As part of the acclaimed Fresh Cuts Strand for Black History Month 2024, Destiny Williams makes their directorial debut for ITV, with their profile series Dogs of Grime.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Growing up performing really opened my eyes to the lack of opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. That inspired me to pivot and really focus on bringing the stories to screen that often get left behind.
I have been on all sides of the camera, as a YouTuber, public speaker, presenter, CastingProducer, writer and I just love all of it. I now run a platform called OLAM Productions (Of Lipstick and Melanin) which spotlights Black and Brown creatives over 25 years old and produces content which centres Black British experience.
I’m also a freelance welfare officer in queer venues and that brings me immense joy. My side quest next year is to learn to ride a motorbike, so watch this space!
Did you always want to work in TV? How did you land your first role?
This is all I have ever wanted to do. I wish I had a fancy story, but I graduated during the first lockdown with a Mandarin and Politics degree (after living in China for a year) and saw an ad on Instagram for a 6-week online Content Production course. The programme sent us a job vacancy at a Production Company for a development researcher role, which I applied for and three years later here we are!
Why did you apply for Fresh Cuts this year?
I’ve been working primarily in casting recently (which I love), but I’ve missed getting those creative juices flowing, so this year I set myself a goal to Produce and Direct a project. I have wanted to be a filmmaker for as long as I can remember and finding funding opportunities for your own ideas can be difficult as it’s hard to know where to go. I never expected I would have been fortunate enough to actually achieve it. I am so extremely grateful for the Fresh Cuts opportunity.
What is your series about?
My series is all about the relationship between rappers and their dogs. Each episode an artist and their pup sit down for a fun interview where they delve into their thoughts on Grime and UK Rap culture before doing a silly challenge with their dog.
What has been your biggest challenge producing this series?
Being in charge of a team was definitely a big adjustment. Stepping up from an AP to Producer and being the person people direct their questions to was a new experience.
On a personal level, my own puppy Lillie-Savage passed away unexpectedly on the job I was on before Dogs of Grime, so naturally making this show made me miss her a lot but I got to work with the cutest dogs ever, so that really helped.
What was your favourite part about making it?
Directing the shoot is definitely up there because it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and sitting behind the monitor on set and shooting the show for the first time is a feeling I will never forget. I would also say, I really enjoyed the pre-production process. There were many moving parts like coming up with interview questions, casting, choosing the challenges. Having the ability to just get really creative and make such a fun show has been an amazing experience.
What would your advice be for someone stepping up into a PD role?
Self- doubt is a very real and natural thing, so my advice would be to trust your instincts. I would also remind people that it is okay to ask for help. When you step up it’s easy to feel like you have to know everything but that’s not true. We have been so lucky this year to have such amazing people leading our series – shout out to Natalie Rose, Fabian Bohan-Taghian and Sarah Bishop-Fenn for being so brilliant! So, I would say ask questions, be bold and just go for it!
And lastly, what are your favourite TV shows of all time and what are you watching at the moment?
I am a serial re-watcher. Charmed and Prison Break are my ultimate comfort shows of all time, despite one being about a trio of sister witches fighting demons and the other being set in a crazy prison environment.
There are so many great shows out now, but I have recently finished watching Ludwig and I am in awe, David Mitchell is a genius!
You can watch Dog of Grime on ITVX and the ITV YouTube channel from the 10th October.
