We’re delighted to announce that Development Producer and PD Emily Coleman from Leeds is the next of our Media Parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme winners. Emily will be sponsored by ITV Studios, and mentored by Shiver Creative Director Mark Robinson, from Shiver’s Leeds office.

Development Producer Emily Coleman will be mentored in Leeds by ITV http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/1367/emily-coleman

emily coleman, development producer & PD

I’m a PD and Development Producer with fifteen years’ experience of making high-profile and critically acclaimed factuals and features. I’ve directed primetime programmes for the BBC, ITV and Channel 5. My credits include:

• The Secret Tourist – primetime BBC1 undercover consumer series which I developed from proposal stage, then went on to produce and direct.
• Jade – high-profile ob-doc series following Jade Goody’s cancer battle, which led to a 20% rise in smear tests, secured blanket media coverage and broke channel viewing figure records.
• The Man Who Shared His Liver – RTS Award nominated documentary following life or death pioneering surgery with living donor transplant patients.
• 100 Greatest Albums – RTS Award nominated feature with exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in music.

My most important recent production however, has been my two beautiful children, who are now 4 and 2 ½ years old. After an extended break, and with some trepidation, I’m hoping to return to work in the autumn.

I hope that the Back to Work scheme might give me a confidence-boost and a positive reintroduction to the world of work. I’m hoping to meet some inspiring role-models, learn to set boundaries between work and home and manage my time more effectively – plus develop a strategy to steer my career in a more family-friendly direction.

Emily will be mentored by ITV Shiver’s Creative Director Mark Robinson.

Mark Robinson, Creative Director & Mentor, ITV Shiver, Leeds

ITV Shiver's Mark Robinson.

Mark has executive produced a wide range of projects for Shiver on behalf of ITV, Channel Four, Channel 5 and Sky.

As a leading light in shows celebrating our cultural and popular history he set up the 100 Greatest format for Channel Four and has since looked after The Nation’s Favourite…for ITV, a brand which has revealed the stories behind the songs of icons like Abba, the Bee Gees and Elvis Presley.

Mark pioneered the Monday night ITV travelogue slot with series like The Lakes, The Dales, Little England and Tales From Northumberland With Robson Green.

He also executive produced all six series of the Rose D’Or nominated daytime – and now international – hit series May The Best House Win and has recently looked after titles as diverse as Coronation Street – 50 Years, 50 Moments, The Talent Show Story, Super Tiny Animals, Newsflash – Stories That Stopped The World, Being Poirot and The Miners’ Strike & Me.

Thank you to ITV Studios, ITVShiver and Julian Bellamy for sponsoring the scheme, and to Sue Davidson, HR Director ITV Studios, and Miranda Wayland, ITV Diversity and Inclusion Manager, for championing the scheme.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/1367/emily-coleman

Applications for the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme are now closed. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who entered. Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

We’re at Edinburgh TV Festival this week so if you’re there please make contact and meet the Back To Work team, headed by Media Parents Director Amy Walker. All profiles and photos are below – tweet @mediaparents to make contact or email through the Media Parents website www.mediaparents.co.uk. See you in Edinburgh!

We’re delighted to announce that Edit Producer / PD Melanie Beer is one of our Media Parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme winners. Melanie will be sponsored by the CDN, and mentored by CDN Chairman and PACT Chief Executive John McVay.

Edit Producer / PD Melanie Beer will be mentored by the CDN's John McVay. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/1002/melanie-beer

melanie beer, PD Edit Producer

I am a versatile and experienced Producer/Director and Edit Producer that has worked on Observational Documentaries, Factual and Fact/Ent programmes for BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Discovery, Sky, MTV and Five.

I have self shot and cut programmes covering a variety of topics from health docs like Love on the Transplant List, The Sex Clinic and Kids on Camera: Diary of Children’s Hospital to presenter-led programmes such as Homeless in Detroit.   I have directed single and multi camera crews on long running series like Four in a Bed and Edit Produced programmes with original content, UGC and archive footage.  I particularly enjoy drawing out the quirkier aspects of human nature when on shoots, dealing with sensitive topics and shaping extraordinary stories in the edit that tell us more about human behaviour.

