Media Parents Series Producer Director Marion Milne writes about the shooting of Blood & Gold: The Making of Spain with Simon Sebag Montefiore. TXing from Tuesday 8 December 9pm for three weeks on BBC Four.

Presenter Simon Sebag Montefiore and Series Producer/Director Marion Milne in Churriana, Spain @MarionMilne @simonmontefiore

“And action” I said. Or rather muttered. We were, after all, in the Royal Chapel of a vast Catholic Cathedral. Not so much bring up the bodies, as bring the crew down to the bodies. “This,” said Simon Sebag Montefiore in a perfectly pitched Attenborough-esque whisper, “is in many ways the secret heart, of Spain itself…”

“Can we stop there?” The gravelly Canadian tones of my sound recordist, one of the best in the business, in my headphones. “False start,” I said, hoping the tension could not be heard in my voice.

“Just collapsing the boom pole. Low ceilings alert. Thirty seconds.” Our recordist would never stop us without good reason.

“Standby to go again,”I said, “and action.” Once more the four of us, half bent double, crept down the stone stairs of the vault. The soft shoe shuffle. “This is the vault, continued Sebag, where the Spanish Kings and Queens are actually buried. It’s usually closed to the public. And they’ve let me in.”

Well not in so many words I thought flattening myself against the chilled, damp walls, to allow our cameraman to follow the action, opening up the iris, as it grew dark and hushed inside the tomb. They didn’t say no to us filming down here. Then again, we didn’t, strictly speaking, ask.

It was a far cry from the bright sunshine outside as Sebag concluded. “Cut,” I said: “Great take everyone. Let’s get out of here.”

Just another day on the road with Simon Sebag Montefiore, shooting the epic series Blood & Gold: The Making of Spain, which airs on BBC Four, from Tuesday December 8th at 9pm. In three hours, in classic Sebag style, this is an entertaining, erudite romp through Spain’s story.

Series Producer/Director Marion Milne meets Nutopia COO Helena Tait at Media Parents November event. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/8487/marion-milne

It’s a narrative populated with some of the great characters of history: Hannibal, the Carthaginian General, whose family ruled over Southern Spain in the third century BC; El Cid, the legendary medieval warrior who – we found out – turned out to be a ruthless mercenary; Ferdinand and Isabella, whose infamous Spanish Inquisition was the forerunner of a modern terror state; Philip the Second who was once briefly King of England (who knew?) before launching an Armada against us.

The joy of a Simon Sebag Montefiore series is he weaves together all those half remembered bits of history from school into an epic, televisual narrative and then throws in some fabulous new characters and stories as well.

The sweep of the series allowed us to shoot in some of the most cinematic places in Europe: on a fast moving boat in the Bay of Cadiz which opens the series; in Italica, a city of Roman ruins so well preserved they look like a film set; through the narrow streets of Granada’s Albaicin district and inside the exquisite Alhambra at dawn; atop the Giralda, Seville’s bell tower; in the Medina Al Zahara, Cordoba’s forgotten Moslem citadel; in the Valley of the Fallen, Franco’s grandiose memento to Fascism.

It doesn’t get much better than shooting these kind of series, on a sensible in-house BBC budget, with support from the Open University and BBC Worldwide. It’s what British specialist factual TV does best. Proper authoritative and accessible broadcasting. Long may it continue.

Media Parents’ Marion Milne was Series Producer and Director of two episodes of Simon Sebag Montefiore’s new series Blood & Gold The Making of Spain, from Tuesday December 8 at 9pm on BBC Four.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/8487/marion-milne

Simon Ardizzone, also of Media Parents, was editor of two episodes.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/7258/simon-ardizzone

It was 5.30 as I arrived at 1 Stephen’s Street. Fremantle Media HQ was like walking into a vast marble futuristic film set. I strolled, wide eyed along to the front desk, where I was greeted by a charming receptionist who knew exactly why I was there, and where I was going.

“Media Parents CV A+E.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Name Please.”

