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Neil Emmanuel, together with his colleague, Raysan Al-Kubaisi, is responsible for Time Team graphics.
What does your work on Time Team entail?
'My role is basically twofold,' says Neil. 'When we're on shoots, it's my job to produce anything the Team requires in two dimensions. That can be dealing with maps, surveys or any data, for that matter, that needs to be processed and printed out.
'Then, after the shoots, my work involves post-production of images for the final programme. That can be a bit more involved and requires fine-tuning of images and work, putting more detail into the graphics for the final show.'
'We all use PC computers in the graphics team rather than Macs as we've found this easier when integrating our software,' Neil continues. 'I use a mixture of illustrating and painting programmes that all overlap and basically help me to make sure all of the images I use look just right at the end of the day.'
How did you get interested in graphics?
'From an early age, I knew I was "a visual-thinking person". I loved films and cartoons, but particularly comics and animation. I was always drawing. If you gave me a stack of paper and an HB pencil, you wouldn't have seen me for hours which is why I ended up going to art school.
'I completed a BA in graphic design at Kingston University. When I left uni, I wanted to combine my design with moving image and thought that the TV industry was a place where it might be possible.
'After doing various work experience, running in post-production facilities and freelancing, I ended up at Creative TV Facilities working for [former Time Team graphics team] Steve Breeze and Sue Francis doing graphic design for the TV industry. I took over from Jamie Wiggins, who also worked on Time Team in a variety of roles.
'At Creative TV I worked on a range of projects such as cartoon animation, TV title sequences, storyboarding, and documentary graphics.'
How did you get involved in archaeology?
'I was exposed to archaeology because not only did Steve and Sue pioneer the early Time Team graphics but they also started working on other archaeology documentaries, such as BBC's Meet the Ancestors.
'In retrospect it seems funny to me because while I was at Creative TV I met people that had worked on Time Team but never thought that I would eventually be working on that show as well.'
How did you come to work on Time Team?
'After around two years at Creative TV and a brief stint as an illustrator and web designer I got the call from Time Team. How I got offered the job was a strange quirk of fate. When I was starting out in the web design industry I sent a CV off to a company called Diverse on the off chance that they might have a position in their graphics department.
'They didn't, but they passed my CV on to Time Team because they knew they were looking for someone to do their graphics. I was invited for an interview and the rest, as they say on Time Team, is history.'
What's like working on the programme?
'It's crazy working on Time Team. I get to design in the middle of fields. No other graphic designer can say that except maybe Raysan.'
Listen to Neil Emmanuel talking about post-production.
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