I am extremely lucky to be Mum to my 6 month old daughter Clara but I also feel very fortunate to have spent the last eleven years doing a job that I feel very passionate about and thoroughly enjoy.  I hope that by returning to work as a P/D or Edit Producer, I can continue to make programmes that inform, inspire and entertain people.  I’ve considered re-training as many of my friends who used to work in the industry have done after having children, but my heart and mind are telling me to return to TV and I can’t wait to get started.

Melanie will be mentored by CDN Chair and PACT Chief Executive John McVay.

John McVay, CDN Chair, PACT Chief Executive and Media Parents Mentor.

John McVay, CDN Chairman and PACT Chief Exec.

John McVay is the Chief Executive of Pact. He has been involved in programme making as a producer, consultant and trainer since 1986.  Prior to his appointment at Pact, he has held positions as the founding Director of the Research Centre for Television and Interactivity in Glasgow , where he developed the concept for Cross Creatives, now Content Lab, and was Director of Training and Education at Scottish Screen. John is a Board Member of Skillset, Chairman of the Skillset Investment Committee and a Governor of the National Film and TV School. At Pact he lead the successful campaign that resulted in changes in the 2003 Communications Act. resulted in the UK having the world’s most creative and commercially successful independent production sector. John was also President of CEPI the pan-European producers association for two years. He is a Director of ISAN UK and serves on the Film London task-force as well as chairing their industry committee.

Thank you to CDN for sponsoring, and to Amanda Ariss, Executive Director, and Tanya Mukherjee, Executive Manager, for championing the scheme.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/1002/melanie-beer

Applications for the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme are now closed. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who entered. Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

We’re delighted to announce that Drama Asst Production Coordinator Nia Morgan from Cardiff, and Factual PD Fiona Calvert from Bristol are the next of our Media Parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme winners. Both will be mentored by BBC Wales employees, to be announced, and Fiona Calvert will attend the Edinburgh TV Festival.

Drama Coordinator Nia Morgan http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/11444/nia-morgan

Nia Morgan, Drama Production Coordinator

Since 2010 I have worked for a fantastic company called Tidy Productions mainly on a show called Stella (Sky 1). I started as a Production Assistant and they slowly gave me more responsibility becoming a Secretary and then an Assistant Production Co-ordinator. In this role I was often given the chance to try new things. For example, helping with casting, assisting the script department and even Script Supervising on 2^nd unit days. My main role was to assist the co-ordinator with every day tasks like booking accommodation, distributing scripts, script clearance and travel arrangements… to name a few.

In January of this year I had my little girl. Since then Tidy Productions have offered me odd days work which have been ideal but I haven’t been able to accept anything longer than a few days at a time. That’s my main concern when thinking of going back to work, that I won’t be able to do shoot hours for while or even work 5 days a week, which I know is essential when working on a busy production. I’m hoping to find an office based job in a production office where I can work part time. This way keeping a foot in the door for when I can eventually go back to work full time.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/11444/nia-morgan

fiona calvert, factual PD

PD Fiona Calvert from Bristol will be mentored by BBC Wales http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/6511/fiona-calvert

Starting out as an assistant in Channel 4 Documentaries was a great introduction to the commissioning process from the inside.  Working as a researcher/AP on the flagship strands Cutting Edge and Modern Times was an amazing opportunity to learn from some great directors and producers.  When I developed a series about a Health Farm beyond its initial conception, Stephen Lambert gave me a break to direct and I went on to PD popular documentaries taking all of my own material (and sometimes other director’s) into the edit.  Again, great experience.  These were mostly 30 minute series, but I also made When a Wife Loves a Woman, a 50 minute film for C4.

All in all, a solid grounding in making documentaries:  researching, casting, negotiating access, handling contributors in sensitive situations, directing on location and in the edit.   I also did a fair amount of Development,  converting funded developments into commissions and also originating ideas to commission including one for Modern Times.