“Zoë Brooks.” She swiftly crossed my name off her list with her brand new pink highlighter and ushered me to the glass entrance gates, where by now the alarm was now going off through a bit of forced gate action by a Media Parent without security ID!

Boundless West Head John Comerford meets a Media Parents exec

Yes I was here for the Media Parents CV Surgery hosted by Fremantle Media’s Head of Talent Emily Gale and her colleagues John Comerford, Head of Boundless West, Esther Johnson, Boundless’s Head of Production, and Katharine Rosser, talent assistant.

Twofour's talent managers Leeanne Vinson and Sue Kenderdine get down to business

There were eight CV stations set up including  Leeanne Vinson and Sue Kenderdine from Twofour, Julia Waring from RDF, and Nutopia COO Helena Tait and her team, Simon Willgoss and Natalie Spanier.

Ian Critchley, Talent Consultant from Sony International TV and The Alias Hire guys also had stations where they gave tips and knowledge about freelance work in the TV industry.   Last but most definitely not least, Amy Walker, Director of Media Parents & Arrow Media, who kept everyone moving from appointment to appointment with her 10 minute bell!

Sony's Talent Consultant Ian Critchley coaches on networking

I was going to see Leeanne Vinson, Talent Exec from TwoFour, the people who brought us the fabulous “Kitchen Impossible” with Michel Roux Jnr, my slot was 6.40, and it was only 5.45, I thought I better mingle.

RDF's Julia Waring gets straight to the point

I trotted along to Nutopia before they had a chance to settle into their chairs, and spoke to Simon Willgoss, Head of Development who was very interested in what I did. I am a Promo Producer / Production Co-ordinator and it was through chatting to Simon that I realised I could play my hand in a slightly different way and market myself to the hire companies as well as the TV companies – thanks Simon.

The Alias Hire team demo their kit

The guys from Alias Hire (Camera, Kit, Crew) were sponsoring the event.  They brought along their new Drone, which is a very impressive piece of kit.  I did not know that a Drone comes with a Drone Pilot.  I also did not know that you could hire a Drone, a Drone Pilot, a Camera Operator & Insurance for about £600.00 a day, I would have guessed more.

Alias Hire MD Danny Dawson

But what would Leeanne make of my CV? Not much as it turned out! Total reconstruction! She was drawing arrows everywhere, the bottom bit should be at the top, the top bit at the bottom, it was good, constructive feedback. I got the message, and her card!   She will be seeing this CV again, after I have given it a 21st Century makeover!

All in all a great event, well-organised with lots of knowledgeable and experienced professionals who were happy to share their experiences and suggestions to help you try and get more freelance work.

I encourage all Media Parents to go along to these events, you really can get lots out of them, and you will always be given a warm welcome.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/9724/zoe-brooks

Media Parents Director Amy Walker

Media Parents next event is Christmas Drinks, sponsored by Cornish Insurance and hosted by Molinare. For details please see http://www.mediaparents.co.uk watercooler and site emails. Guest list is here :

