This year, we’ve been able to celebrate several high-end film and TV productions that have recognised Devon, both for its cinematic potential and for the rich pool of creative talent that exists here.
But we’ve also been happy to support some of the county’s most inspiring local independent filmmakers in their endeavours; and it’s hearing their stories of how ideas have progressed from script to the screen that often offer the most revealing insights. Lessons can be learned about how to be resourceful and creative – and how to make sure that smaller budgets needn’t reflect the scale of impact a film can have.
Director Pip Piper and producer Phil Webb are the award-winning duo behind Fair View Films Ltd and the past twelve months has seen them produce Jo in the Water, a feature-length documentary spotlighting Exmouth.
Premiering at Exeter Phoenix at the end of 2025 and released into cinemas nationwide this year, by September 2026 Jo in the Water will have completed around 70 screenings, reaching over 3000 cinema-goers. It’s a film that has shown how a small independent production can achieve national reach and tangible social impact and the production process, shared here for Devon’s filmmaking community, has been fascinating.
Jo in the Water: The Back Story
For those who’ve not yet seen it, Jo in the Water was originally conceived as a documentary that had both local roots and national resonance. The film follows Exmouth-based sea swimmer Jo Bateman, who becomes a reluctant activist as she takes on one of the UK’s largest water companies in a David-and-Goliath battle against sewage pollution in the UK’s waterways.
With a track record for creating powerful documentaries, Pip and Phil identified the importance of handling the film and its message with care, and approached it from the start in a way that would help them retain creative control, while maximising audience reach.
The film features some prominent voices including Jeremy Vine, Jim Murray MBE and Chris Packham and has received endorsements from some leading environmental names.
Devon: More Than a Backdrop
Devon was central to the story from the off, since Jo Bateman’s activism emerged from her connection to Exmouth’s stunning coastline and the wider South West environment.
Pip explains: “I was alerted to Jo by the journalist who broke the story. He put me in touch with Jo and we met and I just knew this was a film that needed making. Yes, it is personal as Jo and I both live in Exmouth and love the sea. I think Jo is the ‘every person’ that represents all of us who are so affected and offended by this local and national scandal. Her passion and personality really drew me to make it”.
With natural roots in East Devon, the film inevitably benefitted from the location, with its distinctive landscapes and strong local identity. But being based in the very place where the story originated strengthened its sense of authenticity.
Financing the Film: a Hybrid Approach
Often the trickiest block to overcome for filmmakers, financing Jo in the Water required some creative thinking. In doing so, a hybrid independent model was used, that allowed Pip and Phil to maintain full creative control, while keeping production costs low.
The necessary funding arrived through a combination of channels, from charitable trust support to Crowdfunding campaigns.
A crucial early milestone for the team was securing Surfers Against Sewage as a headline partner. This commitment meant that other key supporters followed, including River Action, affording Pip and Phil the freedom to complete most of the principal photography.
To get the film over the line, a final compelling Crowdfunding campaign was launched, which not only met its target, but achieved a stretch target. This meant that additional funds were generated and could be allocated to a launch marketing campaign.
The Methodology
Like the funding, the production methodology employed was consistently independent – one that had already been tried, tested and refined across Pip’s multiple past projects. It involved:
- using small, nimble and local production teams to reduce costs;
- designing the project specifically for initial cinematic release and prioritising those direct relationships with cinemas, thereby retaining a greater proportion of ticket revenue;
- Hybrid distribution across cinemas and community venues, so as to extend the screening life of the film and then;
- Pursuing broadcast and streaming deals through distributors or sales agents after the initial release window.
Following this model enabled Jo in the Water to move from a locally rooted story to a nationally distributed documentary, all the while retaining that crucial creative and financial independence.
Distribution: Making a Splash
Collaboration was key in getting the film out there. Following its premiere at Exeter Phoenix, Jo in the Water was presented to exhibitors through a series of partnerships with BFI South West, BFI Wales and the UK Green Film Network. The film also secured support from major cinema chains and indie venues across the country.
Many of the screenings were accompanied by live Q&A sessions, featuring filmmakers, activists and campaigners such as Jim Murray MBE and Chris Hines (Co-Founder of Surfers Against Sewage). Not only were audiences able to see the film, they could engage directly with the issues raised and connect with environmental campaigns on a local level.
And these ‘conversational’ environments meant that Jo in the Water could deliver measurable social impact. By collaborating with ImpactWild from the outset, initiatives were employed, including a QR-code-linked impact survey, a website guide galvanising communities to organise their own screenings and Jo Bateman’s own activist guide, providing practical tools for environmental campaigning.
Beyond the Screen
Pip and Phil’s carefully considered strategies for getting Jo in the Water made have paid off – and the timing of the film’s release has proven beneficial too, coinciding with Channel 4’s powerful docu-drama Dirty Business raising awareness across the broader landscape. The outrage and sadness audiences felt here effectively paved a path for Jo in the Water to take the baton and run with those frustrations, while offering audiences moments of joy and inspiration.
Audience feedback has highlighted an inspired and empowered sense of solidarity:
But the film hasn’t just inspired local communities to take action on a vitally important subject. It also offers some important lessons – and hope – for Devon filmmakers. Jo in the Water proves that authentic, locally rooted stories can have national appeal; and by taking creative, independent approaches throughout the entire process, it’s possible for films to get made and to make an impact far beyond the screen.
Big thanks to Pip Piper and Phil Webb of Fair View Films for the insights into making Jo in the Water.
Fair View Films Ltd have just launched a new Crowdfunder campaign for their latest documentary project, another South West-based collaboration, this time with storyteller, mythologist and Christian thinker Dr Martin Shaw. My Heart Ate Light: Sacred Adventures with Dr Martin Shaw will be completed in Spring/Summer 2027. You can support the Crowdfunder here.
You can find out more on Jo in the Water here.