So far so good.

I then had 3 wonderful girls (not all at once!)… and my TV career ground to a halt.

I found the perfect part-time work/life balance producing dozens of 30 minute educational programmes for Legal Network Television.  High quality and business as usual: directing a crew, filming in great locations from prisons to the High Court, turning legal experts into presenters, interviewing  campaigning lawyers to law lords, but non-broadcast.

The next chapter?  I still have lots to offer and I don’t want to disappear from the industry forever .  Realistic options are edit producing and /or developing ideas (I have plenty), but knowing how and where to pitch feels daunting on my own.  I need a kickstart – help to make  that first breakthrough.

The ending?  That mine is a story that proves it can be done!

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/6511/fiona-calvert

Thank you to Judith Winnan, Head of Factual and Music for BBC Wales, and Catrin Whitmore, Head of Production Talent for championing the scheme.

Applications for the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme are now closed. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who entered. Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

We’re delighted to announce that Current Affairs and Comedy Producer Anne Henry is the next of our Media Parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme winners. Anne will be sponsored by Channel 4, and will meet with Channel 4′s Deputy Creative Officer Ralph Lee to determine who her mentor at the Channel will be.

Current Affairs and Comedy Producer Anne Henry will be mentored by Channel 4. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/199/anne-henry

anne henry, current affairs & comedy producer

I’m a TV producer with ten years’ experience in comedy and current affairs. I started in comedy and entertainment, working on programmes such as Richard and Judy and the Graham Norton Show, but increasingly got involved in news-based comedy, trying to make Britain’s answer to The Daily Show on The Late Edition, The Comic Side of 7 Days and 10 O’Clock Live. Through them I started working in current affairs, as a producer on Newsnight (memorably producing a report from a vajazzling salon for a discussion on feminism – it trended on Twitter for 12 hours afterwards), This Week, and political talkshow The Agenda. I’ve also been involved in some really interesting new media projects, including The Insiders, an ambitious project for Channel 4 Learning which used video and animation as well as Twitter and MySpace profiles to make careers advice engaging through stories and a hidden online game. Recently I’ve been working with Google and YouTube on events such as Zeitgeist.

With a two-year-old and five-year-old at home, both fairly demanding commissioners of breakfast goods (cheerios and cutted-up apple anyone?), I’m keen to explore flexible/part-time opportunities in development.

Thank you to Channel 4′s Deputy Chief Creative Officer Ralph Lee, Creative Diversity Manager Ade Rawcliffe and Laura Boswell from 4Talent for supporting the scheme.

Channel 4's Ralph Lee is a Media Parents mentor.

Applications for the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme are now closed. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who entered. Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

We’re delighted to announce that Producer Director Caroline Deeds is the first of our Media Parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme winners. Caroline will be sponsored by Wall to Wall, and mentored by Wall to Wall MD Richard Thomson.

PD Caroline Deeds will be sponsored by Wall to Wall on the Media Parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme, and mentored by Wall to Wall MD Richard Thomson, see below. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/3289/caroline-deeds

Caroline Deeds, PD

Caroline has a background as a fine artist, she trained at The Glasgow School of Art, and Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design, her work was concerned with performance and installation art. After directing her first 50 minute doc ‘REGGAE GIRLS’ for Channel 4, Caroline studied at the NFTS in Documentary Direction.

Caroline directed ‘WALKING BACKWARDS’, which screened at international festivals and won prizes including the Timberland prize at The Milan, African Asian and Latin American Film Festival.  She has developed and made films engaged with outsiders and people on the edges of society, including women banished to witch camps in Northern Ghana, prison communities in the UK in ‘STORY BOOK DADS’ for Channel 4, and recovering mental health patients. Caroline has been working on a long term collaboration with mental health service users making films about their experiences of living with schizophrenia. She is inspired by stories of isolated people who against the odds, refuse to lose sight of their dreams.

