Media Parents

On Tuesday 17th May 2011, Media Parents members (from www.mediaparents.co.uk) will be meeting MDs and Heads of Production from Vera Productions, Splash Media and Rival Media in Central London.  Here’s who’s coming…

Rival Media

Howard Myers has over 25 years experience in the TV industry, during which time he has created and produced award-winning programmes in live, factual, entertainment and scripted genres.  He has been nominated for several BAFTA’s, an RTS Award, and has won both international Prix Jeunesse and New York Festival Awards including the Grand Jury prize for his original scripted comedy series Bus Life.

Named a Broadcast “Hot Shot” in 2002, Steve Wynne has over 20 years of production experience in television, radio and emerging technologies.  A founding board member of the Children’s Media Conference, his UK credits as producer include BAFTA Award winning shows SMTV /CD:UK, The Disney Channel Kids Awards and Star Ticket Active.  Steve sits on many international judging panels at BAFTA and the International Emmy Committee.

Splash Media

Jane Lush began her programme making career at the BBC, producing popular documentaries and features. She turned BBC One’s flagship travel programme, Holiday into an all year round hit show. She exec produced BBC One docs including Martin Clunes, Born to be Wild. As Controller of BBC Daytime she can be blamed for commissioning Weakest Link, which became a global hit around the world, Bargain Hunt, Escape to the Country and Flog It, and created Doctors, a daytime soap opera from scratch – all still stalwarts of the schedule. As Controller of Entertainment Commissioning her legacy includes Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice, Dragons’ Den, House of Tiny Tearaways and Test the Nation. She was also responsible for the BBC’s Comedy output, and steered Have I Got News for You through all its controversies since it began.  She started Splash Media with Fenia Vardanis in 2007.

Kate Gibbard started her career at Twofour where she worked on a wide variety of productions including The Hotel Inspector, Through Hell and High Water and Dead Famous for many broadcasters such as the BBC, Channel 4, Five and Living.

Vera Productions

Geoff Atkinson is Joint MD of Vera, which he founded with Rory Bremner, Vivienne Clore and Elaine Morris in 1994. He is also an established comedy writer.

Starting off his career at Punch magazine, he ended up working with the likes of Douglas Adams and John Lloyd and was one of the main writers on Spitting Image. He has also written for Michael Barrymore, Lenny Henry and Cannon and Ball.

As a Producer he is best known for Rory Bremner’s shows along with the two Johns (Bird and Fortune), Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression, Mark Thomas Product and the recently acclaimed Getting On. He has also Exec Produced numerous Dispatches including Politicians For Hire.

Rebecca Parkinson joined Vera in November 2010, and her aim is to maintain and build on the family friendly ethos and creative environment which exists at the company, and for which it is well known. Prior to this she worked with Stuart Murphy at Sky and at Twofour as Head of Production. Her PM experience was mainly garnered at Objective where she worked in factual, entertainment and comedy – and magic of course! As a co-ordinator she worked at most of the major independents on projects ranging from documentary to hidden camera. She has a daughter, Lily, aged 2 and a half.

Envy

Envy is one of the leading post houses in the UK and has three buildings in Rathbone Place, Margaret Street and Foley Street.

Envy is experienced with every type of HD and SD production and offer 95 operational areas including off-line AVID, Final Cut Pro, DS Nitris, Symphony, Grading, Smoke, Flame, 3D and Audio, including a Dolby licensed studio. We also have a courtyard garden, two fully licensed bars, a study and a 750 sq ft rooftop terrace.

ENVY is very proud to have won the Best Post Production House at the Broadcast Awards in 2008, 2009 and 2010. In late July 2011, ENVY is expanding, adding nearly an extra 10.000 sq ft in Rathbone Place which will include off line suites, audio and vfx.

Envy is thrilled to support the great work of Media Parents and look forward to continue to do so.

Media Parents

Freelance Series Producer Amy Walker created the Media Parents website in 2010 in the hope that it would help experienced talent to stay within the creative industries, by listing opportunities for flexible work and standard contracts.  Within a year Media Parents has over 400 talented subscribers, a network of thousands, and works with more than 200 TV and film companies. Media Parents is placing talented people in great jobs on a weekly basis, and getting great feedback from everyone involved. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk is a lovely place to be.

Udo Okpara works with Amy as Admin Assistant at Media Parents.  Udo studied Ancient History at UCL  (see below) and spends most of his spare time training in Judo.