Larissa Hickey
TV & FILM WELFARE
About
Hi there! Through my work in the Film and TV industry, I've had some incredible experiences with talent and contributors, from sleeping with tribes on islands, Amish bible studies at dawn, to living with a K-pop boy band.
- Filming locations can be challenging environments for talent/cast & contributors.
- There are physical barriers, sensory overload, communication obstacles, and lack of understanding among team members, to name a few.
- Production schedules across multiple time zones and foreign countries, long hours, and early call times can also cause exhaustion and other challenges for those on camera.
- As an industry under increasing pressure to prioritise duty of care, efforts often fall short, despite best intentions.
That's where a Welfare Executive can help
Cut her teeth in award-winning obs docs. Former Red Bull Studios Head of Production. Worked across Nat Geo, C4, Vice, Netflix and BBC shows. TV series and feature doc credits include the lovely Bear Grylls and Jamie Oliver.
Highly experienced in sensitive and challenging formats. Well-versed in compliance measures, duty of care, and welfare protocols
It’s about decent human beings. Honesty. Integrity. Kindness. Hard work. Progression. Collaboration. Results.
Larissa
- Years of experience in Line Producer (UPM), Production Exec (EIC), Location Producer, and Welfare roles across HETV unscripted documentaries, premium factual entertainment and branded content
- Worked on a variety of sensitive and challenging formats and am well-versed in compliance measures, duty of care, and welfare protocols.
- Uniquely placed to understand the balance of the editorial vision, the inner workings of a film set/location, and the welfare of talent.
- Extensive network of psychologists, health and safety experts, nutritionists, and other specialists needed to ensure that your duty of care obligations are met.
Welfare Experience
MADE IN KOREA
K-Pop powerhouse SM Entertainment and leading UK production company Moon&Back search for new boy band
Bespoke duty of care policy and guidelines. Safeguarding cast, on location for 4 months with band.
Client: Moon&Back.SM Entertainment
Network: BBC Studios
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 WEIGHS
6 cast. 5 countries. 1 competition.
Senior Welfare Producer.
Bespoke duty of care policy and guidelines. Safeguarding cast, travelling with cast worldwide.
Client: Mothership / BBC Studios
Network: Channel 4
WILL SMITH’S POLE TO POLE.
WORKING TITLE
Will Smith embarks on a global adventure.
Production Consultant.
Evaluated schedule, accommodation, location conditions, transport and more, to ensure talent needs met.
Client: Nutopia
Network: Nat Geo / Disney +
DON'T STOP THE MUSIC
Follows school children as they learn to play musical instruments.
Line Producer. Wrote and executed school access agreement and filming protocols. Supervised filming on location.
Client: The Jamie Oliver Group
Network: Channel 4
SUICIDE AND ME
Follows British rapper Professor Green as he investigates the suicide of his father and explores the issue of male suicide in the UK.
Line Producer. Set up and managed filming in accordance with Samaritan, BBC and Talent needs.
Client: Universal Music and Antidote
Network: BBC
EXTREME EVEREST
Follows former British Special Forces soldier as he attempts to summit Mount Everest
Line Producer. Managed crew duty of care & PTSD action plan. Wrote emergency comms protocol.
Client: Parable Works and Berocca
Network: Channel 4
WORLD'S SQUAREST TEENAGERS
Five Amish teenagers travel to the UK to learn about the British way of life.
Line Producer. Wrote and executed duty of care and filming guidelines. Travelled with cast across UK.
Production Company: KEO films
Network: Channel 4
MEET THE AMISH
Six British teenagers live with the Amish on a cross-cultural exchange.
Line Producer. Wrote and executed duty of care and filming guidelines. Travelled with cast across USA.
Production Company: KEO films
Network: Channel 4
PARALYMPIC SHOW
Explores the incredible achievements and stories of para-athletes.
Line Producer of studio as live VT shoots with vulnerable contributors.
Production Company: TwoFour
Network: Channel 4
MEET THE NATIVES USA
5 men from a remote South Pacific island travel across the US to learn about American culture.
Production Company: KEO films
Network: National Geographic
MEET THE NATIVES UK
5 men from a remote South Pacific island travel across the UK to learn about British culture, and meet their God, Prince Philip.
Line Producer. Wrote and executed duty of care and filming protocols. Travelled with cast. Lived on their island pre-and-post prod.
Production Company: KEO films
Network: Channel 4
Services
Get help to identify the risks, and to execute safeguarding and support measures.
The ultimate goal for any production is to provide a healthy, positive, and fair experience for all talent/contributors involved in filming. Productions must take care to ensure the physical and emotional welfare and dignity of contributors during filming or after the program's broadcast.
Pre-Production
- Develop and write production-specific duty of care protocols.
- Risk assess pre-prod schedule and treatment from a welfare POV.
- Assess the need for bespoke training, background checks, medicals, psych assessments, and other support measures to ensure the safety and well-being of cast, esp if vulnerable.
- Evaluate schedule, accommodation, location conditions, transport and other environmental or cultural factors to ensure talent/participants requirements are met.
- Advise on communication and escalation response protocols.
- Co-run pre-production briefings with the wider production team and crew, highlighting any sensitivities, protocols for working with vulnerable contributors, and other "watch-outs".
On Location
- Work closely with the cast, crew, and other members of the production team to identify and address any potential risks or issues that may arise
- Manage and support the well-being and safety of the cast
- Write and feed duty of care reports into the dailies from location
Say Gday
Larissahickey@gmail.com
MOBILE
+447894802702
ADDRESS
Australian Passport. UK Passport.
USA i-visa. EU residency.