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BAFTA Breakfast With TV’s Controllers: Janice Hadlow, Monday 27th February, London

BAFTA continues their series of ‘Breakfasts with’ the major channel controllers with BBC Two’s Janice Hadlow. 2011 has seen BBC Two become the ‘home of original British drama’ showcasing acclaimed, sophisticated and emotive pieces including The Hour, The Crimson Petal and The White, The Shadow Line as well as last year’s BAFTA award winning Eric [...]

Train | Pitch | Fund

Good Pitch New York Call for Entries – Deadline for Applications Wednesday 1st February, 2012

BRITDOC's Good Pitch is heading back to NYC on 25th May 2012 and is open for applications from filmmakers with feature-length (or 60') documentaries with a focus on important world issues. Successful applicants will be invited to an intensive 2-day workshop followed by a pitch to assembled TV commissioners, NGOs, brands and foundations. Closing date for applications: Wednesday 1st February, 4pm UK time For more information, and to apply go to britdoc.org/goodpitch. (Photo by David Boyle in DC CC BY SA 2.0)

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NYTVF + Warner Bros. International TV Production Call for Pilots – Deadline Friday 9th March, 2012

UK producers: do you have a non-scripted pilot (or teaser) that you want to pitch to the USA? The NYTVF has partnered with Warner Bros. International Television Production to offer a development deal alongside an invitation to attend the NYTVF in New York in Autumn 2012. Entry is by application form and pilot (4 - 22 minutes) and costs $30 early bird (before 27th January, 2012) or $50 thereafter. (Photo by the nails CC BY 2.0)

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MIPFormats Pitch Competition Call for Entries – Deadline 6th February 2012

The MIPFormats Pitch 2012 call for entries is now open. Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP), the exclusive sponsor of the competition, will oversee pre-selection to choose the final competition contestants and will spend up to €25,000 to develop the winning project of the MIPFormats Pitch. Offering both a strategic and a hands-on approach of the Formats business to all participants with more in-depth market analysis, more screenings, more interactive workshops and more matchmaking between buyers and commissioners, the 3rd edition of MIPFormats will take place on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st March 2012, ahead of MIPTV (1st-4th April), in Cannes. (Photo by gohomekiki CC BY SA 2.0)

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Sheffield Doc/Fest MeetMarket Call for Applications – Deadline Thursday 29th March, 2012

The call for applications for the 2012 MeetMarket at Sheffield Doc/Fest is now open. MeetMarket is Doc/Fest's pitching initiative offering matchmade meetings between the world's best documentary and digital creators and the top funders and mentors who can support them. It is your opportunity for pitching new documentary, factual and cross-platform projects to over 200 decision makers, buyers, funders and mentors in one of the world's top factual media marketplaces. For MeetMarket 2012, approximately 65 projects will be selected to pitch over two days, and each can expect 15-20 meetings with key funders and decision-makers match-made and scheduled based on their requests and needs. MeetMarket 2011 generated millions of pounds in deals done and in negotiation, with the matchmaking personalised format meaning you can discuss your project creatively in detail. (Photo by lizjones112 CC BY)

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PUMA Creative Catalyst Development Funding Call for Applications – Deadline Monday 27th February, 2012

The PUMA.Creative Catalyst Award offers up to 5,000 Euros to help develop documentary projects in their early stages - it can be used to fund that all important trailer that will allow you to pitch to broadcasters and other funders for production money. The fund is open to filmmakers of any nationality and is open to both aspiring and experienced documentary filmmakers. Your one-off documentary can be of any length, style or form (PUMA.Vision will look especially favourably on projects that have themes of Safe, Peace and Creative). (Photo by Jen and a Camera CC BY 2.0)

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Channel 4 Online Winter Briefing & Call for Proposals – Deadline Tuesday 31st January, 2012

Channel 4 is looking for new ideas for multiplatform genres, convergent formats and products. They are particularly interested in hearing ideas from digital and new TV companies who are working in partnership and vice versa "and would be delighted to nurture new multiplatform production companies into their first major commissions for Channel 4". Deadline for pitches: January 31st at midnight. (Photo by valakirka CC BY 2.0)

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Commissioning The Future Lab – 21st-25th March 2012 Manchester, UK

