This programme is part of a series looking at people who have opted for a career change in order find a more fulfilling way of living. Susan Lever gave up a busy sales job in London and moved to Guisborough in Cleveland. She is now a sound therapist teaching people the power of the human voice to uplift, to liberate, even to heal. Fred Atkinson left his job as a draughtsman to become a full-time artist. Judy Jones was the respected Health Correspondent on The Observer until she quit Fleet...

This programme is part of a series looking at people who have opted for a career change in order find a more fulfilling way of living. Susan Lever gave up a busy sales job in London and moved to Guisborough in Cleveland. She is now a sound therapist teaching people the power of the human voice to uplift, to liberate, even to heal. Fred Atkinson left his job as a draughtsman to become a full-time artist. Judy Jones was the respected Health Correspondent on The Observer until she quit Fleet Street and is now a freelance journalist in Wiltshire. Title: Change Your Life! The film shows pedestrians on a crowded pavement moving at high speed, traffic moving in an exaggerated way follows on. The commentary outlines the stresses the modern-day workforce deal with each day in order make a living. The underlying pressure to succeed at all costs is prevalent. The commentary says that the programme looks at the risks involved and interviews people who have made the transition to a different way of living to find out about alterations and changes they have had to make for their new lives. The film and commentary show clips of the people they will be talking to in future programmes. Susan Lever walks along a country path she is now a sound therapist after leaving behind a stressful job and a home in London. She now lives near Roseberry Topping in Cleveland, off camera she talks about her childhood. She then talks in a room at her new home. Title: Susan Lever – Sound Therapist She talks about the pressure running her own business in London. The film shows heavy London traffic. The film then shows her partner David participating in one of her therapy sessions, he is the reason she finally moved to the North East. He is standing alongside Susan with others attending the session nearby. Susan takes them through an exercise using the voice. They then use small drums to accompany another exercise, based on native American culture which includes chanting. Susan explained how she moved on to take singing lessons and then writing songs. Through this experience she moved on to help people find their voice. She then demonstrates a voice technique which produces harmonics which she believes has healing properties. She explains that it is possible for anyone to learn how to produce the sound and use its properties for themselves and others. The film goes back to the therapy lesson as she talks off and on camera about the healing properties of therapy techniques. Susan makes her way across a hillside with a view of industrial Teesside in the distance. She passes by Roseberry Topping and off camera talks of her new simpler lifestyle. The film changes to show a number of works of art crowded into a small house. Fred Atkinson rides his bike along a road in the High Shincliffe area of County Durham and the commentary says he is obsessed with his new way of living. He changed his career from engineering draughtsman to a full-time artist. The film moves to his wife who explains that Fred was shy and quiet when they first met. Title: Maria Atkinson – Fred’s Wife. Fred, after a period in the merchant navy went back to being an engineering draughtsman. Title: Fred Atkinson – Artist On camera he explains that he always wanted to be an artist and eventually attended art college. On camera Maria talks about his period at art college in the late 60’s into the 70’s. Fred and Maria talk about the realities and pitfalls of one of them leaving their work to pursue something very different. The films shows Fred at work producing a painting for one of his commercial requests. Maria explains how she criticizes Fred’s work. The film shows dozens of works hanging on much of the wall space available in their home, space being a bone of contention between them. Maria still hopes Fred will hit an artistic jackpot, but they are both willing to wait. Maria and Fred leave home in a blue sports car. Maria on camera explains occasions when Fred was down and not producing but she wouldn’t persuade him to give up the art work as its very much part of his personality. Fred works on another painting as he explains how he goes about his work. Maria talks about how she’s supported Fred over the years. The film shows a range of work by Fred as he advises that to pursue art as a career you have to be interested and dedicated to the point of obsession. Title: End of Part One Title: Change Your Life! – Part 2 The second art of the programme concentrates on health. Title: Judy Jones – Author, “Downshifting” Judy talks on screen about lack of sleep and experiencing stress which affected her health. The commentary gives tips on staying healthy in your new life. This includes cycling or using public transport. There is also advice to join a health club or generally find a pastime which will exercise your body from line dancing to orienteering. Digging over over a garden will provide exercise, and the grown produce will save you money eventually. Some workmen build a fence as the commentary suggests that you get involved in voluntary work. As an orchestra plays the commentary urges you to relax and listen to music and ensure that you get enough sleep. The film moves on to the town of Malmesbury in Wiltshire an attractive working town to begin a new life. Judy Jones is seen riding a horse, her former job was as a correspondent on a leading newspaper. On leaving her career she published a book along with a like-minded colleague, Polly Ghazi called ‘Downshifting: The Guide to Happier, Simpler Living’, the book is shown on film. She talks on camera about her future after university which was uncertain. By studying career books she opted for journalism and eventually became the Observer’s health correspondent, But it was pressure at work and illness that made her leave and become freelance. She works at her computer and talks off camera about her feelings having left the newspaper. She moved to a stone-built cottage in Malmesbury which appears on film and shows her home office as she works. She has no regrets about making the career change, and after four years she has better health. The film shows her riding a horse as off camera she continues about improving finances and the wide range of work she does. The programme ends at this point. Credits Location, Direction & Photography – Simon Elphinstone Sound – Paul Graham Electrician – John Haynes Sound Post Production – Charles Heath Editor – Edmund Quigley Graphics – Jon King Music – McGregor Cook Production Manager – Christine Stewart-Tilling Executive Producer - Jane Bolesworth Producer – Oliver Martlew TTTV – A Tyne Tees Television Production © Tyne Tees Television MMI