I can’t remember a time in my career when things have felt so unsure. A clusterfuck of issues in the industry (& wider) culminating in so many brilliant people looking for work. I’m emailed daily by dev/script peeps wanting to introduce themselves/advice & opportunities. 1/?
Curtis Brown are looking for an
#AgentsAssistant
to support 3 of their brilliant agents. Wonderful opportunity to help develop the careers of
#writers
&
#directors
& get an insight into the world of
#film
&
#tv
.
Bonus: read tons of fab scripts.
#tvjobs
🚨🚨Job Alert
@sisterglobal
🚨🚨
A BRILLIANT 1st job in the industry. I learnt so much about development and the telly landscape as a PA…
Along with booking trains, scheduling meetings, printing scripts and making a decent ☕️. Call me Anne Hathaway without the hair & wardrobe.
Recently it’s felt like a challenging time in TV & a quiet summer in terms of opportunities.
🍁🍂But with autumn round the corner a few new roles and initiatives (hate the word ‘scheme’) are starting to pop up.
Here’s a couple… 🧵
#tvdevelopment
#tvdrama
#scriptjobs
#writers
TV Drama feels in flux at the moment. A cost of living crisis stretching beyond our pockets to all corners of the industry.
But opportunities are still out there. A out-of-london themed drama job thread today rounding up some brilliant roles around.
#scriptjobs
#tvdrama
@bbcwritersroom
kindly let me loose on their blog and gave me a 2nd shot at making my thoughts a little more coherent. My tips for development colleagues on how to open a door and make an impression below…
#scriptjobs
#dramadevelopment
TV is a tough industry to break into, especially at the moment. We recently saw a great thread on how to make contacts and widen your network on here from
@luffers
(Head of Development
@worldprods
) and asked her to expand on it for our blog. Check out her great, pragmatic advice
🚨🚨Couple more script jobs… 🚨🚨
#fifthseason
, formerly
#endeavour
, have a
#developmentassistant
role open in their London
#TV
team. They’re looking for someone with some baseline experience in the industry.
Link here for job description & to apply:
Is there an online library of TV Drama pitches and treatments? Does that exist?
@bbcwritersroom
have their incredible script library, but is there a way to access pitches/treatments in the same way? Any advice much appreciated.
In no particular order…
1) Always remember it’s in the interest of the industry for us to meet new people. Talented development people are golden & we all want the best. Widening our own networks ensures there are always more devils to know, and ultimately wins us the shows.
If that’s the case, wait 6 weeks or so and try again - just in case. Don’t sound put out or accusatory, just check in to see if they’d received your initial approach and ask if there’s anyone in the team it might be better to coordinate with. Still no reply? Move on with grace….
🚨 FRIDAY
#scriptjob
klaxon 🚨
Pulse Films are looking for TWO roles in london office.
CLOSING DATE: 8th Dec
ASSISTANT TO CREATIVE DIRECTOR / DEV ASSISTANT
SCRIPTED PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
CVs & cover letter to scripted
@pulsefilms
.co.uk
More details on roles below…
So don’t feel nervous about cold-emailing, but be aware…
2) you may not always get a reply - production & development can often be demanding. I miss emails more than I care to admit, finding emails months later that I inadvertently ignored. So for that I massively apologise.
Such a treat to catch the first 2 eps of
@worldprods
new C4 drama
#TheGathering
today. Super proud of insanely brilliant
@lalscotton
& team. It’s banging. Awesome cast of brilliant newcomers & fab familiar faces. Liverpool looks lush & Helen Walsh’s writing sings. Trailer below!
So, what are the ‘must sees’ at the Fringe this year? Who and what shows are we most excited about? Any advice gratefully received….
#edfringe
#edfringe23
#theatre
So I thought it might be useful to share a few thoughts on how to widen your network. This is purely from my own experience of both sides at various points - looking for work & being approached. I’m sure others have different ideas & I’d love to hear them so please do add…
@devilwrstartan
Often I think about an ex who casually asked me over dinner what I was REALLY going to do with my life & a drama degree. I hi-five myself every time I walk on set, every time the credits roll. THIS is what I’m going to do with my life and I’m pretty good at it. I hi-five you too.
TV magic!
Behind the scenes of
#malpractice
and a sneak at just one small part of the incredible hospital build the team created.
It blew my mind each time I stepped on set...
Catch Episode 2 at 9pm Sunday
@ITV
For those who can’t wait, all eps available to binge on
@itvx
But I’m getting ahead of myself… back to the first email.
