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Lights, Camera, Action!
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From Warwick TV to going independent, Rachel Carter (MA Film and Television Studies 2003-04), Managing Director of Framework Television, writes about setting up a television production company.
'Warwick University was the common ground between me and the other graduates with whom I have now ventured into the screen industry. Although my path did not cross with theirs at the time, we had all been around - in a clearout some months ago we found a sign-up list for Warwick TV from the days when they ran it, which we'd all scrawled on.
When I met these young graduates who were running a new video production company called Fullrange Media, they had already built it up from the living room of a student house into a sustainable and growing business, making films for a variety of high-end corporate clients. After working for them for only a year in video production, learning more than I could have imagined about being a creative business, I began branching out from this platform into developing projects for television and film, which had always been my core interest. I had previously gained some experience in script assessment as an intern at the UK Film Council, and after graduating I had gone into the industry at entry level, starting out in factual programming for BBC Birmingham and CBBC.
Going Independent
What really kick-started the TV and film project work was a successful first attempt to gain development funding for a slate of projects from our regional screen agency, Screen WM. This supported the start up of Framework Television as a separate independent production company, a sister to Fullrange Media, and now also to Oakslade Studios, a post-production outfit acquired by Fullrange last year. The funding initiated Framework's activities and started to get me noticed, also allowing me to gain producing experience in idea and script development, collaborating creatively with writers and concept creators.
Getting The Green-light
The extremely tough hit ratio for commissioning programmes means that just because a project is supported and well developed this doesn't ultimately guarantee the green-light. There are so many contributing factors to getting something off the ground from the right timing through to clicking with the right commissioner. A huge amount is learned in every pitching session and crucially, you're getting to know the commissioning editor. Chatting after an intense ideas session with Stuart Cosgrove, Director of Nations and Regions for Channel 4, he told me that a friend of his who ran an Indie would post all of the rejection letters he ever received on the wall around his office so that his staff working in development understood and weren't disheartened by the fact that this is the name of the game!
Initiating and growing relationships is one of the most important factors for new Indies, especially in Framework's case as we're starting out in the industry without an established track record. These key mentoring relationships over the last year have included script consultants, experienced executive producers who I can run new ideas past, and heads of other established Indies such as Alex Fraser, Creative Director of locally based Maverick who has been supportive, encouraging, and helpfully pointed me towards others - such as Stuart Cosgrove who looks out for up and coming Indies at Channel 4 and helps you hone the right ideas for the right people as a 'gatekeeper' to the commissioners.
Over 800 Competitors
Networking is also vital to find others out there in the industry running Indies who you can share experiences with. I found this to be one of the most useful and inspiring things to take away from 2007's Edinburgh TV festival. Being at the festival was a complete whirlwind as I was also roped into writing a blog of my experience for Broadcast magazine, and even ended up being interviewed on News 24! Despite how it may sound though this really isn't a 'glamorous' industry, although it has its excitement and perks – trust me, you really don't do it for the glamour or the money - or the hours! This is an extremely tough game and you have to stand out from the crowd in an industry where there are over 800 independent production companies competing for a small window of opportunities – a window providing an even tighter fit when you're outside the M25 despite the broadcasters 'regional' commitments.
Germination to Production
The past year has been an amazing and exciting learning curve as a start-up Indie. At the moment, Framework Television is seeking further development support to take on new projects, development opportunities, and staff. One of our original slate funded projects, an animated sit-com by a regionally based new writer, is still going strong in development with animation outfit Triffic Films (the guys behind 2DTV). As well as developing documentary ideas and material, comedy is a big passion for me and I'm also working with some young up-and-coming writers I spotted at the Edinburgh Fringe, which is a great place to find new talent. I've also partnered with an established drama director who is currently shooting a big budget BBC drama in London, for a Digi-Short project which has got through the first round of Screen WM's digital short film funding competition. The best part of working as an independent producer developing projects is that you see something from its germination, hopefully right through production, and get to creatively collaborate with talented creative people who it's your job to spot and entice!'
If you have an interesting story about your working life, email your news for the next issue of Warwick e-network by contacting e-network@warwick.ac.uk
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