The first Commissioning The Future Lab is to be held in Manchester, UK from 21st-25thMarch. Open to 24 European and UK broadcasters and funders from TV, film and online departments, Commissioning The Future is a unique, five-day intensive training event specifically designed to provide fund managers, commissioners and broadcasters with the confidence and skills to commission and executive produce across multiple platforms. The lab, to be run by Heather Croall (Director Sheffield Doc/Fest), Mark Akin (Producer Crossover Labs) and Donata von Perfall (Director Documentary Campus) will provide clarity in an over-complicated media environment by using simple building blocks, methods and tools to provide a profound understanding of what works online, and how to maximise audiences by understanding how they behave. Follow-up labs are planned for April and May. Details to be announced. (Photo by PhillipC CC BY 2.0)

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RTS Futures Commissioner Session: The Only Way Is… Zai – Monday 20th February, 2012, London

Zai Bennett, one of the youngest ever Controllers in the UK television industry, now sits at the helm of BBC Three. Before that, he ran the portfolio of digital channels at ITV and is famed for bringing Katie Price and Peter Andre to our screens, as well as Celebrity Juice, original drama Secret Diary of a Call Girl and real-life soap The Only Way Is Essex. In less than a year at BBC Three, his impact has been felt with brave new commissions - and de-commissions - as he makes his mark on the brand. Radio 1's Greg James talks to Zai about his ideas on television, his vision for BBC Three and how he made his way from the post room at Carlton Television to Controller at one of the most formidable broadcasters in the world. If you submit a pitch in advance of the session, you may be chosen to pitch your idea to Zai in a one minute elevator pitch on the night. It's a rare chance to sell your own idea direct to the Controller. Brief for your pitch: your idea must be for one of the following two slots: a) non-narrative comedy (eg panel/ game/ hidden camera/ clips show) for the 10.30pm slot b) factual entertainment (formats/ series/ one-offs) for 9pm slot (Photo by Noël Zia Lee CC BY 2.0)

Buy the Book

Greenlit: Developing Factual/Reality TV Ideas From Concept to Pitch by Nicola Lees

There are some simple principles to successfully developing and pitching your ideas, whether you are working for a global 'super-indie' production company, or are a documentary filmmaker pitching a passion project. The extraordinary thing is that no one will tell you what they are! Greenlit is the first book to reveal, step-by-step, how to originate, develop and pitch your factual/non-scripted TV ideas in a global market. Get insider tips from: * 10 TV development producers - who have a combined 50+ years experience of developing and pitching ideas at all levels; * 20 senior executives who have sold some of the world's most successful shows, to: * 16 channel executives, who between them have worked at: * 18 TV channels in: * 7 countries across 4 continents. Greenlit is available now from Amazon and all good bookstores.

be inspired

• DNet, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) have announced a joint venture that will rebrand HDNet/HDNet Canada to launch AXS TV (pronounced: access). Scheduled to debut summer 2012, AXS TV will leverage the global reach and portfolio of content opportunities of its partners to create live entertainment and lifestyle programming. Capitalizing on AEG’s unrivaled presence in live events and affiliation with more than 100 of the industry’s pre-eminent venues worldwide, AXS TV will provide viewers with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to live concerts and music festivals, red carpet premieres, award shows, parties, pop culture events, and in-depth interviews with the people and artists who make live entertainment so uniquely fascinating. With production facilities at AEG’s owned and operated L.A. LIVE (which includes venues such as STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club Nokia and The GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater), as well as their access to their worldwide network of the busiest venues of all sizes, AXS TV will have the inside track to programming that will connect audiences with the complete live experience. From show creation and development to rehearsals, sound-check and performance and right thru the after-party, viewers will get an immersive look into their favorite acts touring today, AXS TV will span the globe to bring viewers the best live entertainment events. Read more here.   #
• Current UK has announced today that BSkyB has withdrawn support for the channel and it is likely to stop broadcasting by mid March 2012. In a statement they said: "Obviously the entire team at Current is devastated by this news. However, we’d like to thank you for your support and belief in independent television. We hope that you will continue to enjoy our unique output until we close and that you will keep in touch with Current US on Current.com once we're gone" #
• RJ Williams is a funeral director and skate dude. And possibly the hottest funeral director in the world. Watch the video: #
• Ever wonder what the world would have been like if Facebook had been around hundreds of years ago? Me neither. But someone obviously has. Check out updates from God, Abraham Lincoln and the Titanic here. #
• The BBC College of Production provides a (growing)  range of resources to help anyone interested in making TV and radio programmes. Their website includes articles, videos and podcasts. This one is about how to get an idea commissioned and includes contributions from Camilla Lewis, managing director at Cineflix UK, head of factual at Silver River Dan Goldsack and Nicola Lees (aka TVMole). You can listen to the podcast here. #