BBC Fresh Profile: Pippa Riddick

Pippa Riddick is a documentary maker based in London. She previously worked as a freelance film-maker for the Roundhouse.

Pippa Riddick's first short documentary, The Other Side of the Road, follows the residents of London's famous Abbey Road and the many tourists that travel there to have their picture taken on the iconic zebra crossing.

Why did you pick this subject for Fresh?

I picked this subject for fresh as I think it demonstrates a very modern take on fan culture and tourism. An album cover from over 40 years ago has been almost solely reduced to a photo opportunity. And it's not that I think there is anything wrong with having your picture taken on the crossing (I've done it myself!) it's the process in which this iconic album has transcended its original purpose to become something entirely different, in music fans both young and old.

What motivated you to make this film?

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I first visited the crossing as a tourist but I was instantly fascinated with the site; the clash of novelty tourist photos and everyday life. My friends and I took quite a few photos on the crossing, trying to recreate that album cover. Once I got home with the photos, it was our failed attempts that interested me most, the ones with people and their shopping bags in the background, I wanted to know what they thought of it all.

What camera did you use to shoot your film?

I used a Canon 550d, using mainly the kit lenses, but also using a 50mm for some shots and a wide angle lens for the time-lapse.

Who/what inspires you?

I mainly work site -specifically. Finding an interesting environment first, and then exploring the social relations that inhabit them. I'm also drawn to what I call the 'little things', little details, nuances and speckles of personality, it's what inspires me and what I like to build my films around.

What are your plans for the future?

I have begun pre-production on my next short doc...

'1,000,000 Polish citizens have arrived in the UK since 2004. Thousands of love-struck Brits attempt to learn a baffling language.'

I have also been working with The Roundhouse and their poetry collective on their 'Talking Doorsteps' series, filming spoken word performances in unexpected places. We will be taking the project to international destinations for the first time in 2014, collaborating with poets in Beirut this April.