Focus Productions

Painting the Mind

This highly original and visually striking film explores the origins of artistic creativity in the brain. Through the experiences of people who have suffered strokes and similar forms of brain damage the film suggests where the source of art may lie in the brain. We meet artists like Tommy McHugh and Jon Sarkin who feel [...]

The Real Rainman

During his lifetime Kim Peek was called the world’s greatest savant and a “human Google”. He was the inspiration for the character of Raymond Babbitt, played by Dustin Hoffman, in the movie Rain Man. Unlike Babbitt, Peek was not autistic, but born with congenital brain abnormalities. Focus Productions is proud to have brought Kim over [...]

The Musical Genius

Derek Paravicini was born extremely prematurely, at 25 weeks (a normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks). His blindness was caused by oxygen therapy given during his time in a neonatal intensive care unit. This also affected his developing brain, resulting in his severe learning disability. At the age of just three his parents discovered him playing [...]

The Drug Trial that Went Wrong

A special Dispatches investigation into the drug trial performed in Britain on behalf of a small German drug company. After being given an experimental anti-cancer drug many of the volonteers thought they might die or suffer permanent damage to their immune systems. With exclusive access to Ryan, a 20-year-old trainee plumber, one of the most badly affected [...]

Documentaries

Kim Peek meets Dustin Hoffman who plays him in the film Rainman

About

Focus TV production is headed by Martin Weitz, who describes himself as a TV and Radio producer-director and writer who makes committed but entertaining programmes on a diverse range of subjects from racism to cancer, archaeology to comedy.

After gaining a BA Honours degree in Psychology and Philosophy (PPP) from University College, Oxford he began his career at Granada TV where he worked on current affairs and features programmes and did programme research for the factually-based courtroom drama series Crown Court. Weitz then worked on many World In Action investigative films and on leaving Granada TV Manchester joined BBC 2’s Horizon series.