The latest episode of Filmtalkz brought us the Everyman Cinema, where Chris Grubb, Creative Director at Whisper, shared his journey in the ever-evolving world of sports documentaries and live broadcasting.
Chris has had an impressive career, with stints at the BBC and ITV before joining Whisper, a company co-founded by Sunil Patel alongside F1 legends David Coulthard and Jake Humphrey. What started as a small team producing branded Formula 1 content has grown into a global powerhouse creating documentaries, entertainment, and sports broadcasting āSport and sports broadcasting is in our DNA.ā
The magic of Sports Documentaries
While Whisperās work spans genres, Chris has a clear passion for storytelling through documentaries. Projects like Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes (2022) and Sven (2024) have showcased his talent for balancing the public and personal sides of athletes.
With Phoenix from the Ashes, Chris delved into Ben Stokesā extraordinary career while also highlighting his struggles with mental health, all filmed during the pandemic. āWhatās crucial is finding stories that resonate beyond just sports fans,ā Chris explained. āWith Ben, it wasnāt just about cricket. His personal challenges, like stepping away from the game during COVID and losing his father, made it a story that everyone could connect with.ā
Then thereās Sven, a documentary about football icon Sven-Gƶran Eriksson that recently won Sports Documentary of the Year (Over 60 minutes) at the 2024 Broadcast Sport Awards. Itās a story filled with archival brilliance and raw honesty. āSven wanted the full story told,ā Chris revealed. āHe didnāt shy away from the tough parts, and that honesty really connected with audiences. At one point, we had to tackle some controversial topics head-on, and Sven was completely open about addressing them.ā
The Power of Archive Footage
For Chris, archive footage isnāt just a trip down memory laneāitās a storytelling tool. It can be used to recreate pivotal moments, like Englandās equalizer against Greece in Sven. āIt wasnāt just about the goal,ā he said. āIt was about showing how the whole nation held its breath, from fans in pubs to Svenās reaction on the pitch. The challenge is to take something people think they know and show it in a way that feels fresh and emotional.ā
The Changing Landscape of Sports Media
Chris also reflected on how sports media is shifting. While live events remain a cornerstone of sports broadcasting, long form sport content like Drive to Survive (2019 – 2024) have carved out a new space, bringing sports to wider audiences combining the feel of live sport with sport documentaries.
āItās a whole new genre,ā he said. āDocumentaries like that donāt just entertaināthey introduce people to sports theyād never have considered before. Thatās exciting to see.ā He believes the key to making compelling documentaries is trust. āWith Ben Stokes, I sat with him and his wife in a cinema in Newcastle to watch the final cut. That was nerve-wrackingāshowing someone their life, warts and all. But he loved it and didnāt ask for a single change. Itās moments like that when you know youāve done justice to their story.ā
Whatās Next?
As for the future, Chris thinks itās heading in a more personal direction. āI see a shift towards stories that dig deeper into individuals, rather than following a whole teamā he shared. āThere are still so many stories to be toldā
At Whisper, entertainment is everything, and their latest productions,Ā Saudi Pro League: Kickoff (2024) gives us an insight into theĀ high-stakes world of Saudi football while delving into the historic 48th season that has seen high profile signings and the ambitious vision to transformĀ the league into one of the best globally.Ā Watch the action unfold in this gripping football documentary series, where global icons join local stars to reshape the league in its 2023/2024 season.Ā Documentaries like this continue to offer fans and newcomers alike a fresh perspective on the highs and lows of these beloved sports.
