The creative industries are grappling with the right balance when it comes to flexible working – or is it just the bosses? What even is flexibility anyway?

TP’s guests discuss (Note Production Management guest couldn’t make the session last minute but we really wanted to hear the PM side and included questions from live viewers)

Thanks to: Exec Producer Belinda Cherrington, freelancers Hayley Sarian and Joshua Marshall, Coaches of Colour & Project 23 co-Founder Elaine dela Cruz and indie boss Jason Mitchell from The Connected Set.

Talented People hosts the first discussion of 2023, wondering what the year might have in store for us folk in the TV and digital content making game. Thanks to our guests: Chris Curtis, Editor at Broadcast; Pippa Considine, Associate Editor for Televisual; Sam Barcroft, founder of Creatorville; Helen Landeau, a freelance Line Producer and Sreya Biswas who is Head of Natural History for BBC Commissioning.

Candid and uplifting session sharing personal experiences of working in content-making as someone who is LGBTQ+, and tangible action you can take to improve inclusivisity as an ally, whether you are a company, colleague or just a human.

Huge thanks to our guests: Anna Brent, Kit Morey, Lucy Powell, Amy Ruffell, Dean Webster.

Guests Lucy Tallon & Valeria Bullon from the Film & TV Charity, Adeel Amini, Dean Webster and Jessica Gardner discuss the fallout from recent films about bullying, harrassment and ‘toxic’ workplace culture but importantly, the accessible help & tangible steps that freelancers and bosses alike can take to make TV a joyful and supportive place to work.

Talented People is a proud supporter of the Grierson DocLab, which is a training scheme that helps new entrants from all over the country and from different backgrounds thrive in the world of factual TV and documentary filmmaking. This lively discussion is aimed at new and ambitious filmmakers, as well as mentors and production companies who’d like to get involved in supporting the scheme and with it, the next generation of factual directors.

Big thanks to guests: Yen Yau. Ziyaad Desai, Eloise Millard, Mal Sen and Mark Robinson.

A fascinating discussion about sexism in TV with some leading female documentary filmmakers and an Executive Producer. Has it become harder to get directing opportunities as a woman? Is there gender bias with the technical side of filming? What about the connotations of the word ‘Producer’ rather than Director?

Guests: Vanessa Engle, Katie Buchanan, Tara Nolan and Abi Mowbray.

Six brilliant editorial and production management freelancers and staff talk candidly about ‘imposter syndrome’, owning your mistakes and finding solutions to a raft of uncomfortable moments working in TV. Spoiler alert: We are all human and have all f*cked up! Guests: Helen Landeau, David Vallance, Dan Howell, Cath Boggan, Ruhi Hamid, Andrew Eastel.

First time true crime documentary makers speak candidly about structure, techniques and working collaboratively and flexibly around pregnancies and pandemics. Guests: Line Producer Suzy Burnet, Series Producer Flo Barrow and Series Director Lottie Gammon.

A warm and engaging insight into making a glossy first series for YouTube Originals. Inspiring contributors, the challenges of filming during the pandemic, and the importance of a close and communicative team.

Guests: Emma Taylor Hill, Lauren Jacobs, Frank Driver and CJ Henry.

The hottest topic of the moment – the crisis in Production Management – unpacked, with lots of potential solutions.

Guests: Tamara Howe, Naked, Vanessa Tovell, Lightbox, Jamie Stratton, freelance PM, Nicola Hirsch, Workerbee and Faraz Osman, Gold Wala

A lively, honest and no-holds-barred discussion on all things casting and welfare in unscripted television.

Guests: Laetitia Nneke, Olaide Sadiq, Romily Hammett-West, Frankie Mensah and Charlie Pheby.

BAFTA winning Victoria Mapplebeck and Adam Gee, along with young filmmaker Ines Yearwood-Sanchez inspire about shooting on your SmartPhone with zero budget.

Practical advice about kit and workarounds if you can’t afford any extras too – and how to enter the first London International SmartPhone Film Festival.

Coalitions & Taskforces: Where are we now?

A no holds barred discussion with five trailblazers for change about everything that 2021 chucked at the TV freelance community and what there is still to do.

