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PBS Diversity and Innovation Fund Call for TV Proposals – Deadline Wednesday 15th September

PBS has put out a call for proposals for a new immersive, multiplatform TV series that covers areas such as science, history, travel, natural history and exploration. Proposed series should appeal to a racially and ethnically diverse audience of 40-64 year olds in the USA. They should be developed for primetime with 10 episodes at a cost of less than $375K per hour. PBS will start accepting proposals from Monday 26th July, 2010 and the deadline is Wednesday 15th September, 2010. (Photo by Tracy O under CC BY SA 2.0)

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WESTDOC Conference, Santa Monica, 13th-15th September, 2010 – Get 10% Off

September: back to school and back to work. But just because the summer’s over, it doesn’t mean the sun (and fun) has to stop. Head out to Santa Monica, California for the 2nd WESTDOC Conference AND get 10% off the registration fee with TV Mole. The West Coast Reality and Documentary Conference (September 13-15, 2010) [...]

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Greenlit: Developing Factual/TV Ideas From Concept to Pitch – OUT NOW!

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.

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Specialist Factual New Talent Pitch at Doc/Fest – Deadline Monday 4th October, 2010

Are you an academic with an idea for history, science or religion documentary that you'd like to pitch (and present)? Check out the Specialist Factual New Talent Pitch at the Sheffield Doc/Fest which gives academics from a range of disciplines the chance to present their own documentaries on TV. A panel of experts from Discovery Channel, Ch4, BBC and the Open University will take pitches from 6-8 shortlisted sumbissions at Doc/Fest on Saturday 6th November, 2010. The the winner will get the chance to make their film for Discovery Channel Europe. For more information and application details visit http://sheffdocfest.com/view/newtalentpitch Deadline: Monday 4th October, 2010 (Photo by j.o.h.n. walker CC BY 2.0)

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Wellcome Trust Pitch at Doc/Fest Call for Entries – Deadline Monday 4th October, 2010

The Wellcome Trust invites programme makers to enter the Broadcast Development Award Pitch for the opportunity to win £10K. They are looking for documentary ideas with biological or medical themes on a variety of platforms: cinema, radio, gaming, TV and multiplatform. Shortlisted producers will pitch their projects at Sheffield Doc/Fest. Visit wellcome.ac.uk/broadcast download an application form. Deadline: Monday 4th October, 2010 (Photo by laureskew CC BY 2.0)

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Current TV Pitch at Doc/Fest Call for Entries – Deadline Friday 1st October, 2010

The Current TV Series Pitch offers emerging production companies/producers the chance to win £2.5K of development funding. Current TV will shortlist four proposals that will be pitched as part of DFG Day at Sheffield Doc/Fest (Thursday 4th November, 2010). They are looking for proposals for documentary series of 3-6 episodes that can be made for a budget of £33K per hour. Shortlisted producers will get seven minutes to pitch and show a taster tape to a panel of industry executives. The winning series proposal is slated for transmission in 2011. Deadline for entries: Friday 1st October, 2010 For full the full brief go to: http://sheffdocfest.com/view/pitchcurrent Download the application form at: http://current.com/currenttvseriespitch (Photo by luca.sartoni CC BY SA 2.0)

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First Cut Pitch at Doc/Fest – Call For Entries: Deadline Friday 24th September

Channel 4 strand First Cut has teamed up with Sheffield Doc/Fest once again to give you the opportunity to pitch to win a £50K budget and the chance to direct a First Cut documentary. If you are an experienced assistant producer or film school graduate with TV production experience but have yet to make your primetime directorial debut, this is your chance. Five finalists will be chosen to pitch their idea to a panel of TV executives at Doc/Fest 3-7th November, 2010. For more information and an application form visit www.4producers.co.uk Deadline: Friday 24th September, 2010. (Photo by PictFactory CC BY 2.0)

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Mosaic Films Call For Pitches – Deadline Monday 11th October, 2010

Mosaic Films have teamed up with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and BBC Storyville to support three short films (6-10 mins) that explore themes around poverty in the UK. Six established documentary makers can pitch their ideas to a panel at Sheffield Doc/Fest and the successful documentaries will be produced by Mosaic Films and premiere at Doc/Fest in June 2011. If you have an idea you'd like to pitch, visit Mosaic Films for more information and details of how to apply. Deadline: Monday 11th October, 2010 (Photo by Editor B CC BY 2.0)

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Greenlit: Party Wars, Living

Party Wars (8×60′) – A Four Weddings-style format applied to extravagant parties. Four party-throwers (0ne of whom is a celebrity, such as Lady Victoria Hervey and X-Factor darling Stacey Solomon)  go head-to-head in an effort to impress the others. The person awarded the most points by the others wins a luxury holiday. Channel: Living Producer: [...]

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TV Development and Pitching 101: Do You Have What it Takes?

Not everyone who makes it into a commissioner’s office exhibits the ideal qualities for a successful pitch (and that goes for people on both sides of the desk). I’ve attended countless development meetings and I’ve come to recognize the recurring characters who inhabit Development Hell. Which one are you? Click through and take the quiz to find out. (Photo by DVIDSHUB CC BY 2.0)

be inspired

• Google Maps has launched maps in more than African countries, including Kenya and South Africa. Information on roads, towns and local businesses is crowd-sourced from local people, along with photos of various sites and attractions. Businesses can add their listings for free, making it easy to find that essential something you need in a hurry. Read more on the Google Blog. #
• ABC News reports that the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that 79% of Americans believe in miracles, such as divine intervention.  Read the numerous comments in response to the (very short) article for an insight into people's beliefs. #
• Scientists at San Diego Zoo have discovered the secret language of elephants. As well as 'trumpeting', elephants growl at a low frequency, which is how the elephants normally communicate - particularly when a new calf is about to be born. Read more on BBC News. #
• My Last Polaroid is a site that is attempting to gather images of the last ever Polaroid people take as a tribute to the format. There's also a documentary in the making. Director and photographer Steve Glashier is filming people who have used Polaroid film in their work - artists, fashion photographers, forensic scientists and photojournalists. He's also exploring the history of the company. Hat tip to @zambonini #
• The Stolen Supper Club is a London catering company that uses recipes from famous restaurants, such as Nobu, E&O, the Ivy and Marcus Waering. Every Monday, fifteen guests converge on Notting Hill, BYOB in hand, to sample the Stolen menu in return for a donation (approx. £30 depending on menu). Read a review in The Londonist. #