The original Live Aid concerts took place in London and Philadelphia in July 1985, following the global response to a BBC news report on Ethiopia’s famine crisis in 1984, filmed by Kenyan cameraman Mohamed Amin. Initiated by Bob Geldof, the event brought together some of the world’s leading musicians and reached over 80% of the world’s television audience, in one of the most significant global music events in history.

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In 2005, I was part of the BBC’s coverage of Live 8, a series of simultaneous concerts held in eight cities around the world. My role involved filming backstage interviews with several key music artists, including Bono and Bob Geldof.

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Twenty years later, I was delighted to be asked to work on Live Aid at 40, , a three-part documentary series co-produced by the BBC and CNN., including new interviews with Bob Geldof, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, and former U.S. president George Bush, among many others.

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The series revisits the origins of the movement, the politics surrounding international aid, and the cultural and political legacy of Live Aid and Live 8.

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BBC TV 3x60mins

Zinc Media

Producers Jamal Osman  Olivia Bernhardt Brogan

Directors Thomas Pollard Max Stern

Series Producer Angus Macqueen

Editors Zeb Achonu Matt Ashton

Executive Producer Tanya Shaw

Executive Producer Norma Percy

DoP: Ian Watts

 

 

 

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