TV

General Information

Television in the UK
TV People
BBC New Talent
TV Jobs

Job Descriptions and activities

Runner
Production Assistant
Researcher
Camera Operator
Sound Technician
Editor
Producer

Organisations and Regulations

Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television
BECTU – Broadcasting Entertainment, Cinematography and Theatre Union
Advertising Standards Authority
OFCOM
Office of the Adjudicator (CRR)
Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator
Skillset

Colleges

Birmingham City University
Bournemouth University
University College Falmouth

Short Courses

BBC Training and Development
National Film and Television

UK Terrestrial Broadcasters

BBC
ITV
Channel 4
Channel 5

4Talent Resources

Assistant Producing
Wale of a Time: Assistant producer Julia Cartwright is “happy working in Wales”. Elle Davies uncovers why the region puts a smile on her face.

Behind the Screen: From Stars In Their Eyes to British Film Forever, assistant producer Jonathan Kelly talks to Stuart Wright about breaking into TV.

Editing
Edit on: Video: Don’t know your Avid from your Final Cut Pro? Get yourself in the know.

On the Edit Son: Nicky Ager has worked as an editor on everything from Embarrassing Illnesses to feature film Confetti. He tells Simon Harper how to go about building a successful career in editing.

Power Up: We chat to internationally-renowned editor, director and trainer Larry Jordan.

High Definition
Clean ‘n’ Clear: Five times sharper than ever before, a HD picture demands perfect production.

3DTV: With the wide range of high-end flat screen plasma TVs on the market at the moment, it’s easy to believe that the potential of the televisual medium is peaking.

Misc TV jobs
Word for Word: Kate Connolly works as a subtitler with Red Bee Media in Glasgow. She tells Eva Blassat about working up to ‘Live’ and the challenges of fast-talking celeb chefs.

Making History: Video: Head of the family, it’s Production Manager Adrian Kelly’s role to keep things running smoothly for the cast and crew of City of Vice.

Producing/Directing
Serial Filmmaking: Few would associate the edgy work of indie director Sarah Walker with the glamorous and decidedly blonde world of the UK’s most-watched teen drama serial.

Produce/Direct: Video: So you want to work in TV? We talked to professional producer/directors to find out how they did it.

Reality TV
Am I Real? Video: Brendan Deeds talks to Lisa McGarry on her unlikely journey from mother of three to internet entrepreneur.

Big Brotherly Love: “When I was a runner I made fucking good cups of tea” – the reality of reality TV.

The Case For… Jade Goody, Rebecca Loos… outstanding ambassadors for reality TV are thin on the ground. The genre may be scratching the bottom of the barrel, but Love Productions’ Richard McKerrow believes the format can still be resuscitated.

Researching and entry level jobs
TV Researcher: Video: Behind the scenes of the seemingly glamorous world of TV production. We scrutinise the role of the researcher – from sourcing contributors and filming recces to dressing up as comedy animals.

Work Experience: Audio: It’s experience that counts in the dog eat dog world of broadcast media.

Spy Games: Investigating crack addiction, high profile murders and the worst housing estates in the UK might not sound like the stuff of TV dreams, but BBC researcher Arifa Farooq thrives on such gritty, real life subject matter.

Archive Addict: Freelance researcher Stuart Brown thrives on extreme pressure and intense study.

For Love or Money: Richard McKerrow is the creative and managing director of TV production company Love Production. He talks to Stuart Wright about his role, breaking into television and the importance of nurturing new talent to the industry.

The Real Star: Terence Gibbons talks to one of the lynchpins in TV production – the person who make it all hang together … the humble production co-ordinator.

“It’s Not Just A Hobby!” Who would have thought that copious amounts of TV watching and blogging would pay off? Acquisitions and digital media assistant, Edward Barnieh, talks to Ijeoma Ndukwe about keeping his eyes on the prize.

TV Drama
Talent Refuge: How More4’s almost Adult is a one-off drama that follows two girls who arrive as refugees in Britain, where they struggle to adjust to life in another country.

In Sync: They might be the newest kids on the production block, but Claire Mundell and Justin Molotnikov, founders of Synchronicity Films, have a wealth of international experience in drama.

