3tE0wGL3w}} and Broadcast awards for Best Single Drama, Best Digital Drama and Best Multichannel Drama.{{Cite web |title=Winner, Broadcast Digital Awards, Best Drama 2019 |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-digital-awards-2019/best-drama-programme-killed-by-my-debt/5140833.article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704034911/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-digital-awards-2019/best-drama-programme-killed-by-my-debt/5140833.article |archive-date=2019-07-04 |access-date=2020-05-18}}{{Cite web |title=Best single drama: Killed By My Debt |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcast-awards-2019/best-single-drama-killed-by-my-debt/5136523.article |website=Broadcast}} Bullman dedicated the BAFTA to Rogers' family who campaigned for a change to the law.{{Cite web |title=Acceptance speech, Bafta, Best Single Drama, 2019 |url=http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/transcripts/killed-by-my-debt-winners-acceptance-speech-single-drama-virgin-media |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013233645/http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/transcripts/killed-by-my-debt-winners-acceptance-speech-single-drama-virgin-media |archive-date=2020-10-13 |access-date=2020-10-04}}
The Left Behind (2019) tells the story of Gethin, who, with no secure job, housing or future, gets drawn into a far-right hate crime. The film is based on research in Britain's 'left behind' communities, and the work of professor Hilary Pilkington, who spent three years embedded with an English Defence League group. The film won BAFTA and RTS awards for Best Single Drama,{{Cite web |title=Bafta winner, Best Single Drama 2020 |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2020/television/single-drama |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806073426/http://awards.bafta.org/award/2020/television/single-drama |archive-date=2020-08-06 |access-date=2020-10-04}}{{Cite news |title=2020 Winners, Royal Television Society Awards |url=https://www.ukscreenalliance.co.uk/news/2020-winners-announced-for-royal-television-society-programme-awards/ |url-status=live |access-date=2020-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008080050/https://www.ukscreenalliance.co.uk/news/2020-winners-announced-for-royal-television-society-programme-awards/ |archive-date=2020-10-08}} and was nominated for five BAFTA Cymru awards – Best Television Drama, Best Director: Fiction, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Make Up.{{Cite web |title=Nominations announced for the British Academy Cymru Awards 2020 |url=http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/nominations-announced-for-the-british-academy-cymru-awards-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007173326/http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/nominations-announced-for-the-british-academy-cymru-awards-2020 |archive-date=2020-10-07 |access-date=2020-10-04}}
In 2022, Bullman created and directed Life and Death in the Warehouse. It was written by Helen Black.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/5b92d5ba-7926-46d8-8de1-a323b954d238|title=Life and Death in the Warehouse: 'People are thought of as bits of an algorithm'|website=BBC|date=7 March 2022|access-date=23 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/bbc3-life-warehouse-whos-cast-23287595|title=BBC3 Life And Death In The Warehouse: Who's in the cast, what it's about and when you can watch it|website=Wales Online|last=Colderick|first=Stephanie|date=7 March 2022|access-date=23 November 2022}}
Filmography
= Documentaries =
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year
! Film ! Role ! Awards and Nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Man Who Bought Mustique (C4) | Director | Nominations: BAFTA Best Single Documentary; RTS Best Single Documentary |
| 2002 | Dogumentary: England is Mine | Director | |
| 2007 | The Seven Sins of England (C4) | Director/Creator | Nominations: BAFTA Best Director,
BAFTA Best Editing (Oliver Huddlestone, Mark Harrowes) BAFTA Best Photography (Mark Wolf) Awards: Grierson, Innovation; RTS, Education |
| 2012–2014 | The Secret History of Our Streets (BBC) | Director/Creator | Nominations: BAFTA Best Factual Series, BAFTA Best Editing; Broadcast, Televisual and British Press Guild: Best Documentary Series
Awards: RTS Best History Series; Grierson, Best History Series and Grierson, Audience Award |
= Dramas =
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year
! Film ! Role ! Awards and Nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Killed By My Debt (BBC) | Director | Nomination: BAFTA Best Leading Actor (Chance Perdomo)
Awards: BAFTA Best Single Drama; RTS Best Single Drama; Broadcast Awards: Best Single Drama, Best Digital Programme; Broadcast Digital Awards: Best Drama |
| 2019 | The Left Behind (BBC) | Director | Nominations: BAFTA Cymru awards: Best Television Drama, Best Director: Fiction, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Make-up.
Awards: RTS Best Single Drama; BAFTA Best Single Drama |
| 2022 | Life and Death in the Warehouse (BBC) | Director |
References
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Category:Year of birth missing (living people)