Former F1 driver David Coulthard is now a director at film and TV production company Whisper, who have opened up an office in Cardiff. Szofi Zekov caught up with the speed demon.
What is a typical day like at Whisper Films?
What I like most is there really isn’t such a thing as a typical day. When I visit Whisper I just love the buzz around the place. It’s a very creative atmosphere and a lot of new staff have joined over the last two years constantly refreshing the place.
What is the most important quality to have in the creative industries?
It’s very competitive, so you have to be incredibly good to be the best in the business, which is what we aspire to. To achieve that, I would highlight two things – one, to surround yourself with experts and experience. You have to have people who know what they are talking about. And two, to understand the concept of a calculated risk. Ideas are everything, but they can take time to make work and they can turn out to be costly.
You have to have the highest targets, and look to deliver the most exciting ideas, but you also have to be very realistic about what is going to work. But when it works it’s great. We did an ambitious documentary about the relationship between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson which was the kind of thing that could have gone wrong, but it didn’t, and proved to be a big hit.
What is the most rewarding part of what you do?
I just love seeing Whisper grow. It was an idea that three of us had a few years ago, then Channel 4
wanted to be part of it, and now we’ve branched out to Wales. I confess when I stopped driving I wondered how I would find life. I have business interests in a few things, but Whisper is something special.
How did you end up going from F1 to Whisper?
It came from three people just sitting down and having a chat – Sunil Patel, now our CEO, Jake Humphrey the TV presenter, and myself. I’ve been especially lucky that Whisper were chosen to produce C4’s Formula One coverage and I’ve been a big part of that. So I’ve managed to maintain friendships and connections with a sport which I loved for many years.
Anyone who wants to see that only needs to watch me doing the grid walk before a Grand Prix. I’m like a child on the first day of the summer holidays. It’s not always easy trying to get to talk to the people you want to, 10 minutes before the lights go out, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
Is there anything you learned from your time as an F1 driver that’s applicable to your role now?
Everything. I don’t think I can give the insight or have the knowledge I have if I hadn’t spent virtually all my life in motorsport.
How is it viewing races from a media perspective now?
When the rain and the mist comes down at Suzuka, I don’t miss driving a bit. But like any sportsman will tell you, talking about the sport is just not the same as doing it. But I had my time, I had amazing memories, worked with some wonderful people, made some very special friends. Nothing can go on forever.
However, doing what I do now for Whisper and C4 is not far behind it. I’m at every race, still feeling I am part of the Formula One world and loving every minute. Yes, there are times when I see a car taking on Eau Rouge at Spa or Parabolica at Monza and think “I’d love to be doing that”.
What inspired you to expand Whisper Films and establish a Cardiff office?
We have always planned to expand our London base as there is just so much creative talent in Wales and around the UK. So when Channel 4 announced their decision to spend more in nations and regional commissioning, this focused our mind even more. The days when everything had to be produced in London are long gone.
Info: www.whisperfilms.co.uk