We are thrilled to announce a new Raising Films Ribbon, awarded for some brilliant work supporting parents and carers in TV!
Director Ella Jones has nominated producer extraordinaire Zorana Piggott, line producer Emma Biggins, and the rest of the brilliant team at See-Saw for the way they supported her return to work directing the second series of SWEETPEA for Sky, not long after she gave birth to twins. (Which in itself makes Ella a hero too in our eyes).
What the team managed to achieve to support Ella is so inspiring, and it hits multiple areas of our Raising Films Ribbon criteria.
Ella started remote prep part-time, a month after having her twins, and then she returned to full-time work when the babies were four months old. Zorana ensured Ella had agency over how she wanted her return to work to look, and strived at every stage to give her what was needed to make the experience as positive and painless as possible.
Amongst other things, the production arranged for an extra-large trailer replete with travel cots, toys, playmat, changing table etc. – anything Ella’s little family might need – so that her husband could bring the boys to set whenever they wanted, and so that Ella could continue to breastfeed them during prep and filming where possible. Zorana created a safe and supportive environment where Ella felt able to breastfeed her babies and pump regularly on set at the monitors.
Returning to work wasn’t easy, but thanks to Zorana and the team, Ella’s experience was a positive one. The team set an excellent precedent for how a return to work after having babies can look in the screen industries, and we are super happy at Raising Films to highlight and reward their work with our Ribbon so others can do the same.
