The whole team at LoveLove Films are absolutely delighted to have been awarded two RTS Awards – On-Line Production, for our animated documentary Chin Up and Graphics for our animator Joe Simpson.

The Royal Television Society, or RTS, is the oldest television society in the world, and the RTS Awards are the gold standard of achievement in the television community. Each year they recognise excellence across the entire range of programme making and broadcasting skills, with the RTS regional centres awarding the very best in television production from around the region.

The LoveLove team are ecstatic to have won another two RTS Awards after being thrilled to win an RTS back in 2018 for Graphics, making this two years in a row we have won best Graphics/Animation.

The RTS Awards were awarded for On-Line Production on our animated documentary Chin Up, and a craft award for Graphics/Animation for our Animator Joe Simpson; other finalists for this award included the BBC and ITV.

LoveLove and their RTS Awards

The On-Line Production category is intended to promote the growing excellence in producing content specifically for viewing online.

Chin Up was conceived when LoveLove Films won the MOFILM ‘Year of the Woman’ global pitch with an animated documentary the story of our animator JoAnne Salmon. JoAnne’s story starts with being one in fifty thousand babies born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a genetic condition characterised by deformities of the ears, eyes, cheekbones and chin, which causes breathing problems and hearing difficulties, and ends with her currently living her dreams as an animator. MOFILM’s Many Voices was a global competition that saw filmmakers propose film ideas that answered the question: “What does the year of women mean where you are?” Hundreds of filmmakers from 26 countries proposed film ideas, and Chin Up was lucky enough to be selected as a finalist and thus went into production.

Throughout her childhood, JoAnne loved to draw herself as heroic characters to escape the insecurity and feeling of being different that came with her condition. However, JoAnne never drew her facial features any differently to fit the scene of a heroic warrior or a mystical mermaid. The documentary touches on poignant milestones that have impacted JoAnne and made her the strong and inspirational woman that she is today, highlighting the female empowerment that has given 2018 the great ‘Year of the Woman’ status. JoAnne’s story fits into a much larger story of women in today’s society and the way positive change is happening; she touches on this her unique outlook within Chin Up.

Chin Up, 2018

Chin Up was narrated, illustrated and animated by JoAnne, giving a true insight into growing up with a visible disability. JoAnne and the LoveLove Films animation team created the documentary with intricate 2D mixed media using childhood photos mixed in with beautiful and colourful illustrations and animation.

In addition to Chin Up winning the award for On-Line Production, LoveLove Films’ Animator and former Bournemouth University student Joe Simpson won Best Graphics/Animation. Joe has been with us since 2017, first joining us through our award-winning New Talent Placement Scheme after meeting us at Bournemouth University’s ‘Meet the Professionals’ event ran by the RTS, and has since gone on to become an integral part of the animation team.

Joe (far right) at the RTS Awards in 2018

Speaking on the award for Best Graphics, Animator Joe said:

“I introduced myself to LoveLove Films’ MD Georgina Hurcombe at an RTS Meet the Professionals event at BU in 2017. So it feels great to be an RTS winner, especially at the age of 23. I would love to thank the LoveLove team for the opportunities that I have been given to grow my craft and the support from the senior animation team, who always inspire me. I feel truly honoured to be a Royal Television Society Award winner, I’d like to congratulate the other finalists and thank the judges.”

LoveLove Films’ Managing Director Georgina Hurcombe stated:

“I’m absolutely delighted and super proud of the team to have won not one, but two prestigious awards such as an RTS. For us it’s an absolute honour to be in the same categories as huge powerhouses such as the BBC and ITV. The LoveLove studio were extremely excited and for us it is always really wonderful and humbling to have our work and team be recognised by other industry professionals. We have a really exciting year ahead as the studio produces more original IP and moves towards new horizons, I’m just incredibly proud to have such a great, talented team.”

The RTS Southern Centre Awards 2019 took place on Friday 8th March at a black tie gala dinner at Winchester Guildhall.

To find out more about the RTS Awards: https://rts.org.uk/awards

Featured photo credit: © Solent Studios