Caroline has collaborated with and made several films with a number of Turner Prize winning artists, including Antony Gormley with ‘WASTEMAN’ for Channel 4, Chris Ofili ‘EXPLODING THE CRYSTAL’ for Tate Media, and most recently with Jeremy Deller in his film ‘SACRILEGE’, at the British Pavillion ‘English Magic’ for the 55th Venice Biennale. Caroline is developing an exciting slate of new films. ‘MY HOME, MY SCHOOL’: In the 1970’s her mother built a school in Northern Nigeria. Her desire was to create a loving learning environment for all. Now Boko Haram threatens this vision. The film follows her mother’s dilemma; to continue to teach in the face of terrorist threats or close down the school and jeopardise the future for the children. ‘…A TIME TO SPEAK’, about a transgender man who works as a Jewish chaplain.  The film follows him through his transition and the impact on the relationships around him as he grapples with acceptance from his community.

Inspired by the potential of new media, Caroline is developing trans-media (multiplatform) projects for the first time.  “I am inspired by the idea that the traditional idea of broadcasting is changing, making way for new models of communicating to new audiences. The challenge is, how to use trans-media to enhance the story experience for a potential audience in a meaningful way”.

Caroline currently teaches part time at The MET Film School in London and is a visiting tutor at The NFTS. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/3289/caroline-deeds

Richard Thomson, MD & Mentor, Wall to Wall

Wall to Wall MD Richard Thomson will mentor Caroline Deeds on the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme.

Richard Thomson was appointed Managing Director of Wall to Wall in March 2011. Overseeing the company’s operations, Richard is responsible for maximising the exploitation of all IP rights from programme and format sales, putting together co-production funding and deficit financing, exploring new media and other ancillary and merchandising opportunities and ensuring Wall to Wall continues to deliver ground breaking and outstanding programming to all major broadcasters in the UK and abroad.

Wall to Wall is one of the UK’s leading production companies and for over 20 years the  Warner Brothers owned indie has been supplying broadcasters around the world with ground-breaking, award-winning high quality television content across many genres.

Thank you to Wall to Wall MD Richard Thomson, and Wall to Wall Head of Talent Susie Worster for supporting the scheme.

Applications for the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme are now closed. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who entered. Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

Thanks to everyone who came along last night and made the Blue 2.0 Media Parents Summer Party a roaring success! It was great to see Back to Work Sponsors Channel 4, Endemol Shine, BBC and the CDN meeting freelancers at the party. Don’t forget to share details of our Media Parents Back to Work Scheme as we still need applicants. Here are the first photos, more coming soon…

It was rammed! Big thanks to the Blue 2.0 team for making everyone from Media Parents so welcome!

betty's Claire Birch and Ros Attille from Midnight Oil Productions join the party...

Pretzel Films' Head of TV Steve Wynne with show runner Sharon Delwiche.

Atul Setia, Blue 2.0 Chairman & SEO with Executive Director Mark Bos and Alice Lister, Head of Production at ClearStory.

Members including Endemol Shine Exec Producer Matt Holden (pictured, find him) celebrated 5 glorious years of Media Parents on the roof terrace at Blue 2.0 in Soho.

Blue 2.0's Commercial Director Nicola Whitehead with Team BS and Objective Line Producer Allison Dore.

Rawcut MD Steve Warr brought his team along. Rawcut are looking for Edit Producers to start next week and the week after.

Media Parents Director Amy Walker with Melina Media MD Fenia Vardanis.

The boy band Blue 2.0 - with thanks to all of Blue's excellent team of runners for looking after us. More photos to come...

The Media Parents Back to Work Scheme is accepting applicants until August 1st - for details see blog post and email events@mediaparents.co.uk Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

Join us at Blue 2.0 TONIGHT with employers and freelancers from the BBC, Channel 4, Clear Story, Ricochet, the CDN, Objective Productions, Firecracker, Barcroft Media, ZigZag, Blast! Films, Endemol Shine, Midnight Oil Productions, Spun Gold, John Yorke Academy, NBC Universal, Melina Media and others for a cracking party…

Join us at Blue 2.0 Media Parents Summer Party this Thursday...

