Stories worth finding.
Developing factual stories through research, contributors, access and editorial development — from the first question to a production-ready idea.
Every story
begins with
a question.
The strongest factual stories often begin before there is a story — with a question, a contradiction, a person, an institution or something that doesn’t quite make sense.
My work begins with research and curiosity: understanding a subject from multiple perspectives, identifying the people who can illuminate it and asking what makes the story worth pursuing now.
From there, development becomes a process of testing the idea — finding access, contributors, archive and narrative possibilities and shaping them into a proposition that can move towards production.
“The work is not simply finding a subject. It is discovering what the story actually is.”Nikhil Burse · Factual Development
Work
A selection of documentary, research and
independent factual development work.
Detailed development materials are available
for professional enquiries.
After the
Finish Line
A short documentary exploring the life and perspective of a retired race jockey, looking beyond a career defined by competition to the person and experiences that remain after the finish line.
View Project →
The Future
of Horse Racing
An internationally oriented factual project examining the economic, cultural and institutional forces reshaping horse racing and the questions surrounding its future.
View Development →
The New Borders
As borders become increasingly important in a changing world, the people living beside them are being forced to navigate a new reality of surveillance, migration, trade and identity. A research-led factual project currently in development.
Explore →
From an idea
to a story.
Development is where curiosity becomes structure — where a broad subject becomes a story with characters, access, evidence and a reason to exist.
What
I Do
I support factual projects at the stages where research, editorial thinking and practical development intersect.
Insights
What Documentary Development Actually Involves
From the first question to a production-ready proposition, what actually happens during factual development?
Read Article →
Finding Stories Worth Filming
Why some subjects become compelling documentaries while others remain simply interesting ideas.
Read Article →
Documentary Research Methods
Research isn’t simply collecting facts. It is about discovering the story hidden inside them.
Read Article →
Looking beyond
the obvious.
I am a factual development and research
professional working across documentary and
unscripted storytelling.
My interests span current affairs, geopolitics,
economics, business, culture, history, sport
and social change.
I am particularly interested in stories where
people and institutions intersect with larger
forces — and where research can reveal a
deeper story than the obvious headline.
Photography.
A personal visual practice exploring people, places, architecture, landscapes and moments encountered through travel.
View My Photography →
Let’s find
the story.
Working on a factual documentary,
series or research-led project?
If you would like to discuss development,
research, contributors, access or a potential
collaboration, get in touch.