Irshad Ashraf Updated 24/09/08 Producer/Director

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About me I am an award winning writer and director with ten years experience directing Observational, Formats, Arts,Culture and History Documentaries for BBC, ITV and Channel 4. In 2008 I series Produced and Directed 6 x 30 and 1 x 60 observational series about internet marriage for ITV before making a quirky authored 1 x 30 for BBC1 about a comedienne fasting for the first time. In 2007 I Produced and Directed KARACHI UNCOVERED 1 x 30 documentary for BBC 2 and THE MUSLIM JESUS 1 x 60 for ITV both of which aired to critical acclaim. I have also Produced and Directed ST RICHARD OF AUSTIN, 1 x 60 Channel 4 documentary about American film maker Richard Linklater and "WHY DO PEOPLE BUY ART?" a 1 x 30 for Channel 4 poking fun at the New York art scene. In 2006 I Produced and Directed HOW TO DUMP YOUR MATES 3 x 30 format documentaries for Channel 4, STEPHEN TOMPKINSON'S STORY, a 1 x 30 observational documentary for BBC 1 and directed shorts for RTS award winning arts and culture magazine DESI DNA on BBC2. In 2005, I directed BRITAIN IN BLOOM, a 1 x 60 documentary about deprived towns in Britain competing for the Royal Horticultural Society National Britain in Bloom Awards. My work combines strong journalism with formal and visual innovation - especially the films I have directed for the BBC culture series "DESI DNA" which won an RTS award. Subjects I tackled included the Lozells riots of 2005, Artistic / Ethnic Convivencia in East London, the commodification of eastern values, and Hari Kunzru's "right to offend" campaign. Between 1999 and 2003 I directed shorts on the BBC1 HOLIDAY Show, BBC1 HEAVEN AND EARTH, ITV THIS MORNING and PREDICTIONS with Derek Acorah, developing his trademark "psychic detective" persona as well as directing DV on ITV TAXI NIGHTS a 12 x 30 series about Manchester Taxi Drivers. As a Producer I have made BOLLYWOOD FOR BEGINNERS for Channel 4, HOT PROPERTY for FIVE and developed the feature length documentary AN ISLAMIC HISTORY OF EUROPE presented by Rageh Omaar, which aired to huge critical acclaim on BBC4. I am also in demand as a talented writer and have developed succesful treatments for ITV, BBC General Factual department, World of Wonder and ISIS Productions. Independently, I produced and directed a film for the festival circuit about rock band Elbow's infamous tour of communist Cuba in 2004 and have edited shorts on Final Cut Pro for corporate clients. Self shooting, I use advanced manual functions on Z1, PD170, XL2 and DVX 100 cameras. Shooting actuality, I can get the right shots on the go for the edit, as well as direct set ups. I have a roster of excellent cameramen who I use for HD, Digi, Steadicam and track/dolly shoots on magazine and documentary programmes. I am also a visiting lecturer in film making at London School of Fashion. I used to be an English teacher in Japan. I am volunteer manager of Oxfam Music and Bookstore in London, am studying Arabic, write for magazines and have won awards for short fiction writing.

