Lindsay Shapero Executive Producer and Writer
An experienced Executive Producer of factual television, Lindsay now writes drama for television and the cinema. Writer of the Emmy award winning and Bafta nominated drama ENID for the BBC, Brit List selected script TRIGGER for MET Film/BFI and one of 14 writers selected in Broadcast’s Industry Top 100.
Film:
RED JOAN Feature adaptation of the novel by Jennie Rooney produced by David Parfitt’s Trademark Films/Prescience, UK release date 19 April 2019. Directed by Trevor Nunn, starring Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson and Tom Hughes.
CITIZENS OF LONDON Feature re-write of adaptation of non-fiction book by Lynn Olsen for Pathé / Reliance.
THE WAR INSIDE Feature adaptation of non fiction book THE CAGE in development with CrossDay Films.
UNTITLED Feature biopic set in Brazil and Paris in development with Bedlam Productions.
TRIGGER Feature adaptation of the novel by Susan Vaught in development with Met Films. Selected for Brit List. Producer Stewart Le Marechal/BFI Film Fund – script commissioned, Dominic Savage attached as director.
STANLEY FALLS Feature film in development with White Ribbon producer Margaret Ménégoz. Volker Schlöndorff to direct – script commissioned.
COLD EARTH Feature adaptation of the novel by Sarah Moss for producer Margery Bone’s Bona Fide Films.
UNDER THE FROG Feature film screenplay of Tibor Fischer’s award-winning novel commissioned by US Director Steven Shainberg.
BITTEN BY A ZEBRA Winner of the first ever Oscar Moore Scriptwriting Prize for original feature film script. Optioned by ColoniaMedia, Germany.
Television:
AMERICAN PRINCESS International drama series for Endor and Topkapi based on Wall Street Journal bestseller. One episode commissioned to date.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN FRANCE International drama series for Federation and French producers Main Journey based on acclaimed graphic novel.
THE WINTER PALACE International drama series for Point Prod and Radio Television Suisse. Eight episodes commissioned. Writer and Executive Producer.
FREUD Factually based drama series for UFA.
TO KILL THE KING Factually based drama doc for TwentyTwenty TV / BBC. Script commissioned.
LIAM SCOTT SERIES Writers’ room for series adaptation of the books by Andy McNab in development with Heap Mason Media / Sky. Script commissioned.
SERIAL THRILLER Exec Producer and co-writer of three episodes (THE HEAD HUNTER) of 9 part true crime drama for Discovery ID (US). TX June 2015/Jan 2016. Nominated for three awards at the 2016 British Independent Film Festival.
ROYAL WIVES AT WAR Writer of 60 min history drama doc about the relationship between Wallis Simpson and the Queen Mother for BBC2. TX 2016.
BARBARIANS RISING Exec Producer and co-writer of two episodes of 8 part drama doc for History Channel (US). TX April 2016. Nominated for 2017 News and Documentary Emmy
THE BATTLE FOR TEA Writer of 90 min history drama doc for Arte/Chinese TV. TX March 2016.
WOLFSBURG 2 x 90 minute factually based drama in development with Keo Films / Telepool / Global Screen. Script 1 commissioned.
LAST MAN STANDING Original series for Company Pictures.
SINS OF THE FATHERS Original series for Mammoth Screen.
INHERITANCE Four part serial loosely based on novel by Philip Hook commissioned by ITV Studios / BBC (Lucy Richer).
GO-BETWEENS Original series for ITV Studios. Pilot script commissioned by ITV.
THE GREATCOAT Two part adaptation of novella by Helen Dunmore for Exclusive Media.
THE SPECIALS Original series for Origin Pictures.
THE PACK Original series for Endor Productions.
ELIXIR Original series for Red Arrow TV.
TYPICAL GIRLS Original serial, pilot script commissioned by Warp Films/Channel 4. Producer Robin Gutch.
BAND OF SISTERS Original series developed with ITV Studios. Pilot Script commissioned by ITV.
LISE MEITNER Single drama adaptation of the book by Ruth Lewin Sime, commissioned by Context TV/ WGBH. Script commissioned. Volker Schlöndorff to direct.
ENID 90 minute Emmy award winning and Bafta nominated biopic for BBC4/Carnival TV. TX November 09. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Matthew Macfadyen, Denis Lawson, Claire Rushbrook. Winner Best Single Drama at Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2010, shortlisted Best Single Drama Broadcast Awards 2011. 1.3 million viewers – second highest ever rating drama on BBC4, first ever BBC4 biopic to transfer to BBC1.
WHEN BORIS MET DAVE Drama Doc for C4/Blink. TX October 2009.
DIRTY WORLD Original six-part drama series for Cliffhanger/BBC Worldwide.
LABYRINTH Original series for Bentley Productions.
SHAME Original drama for Ecosse TV.
DEADLY INHERITANCE Original thriller for BBC Scotland.
7th HEAVEN Original 90 minute TV film for RDF Drama.