High Risers: After a strategic career in theatre and short film production, producer David Smith is now focusing on establishing his company in the world of TV drama.

Drama Queen: If drama is something you write and make and not just something to watch from the comfort of a sofa, then you’ll want to get to know Sophie Gardiner – Channel 4 Commissioning Editor for Drama.

Churn Them Out: Her Chumbawamba days may reside in the mists of time, but Alice Nutter is well aware that the band played a formative part in her development as a writer.

TV Production
“We’re Quite Bespoke” How many programme makers at the top of their games go from heading up the reality department of a leading production company, to founding an agency devoted to nurturing TV talent?

Copyright: Lisa-Marie Ferla explains how to stay on the right side of copyright.

Nice Little Earner: How do you follow a show like Deal Or No Deal? Chester Bateman asks the creator of Channel 4’s new afternoon sensation Win My Wage from Midlands-based indie Hotbed Media.

Got Gear? Part One: The facts on the gear you’ll need to set yourself as a TV pro.

Know No Limits: Jemima Cattel goes behind the scenes of Channel 4’s New Shoots to meet some inspirational individuals who demonstrate that not even deafness or blindness need stand in the way of creative vision.

Survive in TV: Audio: Edited highlights from the Screen Hub at Maverick Television.

On the Double: Video: With an impressive body of work across Channel 4, BB and RTE, Belfast company Doubleband Films are one of the leading lights in UK documentary.

Upwardly Mobile: Move On Up are one of the three Scottish indies which will be developing new screenwriters through the Channel 4 PILOT project, so Colette Magee went to see what inspired them to move on up to the Highlands in the first place.

Very Alan Partridge: Holly Blackwell has resisted the lure of working for the networks. Why does regional TV fulfil her needs?

Goodfellas: Starting out as a London-based company specialising in commercials, The Mob are now garnering commissions from Sky and making feature films.

Looking Ahead: TV production talent gets the Royal seal of approval with RTS Futures.

Hotshot: Development producer for Hotshot Films forsakes the bright lights for Belfast.

Think Big: How does a concept become a reality on our TV screens?

Cool Concept: Ebona Eastmond-Henry came up with the idea for Channel 4’s Musicool programme on her first day in programme development.

Out of this Planet: Ashley Pharaoh talks to Howard Byrom about the trials and tribulations of getting Life On Mars commissioned.

Deal or No Deal: 4Talent’s competition for pitching TV programme format ideas for Channel 4’s primetime schedule, Pitch Up, produced a host of ideas, from the good to the… less… good.

A Twist in the Tale: According to the BBC’s Features and Formats Development Producer, Dan Goldsack, the pub can provide a treasure chest of idea booty.

Maurice Gran: Video: Responsible for comedy classics such as Birds of a Feather and Goonight Sweetheart with his writing partner Lawrence Marks. Maurice Gran breaks down the TV commissioning process down.

Maurice Gran Part Two

Talk the talk: Pitching’s not rocket science. Yummo Productions break it down.

TV Presenting
Humble Pie: We quiz Blue Planet veteran Kate Humble about the challenges of presenting natural history to a live audience.

TV Presenting: Audio: The TV presenting experience isn’t all glitz, glamour and gala ceremonies. It comes loaded with its fair share of downsides too.

MAC TV: Video: Life for a freelance presenter can be tough short-term contracts, no guarantee of a job and you’ve got to be good every time. Watch Stuart McQuitty tell his story from Countdown to c9tv.

Coffee and TV: Everyone chasing a career in the creative industries needs a little break sometime, but Shantha Roberts; was probably bigger than most.

House Trained: Wannabe TV celeb Dan Fielding chats to Craig Grannell about his plans for world domination – of the domestic kind.

TV Presenting: Video: Ever since you could reach the mirror, you practised with your hairbrush to an imaginary audience. Now you want to present for real. A panel of experts advise Belfast’s aspiring presenter talent.

TV Presenting: Meet the Panel

Fresh Belfast: Video: TV hopefuls from across Ireland gathered at the Waterfront Hall for FRESH BELFAST to learn from a trio of Northern Ireland’s TV experts. Watch highlights of the workshop and meet the panellists.

Broadcast journalism
War: What is it Good For? Being shot at or bombed: all in a day’s work for John Simpson.

Video

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