Adrian Padmore Assistant Commissioner BBC

Alan Davis PM Shiver

Alex Mattholie Researcher Arrow Media

Alice Lister HoP ClearStory

Alicia Vella Producer/Director

alison martin Series Producer

Amy Walker Series Producer / Director Media Parents

Anna Coane Producer

Anne Monnehay Editor

Anthony Coates Manager UK sales and business Cornish Insurance

Charley Bennett Casting Producer Shiver

Charlotte Armitage PD

Chiara Messineo Producer/Director

Christie Thackray Production Coordinator Maker Studios

Claire Walker HoP Raw Cut Television

Clare Richards Producer Director Dragonfly

Clio David Producer Director Camera

Dafydd O’Connor Producer/Director

Danny Dawson MD Alias Hire

DAREN TILEY EDITOR

David Harris PD

Diana Hinshelwood Producer

Ed Stradling Producer/Director

Emily Gale Head of Talent Fremantle Media

Emma Houghton-Brown AP Arrow Media

Esther Johnson HoP Boundless

Euan McRae PM ClearStory

Fergus Clark DOP

Fiona Frankland PM Phil Mcintyre TV

Francesco Ficarra Assistant Producer Arrow Media

Graciela Watson Edit Producer

Grainne McPhillips Producer

Helen Williamson Series Producer

ian critchley Talent Consultant Sony

Ian Lamarra Creative Director Bookhouse TV

Isa Suarez Composer / Performer

Isobel Ricketts PM Breakthrough Media

Jasbir Saund Talent Manager Breakthrough Media

Jason Hendriksen PM Windfall Films

Jeff Bannis Director

Jim Shreim Producer / Director

John McVay Chief Executive PACT

Jon Mountague Head of Comedy SKY

Jon Nicholls Composer

Jonah Weston Executive Producer Lime Pictures

Josephine Besbrode Producer/Director

Jude Parker Series Producer

Kasia Uscinska Producer/Director

Katherine Parsons Executive producer

Katy Milner Director

Katy Savage Development Producer

Kemi Ayoola Line Producer

Kerry Jones Client Liaison Media Parents

Kim Duke Series producer

Kim Smith Assistant Producer Arrow Media

Kymberlie Andrew Broadcast Journalist

Kyra Beguiristain Producer

Laura Leigh Senior Producer Studio Lambert

Laura Vaughan Producer Arrow Media

Laura Watts PM Barcroft Productions

Lesley Scarff Series producer/edit producer

Lindy Taylor Production Executive Broadbean Media

livia russell SP/Edit Producer

Liz Bayliffe Smith Commercial Manager Dock10

Loanna Morrison Researcher/AP

louise Orton Producer/Director

Lucia Yandoli Research and Development

Lucy Dwyer Writer / Producer

Lynda Hall Camera Operator Features & Drama

Magda Gora Researcher Arrow Media

Maria French Production Executive Maverick

Matt Currington PD

Matt Norman Composer

Megan Ott Production Coordinator Barcroft Media

Megan Owens People finder / genealogist

Michael Bolsover Offline Editor

Michael Pentney Editor

Michaela Hulmanova Production Accountant Arrow Media

Michelle Heeley Exec Producer

Morgan Phillips Producer/Director

Nicki Purcell Production Executive Crackit

Nicola Waddell Executive Producer/Series Producer

Patrick McMahon Head of Development Boomerang

Patrick Steele Head of Commercial Dock10

Paul Birmingham PM Brook Lapping

Pauline Roenisch PM Arrow Media

Peter Grimsdale Exec producer

Phil Stein P/D

Pip Gould Production Co-ordinator Arrow Media

Rachael Heaton-Armstrong Producer

Rashpal Dhaliwal PM Arrow Media

Richard Hughes Camera / Director

Romesh Aluwihare Film & TV Editor

Rosemary Laryea Presenter/Producer

Sara Brailsford executive producer

Sean Grundy Writer Director

Shany Stephany AP

Shaun Wilton Company Director

silvia galeazzi tv and radio creative

Stephanie Campbell Series producer

Steve McNally Cornish Insurance

Stuart Watts Drone Operator Alias Hire

susan drummond Producer/Edit Producer

Susana Seijas Dacey Producer

Susie Worster Head of Talent Wall to Wall

Tina Lohmann HoP Bookhouse TV

Tolula Dada Development Editor

Tracy Garrett Production Manager

Trevor Showler Freelance / Creative Director

Uli Hesse Producer / Director

Weston Owens Edit Series Producer

Zoe Fryer Producer/Director

Media Parents next event is our Christmas Drinks, see www.mediaparents.co.uk for details.

Development Producer Anna Curtin is Endemol Shine’s candidate on the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme. Here Anna writes about her adventures in Edinburgh and beyond – she is now #backtowork – it can be done!

Anna Curtin relaunches herself at Edinburgh ℅ Endemol Shine and the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/10343/anna-curtin

GEITF started well for me when I got a free phone charger and then I met my fellow Media Parents delegates who are lovely and inspiring people.  Knowing that everyone comes with some anxiety was reassuring.  Luckily the talent managers I met (Melissa Clay-Peters from Princess Productions and Nicky Searle from Dragonfly Film & TV) were very supportive of parents returning to work and both gave me some great tips for my CV – it’s important that a Development Producer includes the commissioning editors’ names against credits.

