Filmmakers Making A Social Impact: Why & How Nick Norman-Butler of Finite Films & TV Is Helping To Change Our World

I think the project I am most pleased with in terms of positive impact was a documentary for National Geographic called Lawless Oceans that successfully solved a cold case mass murder. It’s an amazing story that we solved using proper investigative techniques and, ultimately, put the man responsible in prison for 26 years. I hope this gave great comfort to the victims’ families.

As a part of our series about “Filmmakers Making A Social Impact” I had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Norman-Butler.

Nick’s love of story started early and in an unconventional place. One of his relatives suffered from acute schizoaffective disorder which ignited an obsession with mysteries, paranoid conspiracy theories and searching out the truth. He started his career in investigative journalism then grew into documentary and narrative fiction.

While his regular work ranges from sports documentaries for Netflix to drama docs for National Geographic, he is also proud to have recently finished a 15-year side project, his debut feature film My House (2023).

Thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you share your “backstory” that brought you to this career?

I got into filmmaking via a chance meeting in a pub in Oxford. I was playing pool with some strangers when they mentioned that they worked for the local TV news station and were looking for volunteers (back in the day when people could offer work for free). I had no interest in TV at that point — I wanted to be a research scientist — but my friend said he would do it and they hired him. The next week, after telling me how fun it was, they fired him for showing up late too often and offered me his job instead. I took it, and the rest is history.

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I’ve made so many mistakes, I lost count a long time ago, but I remember a funny one from when I worked at that same TV news station. Even though we were unpaid, they let us go out and film things from day one, which was definitely a steep learning curve.

One day, I went to film an interview with an eminent biologist who had published some very newsworthy research. I remember being so nervous that I spent ages setting up the frame for the video camera, and when I was finally ready, I blagged my way through my list of interview questions only to discover at the end that I had forgotten to press the record button!

He was good enough to do the whole interview again for me, but I think the lessons of that are pretty obvious: You can prepare all you like, but then you have to be able to execute.

Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?

I come from a news and documentary background, so I have met and filmed a lot of interesting people, from world leaders to Drug Kingpins in New York City. The drug kingpin agreed to be filmed if he withheld his real name; we were on this rooftop in Manhattan filming with his lookouts, but he got paranoid and threatened to throw me off the roof because I learned the location of his whole operation. I only got out of that one by letting him take a photo of my passport and telling him that he knew my identity and could track me down and kill me if I misrepresented him in the documentary. He calmed down after that, but it was about giving him the balance of power, so that he felt in control.

Which people in history inspire you the most? Why?

My historical knowledge is famously bad. I think I am psychologically programmed to never look backwards, which I know can be stupid, but I can’t help it! However, if had to pick one, I would probably go with some authors I love who are now deceased. I’m reading Raymond Chandler at the moment, for example. Also painters, photographers — too many to mention.

Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, how are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting social impact cause you are working on right now?

I want my next feature film to be a community project. I’ve written about eight drafts already; it’s called Amanda has Questions, and it’s a story about a regular person who gets involved with solving a crime. It’s set in Kensal Rise, the area of London where I live, and I want to make it a cast and crew hired entirely from the area. There are many creative people here — actors, camera crew, film composers and many young people who want to get a start in the film industry. Hopefully, it will give them an opportunity and be something the community can rally around.

You can follow our progress on Instagram at @kensal_film_project!

Many of us have ideas, dreams and passions, but never manifest it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and take action for this cause? What was that final trigger?

My ‘aha moment’ actually came about because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK, the government was offering something called “Bounce Back Loans” to help small business owners recover post-lockdown. I took that money to develop the script for My House; I paid someone to write up a draft, which turned out great and helped me get the funding I needed for my movie.

Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your work?

I think the project I am most pleased with in terms of positive impact was a documentary for National Geographic called Lawless Oceans that successfully solved a cold case mass murder. It’s an amazing story that we solved using proper investigative techniques and, ultimately, put the man responsible in prison for 26 years. I hope this gave great comfort to the victims’ families.

You can check out the film online!

What are three things that individuals, society or the government can do to support filmmakers?

At the moment, the big issue here in the UK is how freelancers in unscripted TV are suffering due to a lack of work and our union, BECTU, is trying to get broadcasters to find solutions. The work is too seasonal, and even I have endured three winters in a row now with very little work. If solutions cannot be found, many people will leave this industry (unfortunately, myself included).

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?

These are all pretty self-explanatory:

1. “Don’t wait for the cavalry to come, be the cavalry.” — Mark Duplass

2. “Documentary filmmaking is like trying to push a donkey onto a crowded train in rush hour. No one wants you there, but you just do it anyway!” — Olly Lambert

3. “Adventure is dangerous. Routine is lethal.” — unknown

4. “There’s no talent here, I’m just obsessed” — Conor McGregor

5. “Write about the emotions you fear the most.” — Laurie Halse Anderson

6. “Being creative requires massive failure, all the time” — Brian Koppleman

If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society as filmmakers what would you tell them?

I would say that you reap what you sow.

We are very blessed that many other Social Impact Heroes read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would like to collaborate with, and why? He or she might see this. :-)

I have a great idea for a TV drama series that I think Jesse Armstrong (the Succession Showrunner) would really like, so I’d like to have lunch with him and see if he might want to get behind it!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

There are so many quotes I like, I actually have a long list I keep. One of my favourites is: “I’m not a genius. I’m smart, I have some talent and I have a lot of stubbornness. I persevere. I was by no means the best writer in my class in college. I’m just the one still writing.” This was by writer Akiva Goldsman.

I think perseverance goes a long way. You just have to keep beating on the rock, and one day it will break.

How can our readers follow you online?

I am on Twitter as @NickN_B and Instagram as @nickn_b!

This was great, thank you so much for sharing your story and doing this with us. We wish you continued success!