Blue 2.0 and Media Parents are having a summer party at blue 2.0 from 6:30pm on July 30th to celebrate the all-new blue 2.0 and Media Parents’ 5th birthday! We’d love you to join us on the roof terrace for drinks!  The party will be a great laugh, and a brilliant opportunity to network over a glass of wine with execs and freelancers across the board.

Blue 2.0's Commercial Director Nicola Whitehead will be there...

Blue 2.0 will kindly be providing complimentary drinks, and refreshments for earlybirds. If you are a production exec, PM, SP or anyone who books facilities and would like to take part in a the blue 2.0 Aperol Spritz tour at 5:30 please let us know – Nicola Whitehead and Mark Bos at Blue 2.0 are keen to show off their facilities! See more here http://blue2p0.com

Blue 2.0 work with the very best in the business, producing distinctive, creative, audience-pleasing Drama, Factual, Factual Entertainment, Documentaries and Short Form. Our dedicated team of producers, creative broadcast artists, sound designers and support staff have substantial industry experience and knowledge. Everyone on the team is motivated to deliver the highest standards of creative and technical excellence.

And don’t forget that applications are open for the Media Parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme 2015 until July 31st please let your contacts know. Details are on the blog at http://www.mediaparents.co.uk – we’d be grateful if you would pass it on.

More about the Blue 2.0 Team…

Nicola Whitehead, Commercial Director

I began my Post Production career in 1995 as a Runner at blue (now back to blue 2.0). Having worked my way up in the Post Production world as a Bookings Manager, Post Producer and then finally Head of Production I bring a huge wealth of experience and technical know-how to each project. I have overseen award-winning projects such as ‘The Nuremburg Trials – Goerings Last Stand’ (‘Best Specialist Factual’ BAFTA TV Awards) and other high profile productions including, ‘The Beckoning Silence’(International Emmy Winner) , ‘Stephen Hawking’s Universe’ ‘ Great British Bake Off’ (BAFTA Winning) and the multi award winning ‘Live from Space – a lap of the Earth’ for Arrow Media.  From Mary Berry’s soggy bottom to Dermot O’Leary Live in Space (almost) I’ve looked after it all.  I worked through the transition of 4:3 – 16:9, Tape to Tapeless, SD to HD and now HD – 4k and counting.  So I’ve seen a lot of changes, not Black and White to Colour though! I look forward to meeting with you, the Media Parents.”

Blue 2.0's Executive Director Mark Bos.

Mark Bos, Executive Director

Mark has worked in the TV/Film industry for over thirty years. He started in the cutting rooms in Soho. And has worked for Granada in Manchester, BBC, CH4, PBS USA. Mark was also on the launch team for TV3 London. Twelve years at ITV in production as Producer/Director ending up as a Series Producer and two years in front on the camera! Here’s the link (I am not proud) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeV_jwNxe9w Ten years at Fremantle Media in production as Production Executive and running the regional production office and in house post facility. Too many series to list them all but here’s a few Grand Designs, Property Ladder, How Clean is your house, Four Rooms, Escape to the Country. Mark joined Blue 2.0 in early May as Executive Director and is loving the challenge of building a new brand! We all look forward to meeting you over a drink.

The Media Parents Back to Work Scheme is accepting applicants until July 31st - for details see blog post and email events@mediaparents.co.uk Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

We’re delighted to announce that Media Parents is partnering with BBC Wales, Channel 4, ITV Studios, Sky, Wall to Wall, Endemol Shine UK, the CDN and GEITF to support parents getting back into TV via the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme for a third year running. The scheme has a 100% success rate in returning experienced TV professionals to the industry, and applications are now closed, see www.mediaparents.co.uk for details. Read on to see what Sky’s Celia Taylor and Channel 4′s Ralph Lee have to say about it… Applications for the scheme have now closed, thank you and congratulations to everyone who applied.