The sessions made me realize that my break from TV hasn’t made a difference in what the commissioners are looking for. They want authenticity, innovation and ultimately good story telling. Someone asked Channel 5’s Controller Ben Frow if 5 still wanted fixed-rig shows and he explained that fixed-rig is just a filming technique – it’s still all about the story. It seems the best way to approach 5 with an idea is to shout loud and proud that you came up with this show for Channel 5 and that you want to work with them. Makes sense.

GEITF sessions made Development Producer Anna Curtin feel her ideas were still relevant.

Angela Jain, Director of Digital Channels and Acquistions for ITV said it was essential to watch the channel you are pitching to, and that the best approach is to “Make me laugh and bring me cake”.  Most of the commissioners want to be surprised.

The session about TV titles was interesting – basically don’t put the word British or Benefits in a title – they’ve been done to death.  There goes my ‘Get Britain Off Benefits’ idea then.

Remarkable Television MD Kitty Walshe.

I reconnected with several friends and ex-colleagues at GEITF, and set up follow-up meetings in London. I also met my mentor Kitty Walshe, MD, Remarkable TV. A mum herself, Kitty is a firm believer in parents returning to work – positively, the general consensus is that working parents are very good employees and have good time-management and patience.

I think one of the main things I took away from Edinburgh was not to apologise for being a parent or for taking a break. We are all still relevant and valuable to the industry.  Taking some time out to have kids is not an affliction – after all producing a human being takes a lot of hard work, and we want to return to work as we love it and have a lot to offer.

Since returning from Edinburgh I’ve met with Kitty Walshe again to discuss my Back to Work Plan, who was very nice and helpful.  She gave me some suggestions for my CV and some good advice in general.  She put me in direct contact with people who may be looking for good development people so I’m excited about that. She’s also going to send my CV to other companies where she has good contacts. I got my first short development contract care of Media Parents at CPL Productions – and I’ve recently got another contract at Ricochet – so who knows where that will lead?

Anna Curtin's GEITF tips : take your notebook and festival pass and be ready to party!

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/10343/anna-curtin

If you are looking to get back into the workplace, do join Media Parents on Nov 23^rd for our CV A&E at Fremantle. Scroll down this blog for more info.

Media Parents next event is CV A&E with FremantleMedia UK, Twofour Group and Zodiak Media. Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events. The next Media Parents networking event is taking place on November 23rd, see www.mediaparents.co.uk for details.

After attending Media Parents’ networking event at BBC Broadcasting House in September, FremantleMedia UK’s Head of Talent Emily Gale got in touch to say how many fabulously talented freelancers she had met… brilliant! But… Emily felt that some freelancers CVs could sell their wealth of talent better – and so the Media Parents CV A&E was proposed for November 23rd. The event is kindly hosted by Fremantle and sponsored by Alias Hire who will be showing off their latest drone. Please read on for who’s coming and their top TV CV tips…

FremantleMedia UK's Emily Gale, right, and TwoFour's Sue Kenderdine meet freelancers at Media Parents' BBC Broadcasting House event in October.

Emily Gale will be joined at Fremantle by Zodiak Media’s Jules Waring, TwoFour’s Leeanne Vinson – and Sue Kenderdine also enjoyed the BBC event so much that she will be joining us again. The talent team will be offering freelancers tailored CV advice by appointment, and Sony Pictures’ Ian Critchley who also attended the BBC Broadcasting House event, will give group coaching on How To Network. Alias Hire’s MD Danny Dawson, and Head of Training Natalie Brady will be showing off their new drone and on hand to talk about Skillset-backed training opportunities. The event takes place from 5:30 – 7:30pm and freelancers are asked to submit CVs in advance. For details see the watercooler and CV A&E emails from www.mediaparents.co.uk

CV A&E who’s coming… NEW ADDITIONS

Helena Tait, COO, Nutopia

Helena Tait, Nutopia

Helena has managed and delivered hundreds of hours of content for global audiences, working with most major broadcasters on both side of the Atlantic.  After many years at Wall to Wall she joined Diverse as Head of Production in 2006.   Although specialising in ground-breaking, award winning specialist factual shows and event television, she has also overseen content production spanning factual entertainment, light entertainment, quiz shows, formats, drama and shiny floor.   Helena joined Nutopia  in 2010, and oversees company operational activities as well as partnerships, company strategy, staffing, communications and growth in ancillary areas.