Trigger warning – sensitive subjects to do with race, disability, unemployment, bullying and Covid.

Guests: Adeel Amini, Abby Kumar, Caroline O’Neill, James Taylor and Dean Webster

A look behind the scenes at how this important and meaningful BBC documentary that looks at how Muslims mark life’s key moments of birth, childhood, marriage and death was made. Ziyaad Desai, Viant Siddique and Ricardo Clarke tell us how they cast, directed and cut the film – and what they took away from it personally.

How are the smallest indies faring one year on from the global pandemic shutting filming down?

MDs Faraz Osman, Kate Monaghan, Jake Attwell and Sohail Shah share the challenges they’ve faced and their hopes for positive change in the industry once normality returns.

Nothing is off limits as TP talks to Editors Tonye Paul-Worika and Derek Wilson, Series Edit Producer Celine Gilbert and PD Dan Howell, from terrible edit experiences to what you can be doing at home to up your edit game.

These brilliant senior Development and Exec Producers guests talk brainzooming & pitching during Covid, and where to find great content to inspire. Guests: Abby Kumar, Anna Abenson, Lucy Bacon and Kate Ansell. 

 

 

A super inspiring and advice heavy session. Guests Jackie Waldock (Exec, Hospital), Jenny Popplewell (Director, American Murder: The Family Next Door) and Natalie Von Hurter (Head of Specialist Factual) discuss being a parent in TV – handling that pregnancy announcement with work, returning to work when the children are small and the positives being a Mum can bring to your creativity and efficiency. 

Spoiler alert: PMs are NOT just admin! A lively debate about what PMs do, how editorial and production work together best and why perhaps they are overlooked.

Thanks to our brilliant guests: Gemma McAllister (Production Executive), Josh Pitt (Head of Production), Helen Landeau (Line Producer), Suzie Marsh (Executive Producer), Jess Gardner (Creative Producer / PM)

Director Yemi Bamiro and Producer Will Thorne tell tales of funding nightmares, wrong planes and incredible interviews as they made their independent feature doc passion project on the phenomenon of Air Jordan sneakers over the course of 7 years. 

Disabled People are not yet represented fairly in the TV industry – join in this lively and forward-thinking discussion with 5 freelancers who speak about the barriers faced, being disability confident and harnessing the creativity that comes from lived experiences.

Guests: Caroline O’Neill, Ramy El-Bergamy, Shermane Henlon, Adam Pearson and Kate Monaghan. BSL Interpreters: Sharan Thind & Alim Jadavji

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Join a an experienced Series Director and PD in a fascinating session about how the worlds of traditional TV and branded content both differ wildly, and are also very alike. Take away info on getting into branded, navigating the world of jargon, clients and agencies and structuring your CV to relate to both worlds.

Thanks to guests Paddy Hughes and Daniel Dempster.

Have you wondered how others are surviving financially? Considered trying to get other work but fearful of missing the TV boat when it chugs away again? In this session, a senior Edit Producer and junior Researcher share their inspiring stories about earning money in very different ways during Covid.

Guests: Helen Pratt & Chris Piper

This session our guests, Gemma McAllister from STV Productions and Josephine Clark from Maidstone Studios, join us at the end of their first week shooting Catchphrase post lockdown. It’s ITV’s first (and possibly the very first) Ents show back since Covid ground everything to a halt… How different is it? What new procedures are in place? How much more is Covid protocol costing? What’s everyone eating?! Important stuff answered here.

Three senior and very talented development heads from Pulse Films, Thames TV & Firecracker Films (who also happen to be lovely human beings) on this week’s live session. They will be sharing how the world of development has completely changed during Covid, talking to us about what the landscape is looking like and giving insider info about pitching in this climate. And of course revealing whether they still bother dressing up for commissioner Zoom meets…

Guests: Nelesh Dhand, Kirtsy Calvert-Ansari & Shona Baldwin

 

Ever thought bosses were infallible? Or that all directors knew exactly what they were talking about? Come along to a refreshing and upbeat session to hear what mistakes these super successful guests have made over their careers, and what they learnt in the process.