Drama Director:
2002 Orange/Film Four Short-listed as director for short film competition
1995 Director/Producer Short Drama ‘Prayer for a Crash’ (35mm) 15-minute drama shot on 35mm starring Rade Serbedzija and Emma Lewis. The film was selected for 18 international film festivals and won awards in Germany and Italy.
Documentaries - Executive Producer:
A FAIR COP: A CENTURY OF BRITISH POLICEWOMEN BBC4 Exec Producer of this 90 minute feature drama documentary. March 2015
POE’S WOMEN BBC4 Exec Producer of this macabre and atmospheric drama doc about Edgar Allan Poe’s peculiar relationship to women. November 2010
HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT ARTS & RELIGION BBC SCOTLAND (BASED IN LONDON) Putting together slate of new arts and religion series, including 2-part series on Henry VIII, 3 part series of cinema essays, 6 part series on British Fashion, 1 x 60 Fashion Photography, 1 x 60 Swedish Literature, 1 x 90 History of Calvinism, 4 documentaries for Scottish season on BBC4 covering Scottish art and film. Autumn 09 – Autumn 2010
WHO IS KURT WALLANDER? BBC4 Exec Producer on 60 minute documentary about Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell, and how the history of Sweden affected the creation of his Wallander character. June-Nov 2008
HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST FACTUAL BBC Scotland Set up brand new development team coming up with science, history, business and new technology ideas for all the BBC channels. Commissions included award winning (RTS and Grierson Awards) ‘Parallel Worlds’ for BBC4 . Sep-Feb 2008
TIGER ASPECT BBC2 Exec Producer. Created new series for BBC2 called Trust Me I’m an Economist featuring Tim Harford author of Undercover Economist. Dec 05- June 2006
WHAT NOT TO WEAR and WHAT NOT TO WEAR XMAS SPECIAL BBC1 Series Producer. Oversaw this series when it moved from BBC2 to prime time BBC1 and an hour-slot. This popular factual entertainment format was overhauled and grossed 6 million viewers. . 2004
RDF MEDIA Series Producer 1999-2003
RDF INTERNATIONAL Senior Producer. Developed ideas for the international department, including documentaries for Discovery, National Geographic, Travel Channel and US networks, as well as directing any pilots that arose from my ideas.
SCRAPHEAP C4 Senior Producer/Director. Produced and directed four Best of Scrapheap shows. 1999-2002.
REAL TIME APOLLO SEASON C4 Series Producer/Director. Devised and produced 4 documentaries and a 5-hour live studio show with Jon Snow for the Apollo 11 season, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of man on the moon.
HEAD OF FILM UNIT GREENPEACE, AMSTERDAM Accepted the opportunity to head up the film unit of Greenpeace International based in Amsterdam. Produced and directed all this NGO’s film output, including award-winning 'Antarctica' documentary, commercials and pop promos. 1996-1998
SERIES PRODUCER RAPIDO TV Producer ‘Prize of Europe - This Man’ C4 First Prize winner Produced British entry for an international film competition broadcast live on prime-time C4. The film was a drama-doc about the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture and won the charity first prize of £20,000. 1994-1996
Series Producer ‘Passengers’ (Series 1) C4 Devised and produced this international magazine series, covering everything from fashion to politics. Personally went to war-torn Bosnia to make a film about young soldiers/musicians. Persuaded U2 to donate a portable recording studio and signed guitars, which I smuggled back into the besieged city of Mostar. 1991-1993 SERIES PRODUCER JANET STREET PORTER’S YOUTH DEPT BBC Produced and directed Rough Guide to the World, Rough Guide to Careers, created arts documentary series Artrageous (which launched careers of feature film directors Mike Barker and Paul McGuigan), plus series produced Dance Energy. Also set up BBC bureau in Los Angeles for BBC1 series Entertainment Express.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER POWER STATION BSB Responsible for creating and launching Youth/music satellite channel - the UK's challenge to MTV. Ran a team of 100 people producing programming for 7 days a week 24 hours a day and featuring 10 live bands a week. Launched TV careers of Chris Evans, Suggs, Boy George & Jo Wiley, plus producers like Matt Lipsey. 1989-1991
NEWS DIRECTOR MTV EUROPE & MTV US One of the original team for MTV’s launch into Europe. Director of MTV’s News Department, as well as responsible for ‘rockumentaries’. 1988-1990
Awards:
2010 2010 International Emmy Awards - Helena Bonham Carter, Best Actress, Enid. Winner of Writer Guild Best Script for Enid.
2008 Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives – RTS Award, Grierson Award.
2005 Banff International TV Festival – What not to Wear, Best series
1998 Oscar Moore Scriptwriting Prize - Bitten by a Zebra
1997 First Prize Czech Documentary Film Festival, Antarctica Documentary
1996 Corto Imolo & Hamburg Film Festival – Prizes for Prayer for a Crash short drama
1994 First Prize, Prize of Europe for drama-doc This Man short film, C4