Helena Tait’s CV tip : keep the file size of your cv small – a large file will be the first to go from an inbox.

simon willgoss, head of development, nutopia

Simon Willgoss, Nutopia

Simon heads up Nutopia’s Development department, rejoining the company in 2014 after a stint as Head of Development at CB Films. Simon originally joined Nutopia to develop America The Story Of Us for History – which became the network’s highest ever rated special. His recent development and production credits include the Emmy-winning How We Got To Now for PBS, The 1980s: The Decade That Made Us for Nat Geo, Mankind for History, and How We Invented the World for Discovery. Simon was named one of Broadcast Magazine’s International Rising Stars in 2015.

Simon Willgoss’s CV tip : if you work in development name the commissioners you have worked for and if you have had ideas commissioned make that very clear too.

Natalie Spanier

Natalie Spanier, Head of Talent, Nutopia

Natalie has spent her career in factual television working with some of the UK’s leading indie companies and broadcasters. After several years in the independent sector, in 1998 she joined the BBC Specialist Factual department as a producer. She worked on a range of output from iconic magazine shows such as Animal Hospital and Tomorrow’s World to live events and blue chip documentaries. In 2006 she joined the UK commissioning team for the Animal Planet Channel, and more recently worked as an Executive Producer on several series including the hit wildlife documentary series Monkey Life which airs around the world.

John Comerford, Head of Boundless West

John Comerford is Head of the newly formed Boundless West label, Fremantle UK’s regional production hub in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Boundless West’s productions include Escape to the Country (BBC One), Grand Designs (C4), Escape to the Continent (BBC One) and Four Rooms (C4). He divides his time between the London and Amersham offices.

As an Executive Producer, John oversees the Railway Journeys and Escape brands, encompassing Great British Railway Journeys, Great Continental Railways,Railways of the Great War,  Escape to the Country and Escape to the Continent. As Editor of Factual Programmes, he executive produced a wide variety of Boundless and talkbackTHAMES brands including: How Clean is Your House? (C4), House Doctor (C5), Wish You Were Here (ITV), Would Like to Meet (BBC Two), Farmer Wants a Wife (C5),  Designs for Living (C5), Digging Deep (BBC Two), Squeamish(Discovery), Heroes of History (C5), and a number of documentaries including Nuns Aloud (BBC One) and Farewell The Bill (ITV).

Prior to joining Fremantle, John was an Executive Producer in the BBC’s Documentaries & Contemporary Factual department, where he oversaw travel programming.  During his BBC career he produced a variety of factual, documentary and children’s programming including Blue Peter, Airport and Holiday.

John Comerford’s CV tip : don’t forget that TV is a visual medium and if you work in a creative job your CV should reflect that.

Boundless HoP Esther Johnson at a previous Media Parents CV event. Thank you Esther for joining us again!

Esther Johnson, Head of Production, Boundless

Head of Production for Boundless, Esther has overall production management responsibility across all factual titles – from Daytime Factual: Escape to the Country and Great British Railway Journeys, to Factual Entertainment: The Apprentice and You’re Fired, Features: Grand Designs, and Specialist Factual: Four Rooms.

She joined the company in May 2008, initially as Head of Production for Factual Features at talkbackTHAMES, which included responsibility for the regional production base in Amersham.

Prior to this, Esther was at the BBC, working initially as a Programme Finance Manager and Senior Genre Business Affairs Manager in Factual Commissioning and then as Production Executive working across the BBC’s in-house production activity in Science & History key titles during this time included Horizon, Timewatch, Supervolcano, Industrial Wonders of the World and Jimmy’s Farm).