3) Make sure you’re polite and directing the email specifically to the person/indie. Reference shows they make/have worked on, why you like their content. Nothing worse than an impersonal mail merge or a cut&paste job.
☀️☀️☀️Hope everyone is enjoying this late summer sunshine. If you’re not sweating in a puddle of exhaustion 🫠, here’s a couple of roles & opportunities, not all
#scriptdevelopment
, that might be of interest…
#tvindustry
#tvdrama
(Actual footage of me below)
You want people to give up their time to connect, so show you’ve done the same in return.
4) be clear what you’re looking for - you may only get one shot with this… are you looking for advice about the industry/career development, or to introduce yourself for future work…
12) oh, I forgot, told you no particular order…. if you’re looking to get in to British telly, prove you watch it. Don’t list endless US shows. They’re brilliant, I love them too, but sadly we have neither the run lengths or the budgets. Show you understand our industry.
Chuffed for 💥
@worldprods
💥colleagues, cast & crew who created a show that smashed records, divided opinions & entertained millions of us locked down on our sofas... All done during the pandemic! Wonderful recognition from the public and
@OfficialNTAs
with 2 brill awards. ⭐️⭐️
13) Finally. Of course you want to connect with people making hiring decisions, but don’t overlook your peers! Dev assistants/coords, asst script Ed’s & script Ed’s know EVERYTHING. They are closer to understanding the current issues in the industry, they know where the jobs are.
…They are 2 different conversations!
5) You want advice? Share your CV & be prepared with the questions you’d like to ask. How to get in to the industry? The best next step? How to navigate one dept to the next? CV advice? Be clear as a starting point for any meeting.
Events like this were a lifeline when I was
#scripteditor
. Most importantly to grow my network& remind myself I wasn’t mad!The role can feel isolating &every project different so easy to doubt your instincts. follow
@ElevenFilm
@RopeLadderFict
to find out more!
#scripteditorforum
All ready for the Script Editor forum, an event we’re running in partnership with
@ElevenFilm
to celebrate the role of the script editor in TV Drama! ⭐️
#ScriptEditorForum
They are your tribe. They’re the gang you’ll celebrate with, commiserate with and work your way up in the industry together, relying on each other. They have the inside scoop on who what and where. Email them, have coffee with them.
Our amazing Leading Actress nominees are up next! 🤩
BILLIE PIPER - I Hate Suzie Too
IMELDA STAUNTON - The Crown
KATE WINSLET - I Am Ruth
MAXINE PEAKE - Anne
SARAH LANCASHIRE - Julia
VICKY MCCLURE - Without Sin
#BAFTATVAwards
with
@pandocruises
6) you want to introduce yourself for future opportunities? Make sure you make an impression. Attach your CV and be clear what you’re looking for. I’ll be honest, I’ve come away from generals without a real sense of the taste and editorial judgment of the person I’m meeting…
New
#TV
obsession
#TheGathering
comes to
@Channel4
next week! A compelling look at teenagers and their parents navigating toxic relationships in the real and online world - all filmed in beautiful Liverpool.
It’s a smasher.
7) have an opinion. That’s what we’re paid for, so give us a glimpse of that. It can be controversial, it can be niche, but let us know you think deeper & wider.
We all loved Fleabag/Breaking Bad/Happy Valley - tell me why & something about them I might not’ve considered before.
And last, but DEFINITELY not least,
@BadWolf_TV
(absolutely no intro needed) are after an
#assistantscripteditor
to join their pack. I don’t know the show but imagine it’ll be insanely good and an INCREDIBLE experience.
#Cardiff
based. Apply!!
ITV commissions medical thriller Malpractice, starring Niamh Algar, produced by World Productions, written by Grace Ofori-Attah and directed by Philip Barantini.
@NiamhAlgar
@PhilipBarantini
@worldprods
Details -
9) how you express that opinion is EVERYTHING. You know we get paid for our opinions, right? We get paid more and last longer if we deliver them right. Be humble, our world is built on collaboration and development is about facilitating the creative vision of a writer…
We didn’t win but we had fun celebrating those brill people who did
@BAFTA
. Sun was shining on the southbank and I found my dress twin. Now back to Barcelona for
#thediplomat
it’s a funny old job.
The first slate on day 1 in April 2022, plus the most gorgeous ep1 scene (before the sun umbrella took flight) and a real pinch me moment as we filmed in the marina. Ep1 memories of Barcelona: Thank you for being wonderful.