The 2014 Media Parents Back to Work Scheme Winners at Edinburgh TV Festival.

Media Parents (a social enterprise set up to promote flexible working and help working parents balance the demands of media and childcare) is running a mentoring and placement scheme to help parents and carers back in to the TV industry following a career break. Seven successful applicants will be awarded sponsored places at the Guardian Edinburgh International TV Festival (GEITF) and returned to the TV workplace via mentoring and networking.

Channel 4's Ralph Lee is a Media Parents mentor.

Channel 4’s Deputy Chief Creative Officer Ralph Lee, a mentor on the Media Parents Back to Work scheme, says “A lot of talented people in our industry face challenges managing the development of their careers and their roles as parents.  It’s great that Media Parents Back to Work Scheme helps people return resume their careers and supports them in achieving a work life balance in a demanding work environment.”

BBC Wales's Judith Winnan with a freelancer at a Media Parents event in Cardiff.

Judith Winnan Head of Factual for BBC Wales comments “BBC Wales has been working with Media Parents to strengthen our relations with the freelance community in Wales and it’s great to be part of a scheme that is specifically aimed at helping experienced professionals return to work.

Media Parents’ Director Amy Walker says “It’s fantastic to be running the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme again at a time when the importance of diversity in the workplace is being recognised, and when the BBC squeeze could see freelancers under greater strain to find work. This successful scheme will offer skilled parents the opportunity to bring their talents back to TV through networking and mentoring. Previous mentors have included Channel 4’s Ralph Lee, BBC Worldwide, Channel 5 and Discovery Channel commissioners – it’s a great network.”

Sky's Head of Non-Scripted Commissioning for Sky Entertainment, Celia Taylor.

Celia Taylor, Head of Non-Scripted Commissioning for Sky Entertainment backs the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme: “As a working Mum I fully appreciate the importance of this scheme and I am really happy to fully support it”.

Richard Thomson, Wall to Wall MD at a Media Parents networking event.

Richard Thomson MD, Wall to Wall, says “We have a number of returners at Wall to Wall and are delighted to be helping other experienced individuals back into the workplace. This is a great initiative.”

ITV's HR Director Sue Harrington

ITV Studios’ HR Director Sue Harrington commented “I’m delighted ITV Studios is able to support this years Media Parents Back to Work scheme.  We’re a family friendly employer and helping talent return after a career break is something we’re very supportive of’.

Bella Lambourne, HR and Operations Director at Endemol Shine UK notes “Endemol Shine UK is delighted to be able to be part of this scheme again after the previous success stories.  Enabling and encouraging talent to return and remain in production is as important as ever for the content industry.”

Endemol Shine's Bella Lambourne at a Media Parents event.

Amanda Ariss, Executive Director of the CDN, comments “The Creative Diversity Network is delighted to support Media Parents’ Back to Work programme which has a great track record in helping parents and carers reconnect with the industry and their peers, and at a time when diversity of talent, ideas and backgrounds has never been more vital to the industry’s creative way forward.”

The CDN's Amanda Ariss.

Successful candidates will be awarded a delegate pass, plus accommodation in Edinburgh, with bespoke mentoring sessions from the sponsors. To apply by MIDDAY AUGUST 5th please send an email to events@mediaparents.co.uk to request an application form, and scroll down this blog for further details. Download here  application form 310715 media parents GEITF Back to Work Scheme

The Media Parents Back to Work Scheme is accepting applicants until July 31st - for details see blog post and email events@mediaparents.co.uk Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

Not content with only partnering with Media Parents on the Back to Work Scheme, GEITF is also offering cheaper places : It’s the 40^th anniversary of the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival on 26-28 August and to mark the occasion, we’ve curated an event that promises to be one of most important, entertaining and star-studded yet.

From MacTaggart speaker – Oscar- and Emmy-nominated writer Armando Iannucci – to the “world’s most influential”/ “Britain’s most dangerous” woman Nicola Sturgeon, plus the man currently in the media spotlight, John Whittingdale MP, our programme reflects this most pivotal of moments in broadcasting history.

