Viki Townend

Holly Allen

 

What’s your role at MultiStory?

I am a Production Manager currently working in the documentary department. I’ve been at ITV for 9 years and love being part of the team.

 

What made you want to get into TV and how did you make that a reality?  

I’ve always had an interest in the arts from attending performing arts school since the age of 3 years old. At school I got the opportunity to pick Media Studies as a class and instantly loved it. I would of course plan and star in our projects making use of my stage school experience. Following this I took Media and Performance at Salford Uni and soon realised I much preferred being behind the scenes instead of in front of the camera. After Uni I went and worked in camera hire and managed to learn a bit about kit – yep I never knew a camera could have different lenses until I was 22 years old…mind blown! So filled some gaps in my knowledge and met some great contacts who helped get me where I am today.

 

What’s the biggest hurdle you’ve had to overcome to get to where you are?  

I think for me it was figuring out where I fit in making TV. I’d tried being in front of the camera and certain roles behind the scenes just didn’t seem to quite suit. When I was at University people didn’t talk much about the Production Management team so when I started running I got to understand this whole department I hadn’t known much about. After trying 3 weeks as a researcher and then shadowing a Production Coordinator I knew instantly that this was the job for me. I loved working with the team to pull everything together and make it happen! People used to ask ‘what do you actually do?’ and my favourite reply I heard someone say was ‘If we didn’t show up you would soon find out!’

 

What has been the highlight of your career so far?  

In 2019, just pre pandemic I had the opportunity to go to India for 3 weeks to film Absolutely India: Mancs in Mumbai with the Thomas Brothers and their Dad. It was by no means easy but we got to experience so many amazing things whilst filming around India including getting covered in turmeric at the Golden festival, listening to Dougie James sing his favourite song ‘Stand by Me’ with his sons and even managed to take the time after a long shoot day to have a Kingfisher beer, with our feet dipped in the ocean in Goa which was a particular highlight!

 

What was your biggest “pinch me’ moment 

I definitely felt like someone needed to pinch me when I was sat in the voiceover studio having a cup of tea and biscuits, talking about Christmas shopping with Helena Bonham-Carter like we were two old friends having a catch up.

 

Are there any big learning curves or disaster moments you can look back and laugh about now? 

I think one of the most important things I have learnt about working in TV is to be flexible and fluid. Things change and we adapt and move to accommodate. Once you learn this and accept it, everything becomes easier to tackle and fix. Working on the obituary programmes for the Queen gave me a great understanding of this. We had worked and planned for the event for years but still nothing could quite prepare us for how it would all unravel when it came around. I’m really proud of all the work we did to prepare with numerous teams at ITV and the quick turnaround show we made covering the days after her death (which we weren’t expecting but the whole team pulled together spectacularly) – it really felt like we were making something that will forever be a part of history.

 

What are your favourite TV shows?  

I’m a sucker for a good comedy to help me unwind and switch off after work. My recent favourites are Brassic, Schitt’s Creek and Always Sunny in Philadelphia.