Peer Review: Harvey Ascott

Please share 3-4 pieces of work that exemplify great production, and explain why?

The Bear on Disney + is one of the best TV shows from the last few years. The characters, production aesthetics, music, and sound design are so perfectly considered and on beat. The mind-blowing episode Fishes with Jamie Lee Curtis in Season 2 is one of the best pieces of television I've ever seen - I watched it twice.

I was that kid at school who sold sweets and fireworks (don’t tell my parents that I used to hide them under the floorboards).

Another contender would have to be Jamiroquai’s Virtual Insanity. It was way ahead of its time and I’m still trying to figure out if he’s the best dancer on earth or if the floor walls are moving. An oldie but a goodie. 

I’d also have to say that I’m extremely proud of the music video I shot as a freelancer for Dermot Kennedy’s track Power Over Me, directed by Courtney Phillips. We shot the video in Cuba, and all I can say is that shooting in Cuba exemplifies excellent production. Every person, every building, every car, everything, you just get great production aesthetics everywhere you look.

Finally, any Yorkshire Tea ad. I just love Yorkshire tea, that's all.

Above: Trailer for Disney +'s The Bear, Season 2

What was your journey to becoming EP and founder of DOGEATDOG?

I was always a bit of a hustler growing up. I was that kid at school who sold sweets and fireworks (don’t tell my parents that I used to hide them under the floorboards). I worked in a retirement home making sandwiches, worked as a cleaner, a chef, and all the while, finding time to work on short films. 

When I was 18, I produced my first short, which amazingly went to the Cannes Film Festival. I was then able to work for a few years in Leeds, producing local commercials and music videos on the weekends.

I love the hustle of finding the work, winning it, producing it, delivering it, and seeing all the hard work pay off in an incredible film.

In 2014, I moved to London and produced a short film called Shok, which earned an Academy Award nomination in 2016. I then continued working as a freelance producer until 2017 when I partnered with Mark O’Sullivan (formerly of Believe Media, Partizan/HungryEye) to establish DOGEATDOG. 

Now, in 2024, we've successfully created some fantastic commercials and music videos, built an amazing team, and produced our first feature film, Jericho Ridge, with many more in the pipeline. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years bring us.

I have also dedicated the last 12 years to nurturing the growth of Kosovo’s film industry. I have taken numerous projects out there to shoot on-location, and I'm currently advising the government on the implementation of new cinematography laws and a film cash rebate programme. I am deeply passionate about Kosovo’s potential in this field and can’t wait to see it expand its influence on the film industry.

What do you like most about the work that you do?

I love the hustle of finding the work, winning it, producing it, delivering it, and seeing all the hard work pay off in an incredible film. There’s not much I don’t like, apart from people who make life difficult on purpose.

I remember the time we spontaneously made a documentary about finding the best pork pies in Yorkshire — I must have the VHS somewhere.

What is one thing every EP needs?

Resilience. 

Who was the greatest producer of all time? Why?

Now that’s a tricky question, as there are a lot of greats out there, in commercials, film and TV. 

Did you have a mentor? Who was it?

My mentor was a man named Andrew Hirschhorn. He helped me discover a love for film, taught me the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, gave me opportunities, and really helped push my career forward. I remember the time we spontaneously made a documentary about finding the best pork pies in Yorkshire — I must have the VHS somewhere.

Patience is crucial in our industry. We deal with so many amazing and different people who all have their own way of working.

What truly set him apart was his ability to inspire. Despite teasing me about my supposed cultural illiteracy, he remained a nurturing force, guiding me and steering me toward success. I owe so much to his mentorship and the indelible mark he left on my journey.