And now on screens in 10 minutes!
#thediplomat
#alibi
8) have an awareness of the industry. We all love great writing, but the best people realise we’re a business. Try and express an opinion on that - who’s watching what, what are the trends, what’s next, where has a particular streamer/broadcaster got it right/wrong?
7yo has picked up the phrase ‘Yaaassssss Queen!’ and I’m all for it. It’s like having a personal hype woman following me around 24/7. Tuna pitta for tea? Yaaassss Queen!
Really proud of a slate with near equal representation and wonderful shows originated and led by extraordinary women... though depressing statistics like this suggest I’m just making my life harder...
Across BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Netflix & Sky only 23% of dramas were written by women in past 5 years. 42% were adaptations so only 13% were original stories. Men wrote 77% of dramas (55% originals) & only 26% of scripted TV comedies were penned by women.
Dancers wearing fish as hats. Only at the
#baftas2023
.
Congratulations to all the winners, and Hannah Richards who let me pose with hers. Thank you for the fun night,
@BAFTA
. Always the best celeb spotting in the toilet queues.
It should feel like a conversation, a joyful fun one, and as I said, be controversial, but a red flag rises quickly if it’s delivered in a way that feels inflexible or over-confident. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS ARE ESSENTIAL.
10) don’t boast. Don’t inflate your role. We all know telly is made by a whole team of countless skilled people collaborating, and that’s how we like it.
Can I judge how your taste will fit in our team? Can I tell which shows on my slate you’ll be a natural fit for? Tell me what you like & why. We don’t have to agree - I know for certain 2 roles I’ve been offered were down to not actively and respectfully NOT agreeing!
Good luck guys, I know it’s a jungle out there right now, but hopefully this might offer something.
Blueprint are advertising for a script editor! So get on that.
FFS. This was longer than intended. Thanks for attending my indulgent TedTalk.
Would love to hear other tips.
Make that impression again. I want to know who you are and what gap you can fill in a team and where your strengths lie.
If it’s on zoom, meetings often blur into one, impressions become even more important to distinguish yourself.
We are so excited that
@luffers
from
@worldprods
and Sarah Stack from
@KudosTV
will be part of the next MsMono Meets. Hosted by the wonderful
@Mariameera01
!
And it's our first lunchtime event! Have you got your ticket yet?
It’s easy and understandable (especially in todays market) to say ‘anything!’, but try and work to your strengths and what you can offer.
So you’ve got the meeting…
6) you want to introduce yourself for future opportunities? Make sure you make an impression. Attach your CV and be clear what you’re looking for. I’ll be honest, I’ve come away from generals without a real sense of the taste and editorial judgment of the person I’m meeting…
Calling all experienced Assistant Script Editors!📣
Come and join the Wolf Pack on an exciting
@BadWolf_TV
HETV production, based in Cardiff.
For further details, please head to
🚨🧵a couple of new jobs to kick off the new year….
Smashing indie
@LookoutPointTV
are on the lookout (see what I did there?) for a PA to support their new joint CEO’s and Managing Director.
Extensive diary and previous telly experience is required.
#tvjobs
#tvdrama
🚨🚨Fellow ITV indie
@HappyPrinceTV
are advertising for a drama assistant role in their busy and inclusive team. Perfect first role to find your feet in this mad world…
#scriptjobs
#tvjobs
#drama
This is why we have the BBC. This is why we have a licence fee. This is why it’s worth every penny.
BBC - BBC sets out plan to inform, educate and entertain during unprecedented times - Media Centre
Episode 5 of
#goodkarmahospital
. Shot what feels like a lifetime ago in beautiful Sri Lanka. Super lucky to be part of it and very proud of both the Jyoti story the efforts that went into the guest story tonight.
#deafawareness
11) Follow up! They’ve given up their time, so thank them! Perhaps reflect on an area of the conversation - expand on a thought, link the article you mentioned. This will help cement you in their mind.
They have a sci-fi greenlit? They’ll remember your opinion on the genre.
Top Tips For Building An Editorial Career In Scripted TV, our latest guest blog, is now live - and linked below…
If you’re interested in an editorial career in scripted TV then this blog, written by experienced story producer Alexis Hood, is definitely one for you! 📖✍️
And finally, I feel quite out of the loop in terms of the brilliant
#developmentassistants
&
#developmentcoordinators
out there… hit me up with your favourites and those about to take
#tvdrama
by storm. I’d love to widen my network of who we need to be watching in the industry.