Credits and Employment History 2008, Producer/Director (Self-shooting) BBC The Funny Thing About Ramadan 1 x 30. TX Sep 2008. Self Shooting Z1. Offbeat authored film about a comedienne trying out fasting for the first time. 2008, Series Producer ITV A Match Made in Heaven 6 x 30 and 1 x60. TX July 2008 Series Producer and Director. Self Shooting Z1 Running a team of PDs as well as directing an observational series about people looking for marriage online. 3 week set up. 6 week shooting. 6 week edit. 2007, Producer/Director BBC KARACHI UNCOVERED 1 x 30. TX Aug 2007. Digi Crew. A Presenter led personal journey of discovery about Karachi's entertainment industry. Two Week Set Up. Three Week Recce / Shoot. 4 Week Edit. 2007, Producer/Director LWT The Muslim Jesus 1 x 60. TX August 2007 Digi Beta Crew and Self Shooting. The Story of Jesus as told in the Quran. Mixing scholastic interviews with real life actuality and innovative visuals. 3 week Prep. 3 week shooting. 4 week Edit. 2006, Producer/Director (Self-shooting) Celador Dump Your Mates 3 x 30. TX October 2006. DSR Crew and Self Shooting. Teenagers upgrade their social circle with the help of a psychologist. TwoWeek Set Up. 4 Day Shoot. Two Week Edit per film 2006, Producer/Director (Self-shooting) Maverick TV Director 1 x 30 TX April 2006. Self Shooting Observational Doc on Television star Stephen Tompkinson directing his first drama. 10 days shooting. 1 Week edit prep. 2 week edit. 2006, Director BBC Desi DNA series 3 SHORTS. TX Jan / Feb 2006. Digi Crews Arts and Culture Shorts with emphasis on strong journalism and visual innovation. 1/2 day shoots 1/2 day edits. 2005, Director Community Channel Britain in Bloom 1 x 50. TX Sep 2005. HD crew. Urban Communities in the UK competing for the Britain in Bloom 2005 awards. 1 week prep. 1 Week Shoot. 5 week edit 2005, DV Director ITV Smarter than the Kids 1 x 90 Shooting DV on ITV observational series about parents taking GCSE examinations. SELF SHOOTING 2005, Director BBC 2 Desi DNA series 2 SHORTS Directing visually innovative shorts on RTS award winning Arts and Culture series. CREW 2004, Producer/Director (Self-shooting) Channel 4 WHY DO PEOPLE BUY ART? 1 x 30. TX Sep 2004. Self Shooting. New York's Art Collecting scene. 3 Week prep. 2 Week Shoot. 2 Week Edit. 2004, Producer/Director (Self-shooting) Channel 4 St Rick of Austin 1 X 60. TX Dec 2004. Self Shooting. Profile of independent director Richard Linklater. 2 Week prep. 2 Week Shoot. 6 Week Edit. 2003, DV Director ITV Taxi Nights 12 X 30 observational series about cab drivers Manchester. Directing CREW and DV SELF SHOOTING 2003, Director BBC Heaven and Earth SHORTS. I produced and directed glossy two camera shorts for a strand where famous peole discuss their faith. Presented by Kate Sanderson. CREW 2003, Assistant Producer BBC The Islamic History of Europe 1 X 90 DOCUMENTARY about Europe's Islamic History for BBC 4, presented by Rageh Omaar. SELF SHOOTING 2002, Producer Channel 4 Bollywood for Beginners 1 x 30 I Developed and Produced a beautiful 30 minute doc about Bollywood as part of the Channel 4 Indian Summer Season. 2002, Associate Producer World of Wonder Hot Property 12 x 30 I set up shoots and directed 2nd unit for Five's property game show presented by Alice Beer and Tris Payne. DIRECTING PSC CREWS 2001, Director Granada This Morning SHORTS I Directed fun and funky shorts on a quick turnaround basis with presenters Mark Simpkin and Joanna Hall. DIRECTING CREWS 2001, Director BBC Summer Holiday 7 X 7 SHORTS I directed glossy travel films for the BBC Holiday show with presenter Claudia Winkelman. SELF SHOOTING 2000, DV Director GSkyB Predictions 24 X 6 SHORTS I Directed multi camera shoots for a series of spooky psychic shorts starring Psychic Derek Acorah. SELF SHOOTING AND CREW 2000, Director GSkyB Money Makeovers 12 X 5 I Directed multi camera shoots for a series of inserts profiling Britain's most successful business people. DIRECTING CREWS 2000, Researcher GSkyB Food and Drink Livetime LIVE STUDIO I set up two hours of live studio a week. Responsible for shooting film inserts on DV, creating studio items, booking guests for studio and looking after guests on studio day. 2000, Researcher GSkyB Health Livetime LIVE STUDIO I set up two hours of live studio a week. Responsible for shooting film inserts on DV, creating studio items, booking guests for studio and looking after guests on studio day. 1999, Runner Granada The Millionaire Show 6 X 30 I was Camera Assistant on a documentary series profiling Britain's top business people. Documentary, Format, Shorts and Obs Docs C4, BBC, ITV

Industry Qualifications BBC - Health and Safety on Location ITV - Health and Safety

Education London Met University - BA Hons Film and Theatre A childhood in Gorton, Manchester

Technical Equipment Z1 PD 170 DVX 100 XL2

Other Skills/Additional Information FLUENT URDU FLUENT PUNJABI BASIC SPANISH BASIC JAPANESE FORMER ENGLISH TEACHER VOLUNTARY WORKER WRITING AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Referees Gurdip Bhangoo Executive Producer BBC gurdip.bhangoo@bbc.co.uk Melvyn Bragg Controller ITV Arts and Features melvyn.bragg@itv.com

Languages (C=conversational, F=fluent) Punjabi: F Urdu: F

Permits USA I VISA

Licences Basic Driving (PLG)

Preferred Work Area London & SE England

Would you consider staff positions as well as short-term contract work? yes

Do you have a driving licence? yes