A documentary about TfL’s recent ‘disastrous’ changes to local bus routes by 14-year-old Riku Fryderyk has received much praise. Here, the young filmmaker tells the story behind the story
During my time on YouTube, I’ve had a chance to explore the various systems that make up the UK’s transport network. The release of my documentary‚ A Bus Route Change Disaster, has been a major turning point for my channel’s development.
In the first week since the film was published, I found myself replying to 100-plus extensive comments. People have been sharing their personal experiences, expressing their outrage at the issues my documentary discusses and encouraging me to send the film to ITV. I’m very happy to see so much positive feedback on this film, as the production, which commenced on 31 January, took me through a difficult emotional journey; the weight of the problems I was uncovering day by day started bearing down on me, leaving me exhausted as I grew closer to the final edit.
When I attended one of the Save Our Local Bus Services campaign meetings at Christ Church in Wanstead, I never intended to create a documentary. At the time, I was recording content for a film about bus route 347, which was being withdrawn the following day. I became interested in the campaign and eventually proposed to make the film; the rest is history.
Throughout February, I could often be seen running around the area with all sorts of camera equipment. This was the largest project I’ve ever undertaken, and though it was fully self-produced, much of what you see was a collaborative effort between myself and local residents to highlight the most important issues. There were many moments of shock, such as when I got stranded at Whipps Cross bus stand, when Dave Sleet made me aware of the harsh truths of the changes’ impact on people’s wellbeing and the imminent introduction of shorter buses on the dangerously busy W12 route. The most memorable part of the entire production process was the moment in which I was screaming internally out of appreciation as I wrapped up my interview with Wes Streeting MP, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, at an event in Parliament. His contribution to the documentary was invaluable.
When I first sat down at my laptop to begin cutting down seven and a half hours worth of recording, I realised there was still much more footage to record to be able to tell the full story.
This project has taught me there is, indeed, a way to report on such issues and remain neutral of opinion. I have met many lovely people, picked up new filmmaking techniques, become more efficient in organising large loads of information and strengthened my storytelling skills. But above all, I can now call myself a documentary producer.
To watch the documentary, A Bus Route Change Disaster, visit wnstd.com/rfyt
