The Network Update

I’m officially off to Edinburgh on Wednesday morning to take part in The Network, the UK most prestigious Television training and recruitment scheme. I can’t wait for this fantastic opportunity, even more as now as I’ve received confirmation of the activities I’ll be taking part in.

On the first day I’ll be taking part in a Presenter’s Workshop, where I’ll have two minutes to perform a script and impress the professionals. Ore Oduba, Newsround and BBCSport Presenter, will be also be there. He took part in The Network a couple of years ago and his audition tape was so impressive that he was snapped up and offered a job presenting Newsround. Fingers crossed I might get the same reaction!

Secondly, I’m going to a scriptwriting Essentials workshop and then I’ll be meeting ‘The Pitch Doctor’ and learning about how to present and sell your TV pitch to Producers and Directors.

The second day will involve talks by Zai Bennet, Controller at BBC 3. He’s worked for BBC3 since 2011, and was previously the creative leader responsible for ITV editorial content and shows such as Celebrity Juice, The Only Way Is Essex and Secret Diary of a Call Girl. There will then be a talk by Peter Fincham, the Director of Television at ITV. He ran Talkback Productions and executive produced shows such as Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Da Ali G Show, before becoming Controller at BBC and now Director of Television at ITV.

For the remainder of the week I’ll be working as part of the production crew at CBBC. We are assigned roles once we arrive in Edinburgh and I’m hoping to take on the role of Assistant Producer, where I’ll be responsible for script writing, helping organise the production and assisting on set. This will be an amazing experience and I’m sure once I get to the CBBC Studio, I won’t want to leave.

As well as this, I’ll also be attending The Channel of The Year Awards, a talk by Elizabeth Murdoch, a workshop by the makers of Sherlock and The Edinburgh International Television Festival Friday Night Party. These will be perfect networking opportunities and I’ll be sure to make the most of every moment.
After The Network, six internships are available for Delegates of the program.  I plan to apply for the internship at CBBC Manchester and fingers crossed; I’ll be the lucky one to be taken on and paid to make cool Television shows!
Don’t worry; I’ll keep you updated.