With 60-plus sessions, new commissioner speed meetings and channel controller drinks, make sure you’re part of the crowd of decision-makers and creative leaders by registering now at www.thetvfestival.com.

Key speakers include:
Ben Anderson,  Chris Bryant MP, Frankie Boyle, Kellie Bright, Nick Broomfield, Kay Burley, Julia Davis, Victoria Derbyshire, Stacey Dooley, Rick Edwards, James Harding, Adam Hills, Ross Kemp, Peter Kosminsky, Shane Meadows, Jimmy Mulville, Mark Lawson, John Logan, Richard Osman, Ron Perlman, James Purnell, Sarah Sands, Meera Syal, Katharine Viner
Plus: Channel controllers; US game-changers, YouTube talent; commissioning editors…

To qualify for the special Freelancer rate of £299 you will need to provide an invoice to a company for provision of your services. To find out further information on how to qualify for this discount and to book visit:

http://www.thetvfestival.com/festival/prices-offers/

Passes for freelancers are £299 (+VAT & booking fee) which is a £100 reduction on the 2014 rate.

http://www.thetvfestival.com/festival/festival-programme/

The Media Parents Back to Work Scheme is accepting applicants until July 31st - for details see blog post and email events@mediaparents.co.uk Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.

Media Parents Back to Work Scheme alumnus Series Producer Ali McBride writes about her latest productions. Ali was a winner on the 2013 Media Parents Edinburgh Back to Work Scheme, and the 2015 Scheme is now open for applications so please apply!

Series Producer Ali McBride relaunched her career via the Media Parents Back to Work Scheme http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/6744/ali-mcbride

It’s been a busy few months since I last checked in.  The good news is that the series I was working on, Call The Council, has finally made it to air.  And fear not – if you missed the first few episodes, it’s on BBC1 every morning at 11am until the 17^th of July and/or iPlayer too.

Seeing it finally make it on air has brought back many memories of what can only be described as a fab production.  It could be that I’m experience that feeling after childbirth, of course… i.e. as soon as it’s over, you forget the pain but I really don’t think so. Looking back, it was genuinely one of those productions that just worked. The reason? Simple – the team… we just clicked.  For those of you who have battled through a daytime series you know it ain’t for the faint hearted.  It’s fast, relentless and unforgiving. As soon as one deadline passes, the next is on its heels and looming large. That said, our team quickly got into our groove and, as with parenting, realised the only way to survive it was with a bloomin’ good schedule!

"It was genuinely one of those productions that just worked. The reason? Simple - the team… we just clicked."

At the helm of keeping us in line was our Production Manager and mum of a 4yr old who worked part-time (or should I say was so darn efficient that she managed the whole production in part-time hours!).  Most of the team locked in edits were parents too actually, often juggling viewings around football training and baby pickups. Now not everyone on the team came in every morning wiping snot off their shoulder but a lot of us did.  And those who didn’t, and remained snot-free, seemed able to stomach the odd witterings about surviving drop offs unscathed etc.

Our production survived toddler tantrums, teething and temperatures – and all done with lots of laughs and good humour.  There was also a quiet understanding that when one of us said ‘I’ve got to go now’ we were able to. No drama, no questions, no glancing at the clock.  Just an understanding and appreciation of what that meant. Sometimes the planets just do align on productions; the right people, the right content, the right attitudes – but whatever it was, I’d love to get that team back together for another run.

At the moment, I’m Series Producing a very different beast of a production. It’s the Current Affairs output for The One Show on BBC1.  This time, there aren’t as many other parents on the team but there really is only so much time a girl should spend talking about teething and temperatures so perhaps that’s not such a bad thing!

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/6744/ali-mcbride

The Media Parents Back to Work Scheme is accepting applicants until July 31st - for details see blog post and email events@mediaparents.co.uk Please join www.mediaparents.co.uk for great jobs, networking and events.