Esther started her career at the British Film Institute working in research and TV production.

Esther Johnson’s CV tip : if you want international work list far-flung countries you have travelled in – experience of a place may land you the job over someone has none.

Emily Gale, FremantleMedia UK (Photo courtesy of RTS Futures)

emily gale, head of talent, fremantlemedia UK

Emily Gale started out working for BBC Regional News. She then moved to Watchdog, starting as a runner and working her way up to producer. Emily then moved to CBBC where she series produced live, magazine and documentary series including the BAFTA nominated Short Change. She has produced and directed live shows and OBs for BBC Factual, and worked in New York making reality shows for Discovery and Bravo. Emily is now head of talent for FremantleMedia UK.

Emily Gale’s top CV tips :

Please don’t turn your CV into an essay – 2 pages is ideal, 3 absolute maximum.

Driving Licence is with a C, not an S.

Isobel Ricketts, Breakthrough Media

Isobel Ricketts, Breakthrough Media

Breakthrough is a communications agency and production company. Our mission is to help our clients inspire positive social change through the power of storytelling, primarily through the production of emotionally driven films, campaigns and other communications products.

Our clients include NGOs, government agencies and inter-governmental organisations and today we employ around one hundred people across Europe and East Africa.

Isobel Ricketts’ CV tip : include links to any of your shows online – don’t assume everyone has watched everything.

Leeanne Vinson, Talent Executive, Twofour Broadcast

Leeanne Vinson, talent executive, twofour broadcast

Leeanne Vinson heads up Twofour’s talent division, attracting and retaining the best execs, producers and directors in the industry for the Twofour Group. Leeanne has worked in television for over twenty years for indies Betty, Fresh One and Shine as well as for C4 and the BBC Features commissioning team.

Leeanne Vinson’s top CV tips:

Keep your CV short and sweet

Summarise your experience briefly – as if you are explaining it to a friend

Don’t write ‘references on request’ – get permission from two or three referees and write their name, position and email address at the bottom of your CV. A good reference will help you get the right job far more quickly..

Sue Kenderdine with a freelancer at Media Parents BBC Event.

Sue Kenderdine, Head of Talent, TwoFour

Sue is responsible for off-screen editorial talent across the Twofour Group (including Twofour, Oxford Scientific Films, Indus and Boomerang). She runs Twofour’s Talent Database, building and developing relationships with all levels of production staff – from researchers to series producers – and working with our executive producers and production management teams to staff projects and to attract and keep the best people in our Devon, London and Cardiff offices. With eight years non-TV management experience and 17 years in television, Sue joined Twofour in 2006 having spent six years at Lion Television.

Sue Kenderdine’s top TV CV tip:

Ensure your email address is your name, i.e. not sexygirl@gmail.com or strawberrycheeks@hotmail.com.uk rather, firstnamesurname@gmail.com

Julia Waring, Head of Talent, RDF Media

Julia Waring, Head of Talent, RDF Media

I started working in television as a production secretary in drama in 1985, moving over to factual a couple of years later. I  became a researcher, AP and then Producer through freelance jobs at ITV, Mentorn and various other indies, until joining RDF Television in its infancy in May 1997.  After running what was tantamount to a news desk for RDF International, and SPing various in-house productions, I sidestepped the mechanics of making television programmes and was given the post of recruiting other people to do that!  I find it a constant pleasure – as well as really interesting – to meet such a variety of people who want to bring their imagination, passion and intelligence to this industry – and I especially enjoy meeting new entrants and providing an opportunity to give them a kick start their chosen career path.

My job at RDF is to keep in touch with all grades of freelancers on the editorial side in the TV industry, from new entrants to executive producers.  Once met (our team tries to arrange meetings with as many people as possible) and on our Talent Database, we can track talent and put them forward for production or development roles as appropriate.  The joy of the job is meeting so many great people and facilitating work for them within the Zodiak Group – or putting them in touch with other Talent Managers in the industry.

