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MIPFormats Fresh Talent Pitch Call for Entries – Deadline 26th February, 2010

The Fresh Talent Pitch, to be held at MIPFormats in Cannes, on 11th April, 2010, is a chance to pitch your original non-scripted entertainment format. A panel of experts including The Wit will select the best entries from all the submissions; shortlisted producers get the chance to pitch their idea to an audience of commissioners, buyers and distributors. Cross-genre and multiplatform concepts are particularly welcomed. Pitches must be for orginal formats that have not been commissioned or broadcast on TV. For more information and an application form visit MIPWorld Fresh Talent Pitch. Deadline: Friday 26th February, 2010 (Photo by Olivier Bareau CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Entertainment Master Class Call for Applications – Deadline 29th March, 2010

Entertainment Master Class is a year-long programme for TV professionals, divided into four modules (which can be taken individually): Games and Game Shows; Reality, Documentary and Factual Entertainment; Sitcom and Comedy and Entertainment Management. Each module runs for five days and is held in a different place (Berlin, Banff, Lucernne and South Africa respectively). Participants receive lectures, workshops and mentoring from industry leaders, including content creators, producers, distributors and lawyers. Subjects covered include creative development, pitching, broadcast scheduling, talent representation, legal compliance, rights management and format distribution. This year's programme begins in May. The deadline for applications is 29th March, 2010. Applicants are assessed by a panel and successful applicants notified. Cost: Four modules, including online support material, hotel accommodation and full board, cost €13,500. The fee for one module is € 4,000. Please note that the fee does not cover travel costs. Application is by CV and completed application form (click through for links). (Photo by korom CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Content 360 Challenge Call for Pitches – Deadline Monday 15th February, 2010

The Content 360 Challenge at MIPTV is looking for pitches for Coca Cola branded content that will appeal to teenagers. Ideas can be for mobile apps, games, web series or TV shows, and finalists will pitch to Coca Cola execs at MIPTV, Cannes on 13-14th April 2010. Entry is free and the deadline for entries is 15th February, 2010. There are also five further categories: * "Engaging with children through the use of Connected TV" (Korea Communications Commission) * "Next Generation Online Video Experience" (National Film Board of Canada) * "Creating short video combining user-generated and EU online archives content" (European Commission) * "Next Generation Audience Engagement" * "New Advertising formats" (TF1) For more information visit: Content360 (Photo by P/\UL CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Broadcast Factual Forum – 10th March, 2010, London

Broadcast's one day Factual Forum Conference will be held in London on 10th March 2010. Chaired by leading documentary maker and former Channel 4 commissioner Angus Macqeen, the Factual Forum features the latest commissioning advice, creative inspiration and funding innovation. Fourteen commissioners are lined up and will be explaining their current commissioning needs. Speakers include: Charlotte Moore, Commissioning Editor, Docs and Features, BBC Hamish Mykura, Head of Documentaries, Channel 4 Andrew O'Connell, Head of Factual, Five Jane Rogerson, Director of Commissioning, UKTV Dan Korn, Senior Vice President, Programming, Discovery Networks UK Simon Bohrsmann, General Manager, National Geographic Andrew Mackenzie, Head of Factual Entertainment, Channel 4 Steve Gowans, Head of Factual Entertainment, Five Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller, Popular Factual, ITV Diana Howie, Commissioning Editor, Factual, ITV Nick Fraser, Executive Editor, Storyville, BBC When? 10th March 2010 Where? Prospero House, London SE1 (Borough tube) How Much? £397 (valid until 19th February, 2010) More information: http://www.factualforum.com/programme To book: call +44 (0)845 056 7566

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Greenlit: The Moto: Inside the Outdoors, FUEL TV

The Moto: Inside The Outdoors – Following the sport of motocross and profiling the top competitors such as  Ryan Villopoto, Mike Alessi, Josh Grant, Ryan Dungey, Chad Reed and Andrew Short. Channel: FUEL TV Producer: Troy Adamitis TX: 17th February, 2010 Source: Cynopsis

be inspired

  • Mediaweek has a handy daily round up of what's in the  news along with the front pages from the UK's newspapers, including The Sun, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Mirror, The Independent, City AM, Daily Express and Daily Star. Read all about it in Monday 8th February 2010 newspapers. #
  • Flavorwire reports that architects are trying to help Haiti by designing new temporary homes  ranging from re-purposed shipping containers to lightweight Ikea-esque 'pods'.  Andrés Duany, a Miami-based architect who developed the pretty Katrina Cottage in the aftermath of Hurriacane Katrina in New Orleans, as a dignified alternative to disaster trailers provided by FEMA. But are these designs likely to help or hinder the recovery of Haiti in the longer term? Read more. #
  • The Independent has a story about Oran Canfield, son of Chicken Soup for the Soul author and millionaire motivational speaker Jack Canfield. Oran has just written a memoir, Freefall, that tells how his father walked out on the family when Oran was a baby.  Since then Oran has drifted through a series of jobs - juggler, musician and heroin addict (ok, so that's not strictly a job) - and is now touring with his band Child Abuse and living in squats, while he waits to inherit $250K from his grandmother on his 40th birthday. Is his misery down to his father's desertion, his father's success or nothing to do with his father at all? Read the full article in The Independent. #
  • BBC News reports that five crates of 100+yr-old Scotch whisky and brandy has been discovered underneath Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic hut, which was built for his failed expedition to the South Pole.  Experts are now trying to safely retrieve the crates' contents. Mackinlay's whisky company think they may be able to reproduced the original Shakleton blend if the Antarctic whisky can be analyzed. Read the full story on BBC News. #
  • Frank Sinatra's My Way is off the karaoke menu in the Philippines - or it is if you don't have a death wish. Over the last decade at least half a dozen deaths have been connected to someone singing My Way. Some put it down to bad singing, hogging the microphone or choosing a song that's already been sung; others say that it's down to the general level of violence in society or because the song has 'triumphalist' lyrics. Karaoke is provoking violence in other places too - a Thai man killed eight people after they sang John Denver's Take Me Home Country Roads and a woman in Seattle hit a man for singing Coldplay's Yellow. Read the full article in the New York Times. Hat tip: @GregMitch #

Welcome to TV Mole

Inspiring, informing and improving factual TV development. 

Commissioning News

MIPFormats Fresh Talent Pitch Call for Entries – Deadline 26th February, 2010
January 16, 2010
By TV Mole
Entertainment Master Class Call for Applications – Deadline 29th March, 2010
January 23, 2010
By TV Mole
Content 360 Challenge Call for Pitches – Deadline Monday 15th February, 2010
January 30, 2010
By TV Mole
Broadcast Factual Forum – 10th March, 2010, London
January 30, 2010
By TV Mole
In Development: When Charlie Met Sarah, Oxygen
In Development: When Charlie Met Sarah, Oxygen
February 8, 2010
By TV Mole
In Development: Russell Simmons Project, Oxygen
In Development: Russell Simmons Project, Oxygen
February 8, 2010
By TV Mole
Greenlit: The Hennon Family, TLC
Greenlit: The Hennon Family, TLC
February 8, 2010
By TV Mole
In: Duncan Gray, Head of Entertainment, Sky1
In: Duncan Gray, Head of Entertainment, Sky1
February 7, 2010
By TV Mole
In: Celia Taylor, Head of Factual and Features, Sky1
In: Celia Taylor, Head of Factual and Features, Sky1
February 6, 2010
By TV Mole