40 Minutes (1989)

Concept and creative process

’40 Minutes’ was a long-running eclectic documentary strand about real lives that broadcast originally between 1981 and 1994. The idea for the title sequence was to depict time in more than one mode by means of a model. Inspiration came from Leonardo da Vinci's invention models displayed in a museum in Vinci, Italy. The model had mechanical elements and was made by Alan Kemp. It was shot at Cell Animation on 35mm film by Doug Foster on a motion control rig. The image of the runner was shot separately and then composited in post-production at Cell Animation by Rob Harvey using a Quantel Harry. One continuous shot was choreographed but with multiple passes with different lighting, which were seamlessly composited together in the digital editing.

Live action, Model Direction and Creative Direction - Liz Friedman.

Gold Award Broadast Designers Association (BDA).

Finalist Royal Television Society Awards (RTS).

40 Minutes press cuttings and postcard