Page 30 - Fujifilm Exposure_24 Stephen Fry_ok

The Book Group - Is it a satire? Is it
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them, not creating them. It’s important to feel that they’re not just chess pieces you’re moving around.”
Griffin, a native of Buffalo, New York, is a great admirer of American television shows, but still thinks British TV is superb compared to that in America.
“The empowering of the writer-pro- ducer is fantastic. It makes so much sense to have the person who knows the characters and what the show is about in charge rather than a producer who has been brought on board.
“I think also that commissioning editors are braver about things when the people who pitch really believe in what they’re doing. They’ll always say that they want x, y or z aimed at 16 to 24-year-old men or whatever, but they’ll also say, ‘Bring us what you’re passionate about.’”
While Griffin’s passion for televi- sion is clear, she is currently working on not working. “I think you get into a certain mindset when you’re working all the time. I’ve had an incredibly hec- tic schedule for the last two years, so now I’m going to India for a few months while this series is on. I think people work too much, and for me it’s time not to work.”
And as for the pressure associated with writing and directing a critically acclaimed (and now hyped), Friday- night comedy, Griffin says coolly, “Better to give people a chance not to like a show than not see it.” ■
© The Guardian 2003
The Book Group – Series 2
is originated on Fujicolor Motion Picture Negative – 500T and 250D for the Glasgow scenes, 64D for Spain and 250T for the fantasy sequences
28 • Exposure • Fuji Motion Picture And Professional Video