NYWIFT Blog

By Ana Juanola

Welcome to NYWIFT, Alice McFaul!

Alice is a producer, assistant director, and musician based between New York and Ireland, working in feature documentaries and unscripted television. 

Her work includes some of Netflix’s biggest true crime feature docs as a drama producer, and Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy and Tucci in Italy shows as assistant director. Alice is also a professional harpist and singer, playing since the age of three in Northern Ireland.  

In our interview, Alice tells us more about her experience working across these platforms, and how these are shaping her future goals. 

NYWIFT Member Alice McFaul

Could you give our readers a brief introduction to yourself?

Hi, I’m Alice. I recently moved to New York from Northern Ireland (after a brief eight-year stint living in London!). I’m a drama producer and assistant director in unscripted TV and film, working mostly in feature documentaries. I’m also a traditional Irish harper and singer. 

In film, I love producing the drama elements of feature docs that help elevate and tell the parts of the stories we don’t have visual references for yet. It’s a tricky balance to get right, the best drama elements of docs are seamless, and the audience are left unaware they are recreations. In music, I enjoy bringing an Irish folk twist to songs that wouldn’t traditionally be created for the harp. 

What brought you to NYWIFT?

Having just moved to New York I was looking for community within the industry, somewhere to grow and learn from likeminded women. I knew the events held by NYWIFT would be a place to meet other creatives and be inspired and encouraged on my own journey. 

You work both as a producer and 1st AD. How do these roles complement each other in your work? 

Drama producing and 1st AD work complement each other beautifully. They both create deeper understandings of budgets, schedules and the constraints we’re always juggling in order to get to the finish line.

While setting up a shoot as a producer, I can have my AD head on at the same time and know when something may need to be set up differently to be more achievable, and likewise where we can have a bit more flexibility with a scene.  

What draws you to documentary and unscripted storytelling in particular? 

The people and their stories. Documentaries give people a chance to tell their biggest life moments and connect with others around the world in doing so. The rise of streaming platforms has meant documentaries are now reaching audiences that maybe wouldn’t have seen or heard these stories before, and that’s incredible. Everyone we pass on the street has a story, and I love that unscripted shows give the opportunity for everyday people to express these. 

You have worked between New York, Belfast, and London. How has this international experience shaped your approach? 

I’ve been incredibly lucky to work around the world on these types of shows, shooting across the US, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia. Working internationally has given me such unique insight and experience, learning how crews work in different climates and cultures, and how storytelling differs around the world. It’s taught me to go into every job with an openness to learn from those on the ground, to not expect everyone to work in the same way we do, and to always be ready to adapt to our surroundings. 

Looking ahead, what kinds of stories or projects are you most excited to pursue? 

This year I’m excited to pursue a few stories that have been in my back pocket for a while and finally feel the time is aligning for them to come to fruition. I’m also delving into the world of scripted and planning to shoot my first short this year as a writer and director, bringing in the story telling experience I’ve garnered throughout my career so far.

I’m also excited to look for stories and projects between New York and Ireland, combining my two worlds and seeing what possibilities lie there. 

Connect with Alice on her website www.alicemcfaul.com and on Instagram at @alicemcfaul.

(All images courtesy of Alice McFaul)