Seeing G: John Berger, the Black Panthers and the Booker, 50 years on - The Booker Prize Foundation

Client: The Booker Prize Foundation
Commissioned by: The Booker Prize
Production Company: Preference Studio 
Production Partner: N/A
Featured Talent: Farrukh Dhondy
Filming Location: The British Library, London
Equipment: Sony FX6 with Sigma Primes 
Format: 16:9 for Youtube and website distribution

Commissioned by the Booker Prize Foundation and filmed on location at the British Library, this piece marked 50 years since John Berger’s award speech in support of the Black Panthers. Farrukh Dhondy, a long-time collaborator and commentator, reflected on that iconic moment and its resonance in today’s cultural landscape.

Kumo London serviced Preference Studio’s production team to deliver camera operation and visual framing with sensitivity and clarity. Shot on Sony FX6 cameras, the setup focused on clean interview coverage, historical resonance and soft atmosphere. Every frame was designed to honour the depth of the subject without visual noise.

STRATEGIC INSIGHT

This documentary required a balance of restraint, precision and sensitivity. Commissioned by the Booker Prize and produced by Preference Studio, it marked 50 years since John Berger’s speech in support of the Black Panthers. Kumo London was commissioned to support cinematography and cultural documentary filming within the British Library one of the UK’s most historically loaded institutions.

Our role was to provide precision-operated multi-camera coverage, ensuring archival resonance and visual continuity. Every frame was designed to hold the weight of history while preserving the clarity of the speaker and the intimacy of the conversation. This project exemplifies how Kumo integrates seamlessly into larger agency teams, delivering editorially sensitive visuals that protect the legacy of cultural storytelling.

Working under the direction of Stephen Raynes and alongside DOPs Ben Jones and Ben Watkins, our crew helped deliver a multi-camera interview with bespoke lighting that matched the film’s archival tone and political texture. Our cinematography didn’t just document the conversation, it preserved the dignity of the space, the speaker and the silence.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Cultural documentaries carry a responsibility to honour memory, voice and legacy without distraction. This project highlights the importance of embedding skilled camera operators who can adapt to institutional priorities while maintaining visual clarity. For agencies, publishers, and foundations, it shows how the right technical support elevates editorial intent  transforming a filmed conversation into a lasting cultural record.

SERVICES PROVIDED

- Multi-camera interview setup with Sony FX6’s

- Precision-operated cinematography for archive-linked storytelling

- Location-based filming inside the British Library

- Visual continuity and lighting to complement editorial tone

-  Camera operator collaboration within Preference Studio’s production team

RELATED WORK

See more of our cinematography work below:

- Baillie Gifford Prize 2024 - Richard Flanagan: Question 7 Book Trailer: Author-led trailer and remote cultural interview filming. 

- BBC Sounds - Splinter Cell: Firewall (BTS): Cinematography and BTS coverage blending interviews with Behind the scenes live-action drama.

- Booker Prize Awards 2022 - Camden Roundhouse: Multi-camera live coverage and post-production for the Booker Prize.

- Calouste Gulbenkian Civic Arts Award 2023: Multi-location cultural storytelling filmed across the UK.

- SEO London - Directors Cut: Branded cultural storytelling for a social impact charity campaign.

Looking for cultural documentary cinematography or archival interview filming?

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