Julia Waring’s top CV tips:

“Headlines”! – no talent manager wants to read a novel when they get a CV – keep it simple.

For me, no personal statement – your brief covering letter should contain any info which might be useful on that front to a prospective employer.

SONY Pictures' Ian Critchley (right) meets Media Parents at the BBC Broadcasting House event.

ian critchley, talent consultant, sony international television

Ian will kindly be offering small groups a workshop “How to Network” at the event.

Originally from St. Helens, Merseyside Ian has spent over twenty-five years in the TV industry across ITV and the BBC where he established the BBC’s Production Talent Network. He has been responsible for editorial talent management across all genres in production and commissioning on a pan-UK basis.

With a particular focus on developing new talent and headhunting at the executive level for a range of award winning shows, from Strictly Come Dancing to Top Gear, Little Britain to Dr. Who, Ian is now a talent consultant at Sony International Television and is the media advisor for On The Road action group.

Ian Critchley’s top TV tip for working flexibly:

If you want flexible work, research all the TV companies within a mile of where you live and contact them!

Alias Hire's Natalie Brady and Danny Dawson at Media Parents last CV event.

danny dawson, MD, Alias Hire

Danny Dawson is the Managing Director of Alias Hire, having originally joined in 2009 as Hire Manager. In the time, Danny has been influential in repurposing Alias Hire into one of the industry’s premier video facility companies. Prior to Alias Hire Danny was a production professional operating for 8 x years as a Researcher, Shooting AP and PD on varying titles and formats including live transmission “City Hospital” BBC1, “Who Do You Think You Are?” BBC1, as well as corporate production. Danny entered into the broadcast industry in 1999 first for Hammerhead TV and then to Metro Broadcast where he joined as a runner to running the hire desk within three years.

Danny was elevated to Managing Director in October 2014 and is committed to focusing Alias Hire into exploring new areas of broadcast services, including bespoke training, aerial video and IP Streaming.

Alias Hire’s top CV tip : if you’re a shooter, state in your job title that you shoot, and elsewhere list the cameras you use

natalie brady, head of training, alias hire

Natalie Brady has been working in the media industry for over 20 years. Starting as an assistant at the BBFC in Soho Square. After taking time out to have children she went back to work as a casting agent and in 2005 she joined a training company as a coordinator for Soho Editors.

Since then she has gone from strength to strength helping companies and freelancers get high end training while also securing lots of funding from Creative Skillset to help make training more affordable for everyone. http://aliastraining.co.uk/ Natalie has facilitated Alias Hire’s training programme (as well as running the office and on most days the company). For a factsheet on Alias Hire’s subsidised courses please click on the relevant title below :

Production Manager Factual TV

Production Manager Children’s TV

Production Coordinator Children’s TV

Data Wrangler

Media Parents Director Amy Walker (left) with Hampshire employer Rosie Bowen-Jones at the BBC Broadcasting House event.

Amy Walker, Director, Media Parents

Amy Walker founded and runs Media Parents. She is passionate about retaining experienced talent in the TV industry and will be on hand to meet freelancers on an ad hoc basis at the Fremantle event. In addition to running Media Parents, Amy works as a freelance talent exec and series producer. She is currently series producing part time – it can be done!

Amy Walker’s top TV tip:

Use networking to your advantage, both in person and on social media – it’s a lot more fun than you think if you just give it a go. See you at the event.

Details of how to sign up for this event are on the watercooler at http://www.mediaparents.co.uk Freelancers are asked to submit a CV, indicating the talent manager they would like to meet, and their likely time of arrival at the event which runs from 5:30 to 7:30. Ian Critchley’s How to Network talks will be first come first served to groups of up to 8 people on the day. We look forward to seeing you there.

FREELANCERS ATTENDING

zoe brooks Promo Producer

Media Parents next event is CV A&E with FremantleMedia UK, Twofour Group and Zodiak Media. Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events. The next Media Parents networking event is taking place on November 23rd, see www.mediaparents.co.uk for details.