"That Damned Cow - Just what is Norwegian Slow TV?" at MIPTV 2015, Cannes

If you're attending Marché International des Programmes de Télévision (MIPTV) in Cannes between April 13th and 16th, check out the 29 minute documentary "That Damned Cow - Just what is Norwegian Slow TV?"  which will be shown on one of the screens in the Nordic Pavillion. This year, the International Market of TV Programmes is hosting a Focus on the Nordics - which of course includes the successful Norwegian Slow TV format.

"That Damned Cow" is the story of Norwegian Slow TV up to March 2015. Slow TV’s profile has grown since it emerged in Norway in 2009. NRK2, the second channel of the state broadcaster has been the pioneer in developing this real time marathon event broadcast format, taking surprise ratings at home and gaining global attention. Train journeys, a ferry voyage, knitting and singing a hymn book over sixty hours are some of the Slow TV subjects which NRK has shown.

“That Damned Cow”, subtitled “Just what is Norwegian Slow TV?” is a documentary which asks and explores exactly that. It sets out NRK’s narrative through interviews with key NRK staff in Bergen and Oslo, from inception to international distribution.

It explores the relaxing experience many Slow TV viewers cite, from interviews at the Norwegian Hymn Book Slow TV event, with a Doctor of Media Psychology and with British Airways which has begun using the Bergensbanen train journey on some long haul in-flight entertainment.

“That Damned Cow” considers the future of Slow TV inside and outside of Norway. It offers ways of understanding the depth and potential of what at first seems a simple formula but evokes a spectrum of participation in real life and social media, engages national pride, heritage, community and identity.

NARRATOR

Mark Brisbourne

INTERVIEWS

British Airways

Richard D’Cruze

DRG

Andrea Jackson

NRK

Fredrik Færden

Ole Hedemann

Thomas Hellum

Rune Møklebust

Anniken Næss

Spafax

Henry Gummer

Dr Arve Hjelseth

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim

Dr Espen Ytreberg

The University of Oslo

Dr Adam Galpin

The University of Salford

Choir Members, Salmeboka Minutt for Minutt

Randi Gunhildstad

Linda Haukås

Grateful Acknowledgement

Dr Pauline Prevett

Production Assistant (Oslo and Bergen)

Principal NRK Slow TV Liaison

Thomas Hellum

The University of Salford:

Laurence Murphy

Store and Technical Support Staff

Petter Ingholm Gustavsen, NRK

Stein Lillebo, Hurtigruten

Liz Southall

RedShift Radio, Crewe

NRK footage and graphics used with permission, copyright NRK

British Airways images

courtesy

British Airways Video Library

MUSIC

Principal Music

Tony Longworth

Ambient Music

Mark Sheeky

Additional Music

Purple Planet Music

Filmed in

Bergen, Oslo and Trondheim, Norway

Osmington Mills and London, England

Betws y Coed and Dyffryn Ogwen, Wales

Original Photography by

Tim Prevett

Produced and Directed by

Tim Prevett

Slow Television - The Slow TV Blog