Thanks to the excellent Dominique Walker, Faraz Osman and Matt Rudge.

A vital session discussing #BlackLivesMatter, being Black in the TV industry, and what positive action we can all take from here.

Thank you so much to Chitsi Kurangwa, Yemi Oyefuwa, Kobina Wood-Andoh and CJ Henry for sharing their stories in a brutally honest and open way. We can all do more!

 

In such a subjective industry, can two people really seamlessly work as one in a creative role? And are employers prepared to ‘take the risk’?

Series Editor Naomi Callan, and jobshare Edit Producers Cath Marsden and Emily Davis talk openly to TP about their experiences and give practical advice about applying for and sharing one role in TV.

The relationship between an editor and an edit producer in the cutting room is a peculiar one, isn’t it?

Whether you’re brand new to the edit, or have many hours until your belt, this is a fascinating insight with the industry’s top talent in post. Who’s in charge? How does it work? When doesn’t it work and what do you do?! Is the division of labour simply button pushing vs scripting?

Guests: SP / Senior Edit Producer Jo Woolf & Editor Paddy Lynas

This Talented People Live Session is a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at BBC Two’s powerful documentary series special ‘Hospital: Fighting Covid-19’. Exec Producer Jackie Waldock talks about editorial and on the ground decisions & practicalities, and Head of Production Jo Taylor discloses how they managed the shoot safely and delivered from first access meeting to TX in 2 months.

How is anyone filming anything right now? Find out from two top industry names who have shot, edited and delivered fast turnaround films without compromising on quality during lockdown. 

From the practicalities of PPE, kit hire & travel, to the creative side of delivering compelling content quickly and safely, thank you to CEO & Exec Producer David Wise from Parable (C4 docs on How to Isolate & When Will Lockdown End?) and freelance Shooting PD Tom Jenner (Panorama films on CV-19) for giving up their time to share stories from the coalface.

 

An honest account of the challenges of working in telly and what the workplace might look like in the future, with very honest, but also inspiring messages from our experienced guests.

Series Editor Emma Taylor Hill and Head of Development / ex C4 Diversity Exec Ramy El-Bergamy have plenty of personal anecdotes to share from across their impressive careers, as well as wisdom to impart about handling your work/life balance and potential confidence issues going forwards.

Six brilliant editorial and production management freelancers and staff talk candidly about ‘imposter syndrome’, owning your mistakes and finding solutions to a raft of uncomfortable moments working in TV.

Spoiler alert: We are all human and have all f*cked up!

Guests: Helen Landeau, David Vallance, Dan Howell, Cath Boggan, Ruhi Hamid, Andrew Eastel.

Ever wondered what comes first – access or commission? How long it takes from first access negotiation to filming & delivery? David DeHaney from docs indie Proper Content and Producer/Director Rachel Harvie give specifics and advice on how to pull off delicate access series involving schools, hospitals and other institutions and well known companies.

In one of our most popular live sessions, Talented People talks candidly to MD of MiddleChild Productions David Sumnall, and Co-Founder/MD of Curious Films Dov Freedman about what it takes to set up your first indie, why they bit the bullet and all the pros and cons.

Warning: may contain slightly naughty language (and the best quote / advice of all the live sessions with it…)

In this very privileged live session, Talented People speaks to Arron Fellows, Exec Producer of Louis Theroux projects and Creative Director of their new production company, Mindhouse, and Joyce Trozzo, experienced Producer/Director and expert director of Stacey Dooley docs. Topics include nurturing relationships, collaborating with and directing high profile talent. 

 

 

MD of Swan Films, Joe Evans, and Series Director Christian Collerton talk to Talented People about how they’ve adapted their filming protocol and commissioner approaches during the Coronavirus crisis, as well as how they made the award-winning feature doc ‘The Last Igloo’ for BBC4.

Talented People’s Kimberly Godbolt has a giggle with the makers of new Channel 4 dating series Five Guys a Week about creating a new hit format, casting it, and the logistics of pulling of a first series shot in contributor’s homes.

 Guests: Barnaby Coughlin, Head of Factual Entertainment at Label 1 and Helen Richards, Series Editor.