Media Parents

I recently took part in a networking workshop at the BBC, writes Amy Walker, chaired by Simon Smith from the BBC College of Production.  Joining me on the panel were Michelle Matherson, BBC Factual Talent Exec, and Caroline Meaby who runs the MGEITF Ones to Watch scheme.

Networking: Simon Smith, BBC College of Production; Newsnight Producer Brendan Miller & Caroline Meaby from MGEITF, Media Parents Director Amy Walker and BBC Factual Talent Exec Michelle Matherson.

Michelle talked about how to move on up in your TV career and how to get your CV noticed (liberally sprinkle your covering letter with programme ideas), and Caroline talked about the great networking opportunities at Edinburgh TV Festival  via the Ones to Watch scheme, so if you have between 3 and 5 years’ TV experience you can apply – this also includes people who have had time out to raise children.

Here come some tips for networking when you get to Edinburgh, or when you join us at one of the brilliant Media Parents networking events. Whenever I talk about networking people generally roll their eyes and tell me they are rubbish at it, but I think anyone who likes talking to and finding out about people can be a successful networker – and enjoy it - so please read on.

An arty shot of the latest Media Parents networking event. Please see www.mediaparents.co.uk for more details of our events, and jobs.

Nervous? Prepare in advance. Find out who’s going to the meeting, what they do or what programmes they’re making, and when you get there try to connect with people who are in your field.

Guest lists from Media Parents events are usually published on the watercooler at www.mediaparents.co.uk in advance of the meeting, so you can work out who you’d like to talk to.  At larger meetings where you don’t know people use Google images to work out who to make a beeline for – yes, it’s professional stalking but it works. If you know the delegate list or guestlist you can probably earmark someone to talk to.  Most people are delighted to be approached.

Why am I doing this? Think about your reasons for networking, it will help you focus and stick to your guns. Don’t expect to get a job immediately – you’re primarily making contacts at this stage. People network for different reasons - to gather and exchange information, and to make friends as well as get jobs. It’s unlikely that you will hear about work straightaway, but you might make a contact that eventually leads to work – so play the long game.

Media Parents drama TALENT Kathy Hughes talks to Angela Effanga at the Media Parents networking event in May.

Be yourself and put your best self forward. Think about how you’re presenting yourself – do you look like someone who can efficiently deliver a TV programme that looks good? Create the same impression of yourself that you’d want to put across at a relaxed job interview, so wearing similar clothing can help. Use social media, like the Media Parents website, to connect after the networking event. You can also take business cards to exchange.

Enjoy yourself. Don’t go overboard with the wine and get plastered, but do remember, networking is really just professional gossiping – it’s fun.

It’s a two-way conversation – LISTEN too. There is nothing worse than being talked at. Share what you know – about who’s hiring, or about where’s good to work – what goes around comes around.

Stage fright? Lyn Burgess from the Magic Key Partnership teaches this acronym to prompt conversation if you dry up:

Family

Occupation

Recreation

Motivation

There’s a link to Lyn’s networking session for Media Parents at the end of this blog.

Media Parents Talent, Editor Leo Carlyon whips out a business card complete with QR code to give to Phil Stein at Media Parents drinks.

Follow up. Take business cards with you. I recently saw an Editor hand over a business card with a QR code on the back, it made it very easy to reconnect. Use social networking to follow up afterwards – you can use the Media Parents network to reconnect too and as most people’s profiles have photos on them it’s easy to track people down if you’ve forgotten names.

Be more visible online. Think of social media as your professional megaphone – make sure your profiles are up to date, or direct people to one up-to-date source like your page on www.mediaparents.co.uk. Make sure you represent your professional self well - keep photos and public facing information on message!

Take your leave politely. If you’re stuck with someone, or get the feeling they’re stuck with you do say “It’s been lovely to talk to you. I think we should meet some other people too.” Everybody understands that.

And do thank the organisers of the event afterwards, it’s nice to be remembered for good manners.

Thanks to all of those who came along to the Media Parents networking event in May, book the babysitter for June 12th! More info soon at www.mediaparents.co.uk

More on the BBC College of Production here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/collegeofproduction/

Useful links on networking:

https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/01/media-parents-lifecoaching-session-how-to-network/

https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2010/12/how-to-network-effectively/

The next Media Parents event is on June 12th. See www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Calling filmmakers and animators
Submit your shorts to Encounters by 6 June for a chance to showcase your work at the UK’s leading short film and animation festival! 

See www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

 
Call for Entries 2012 – Deadline 6 June

As a dedicated short film festival, Encounters is one of the best-known showcases and networking events for emerging film talent, providing filmmakers and animators with an amazing platform for their work as well as the chance to rub shoulders with industry professionals in a dynamic, fun and informal setting. The festival’s international juries will discern a whole host of awards this year, including the UWE European New Talent Awards (animation and live action) only for graduating students or first time directors, with €1,000 prizes up for grabs. Not forgetting that we are also the leading UK gateway to the world’s most prestigious short film and animation awards, including the BAFTAs, Cartoon D’Or, European Film Awards, and Oscars®!

Short films completed from 1 Jan 2011 and under 30 mins in length from every genre are eligible for submission. The deadline for entries is 6 June, with an early cut-off this week for our Children’s Jury Award programme (25 May).

All submissions, whether or not they are selected for the Encounters programme, will be made available for festival delegates at the festival and online via our Digital Viewing Library.

Visit www.encounters-festival.org.uk to submit.

Come say hi and workshop your CV with Media Parents at the BECTU fair on June 29th. See www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Join Media Parents at BECTU Freelancers fair on Friday 29th June.  Get free CV advice from us and take part in the seminars on offer below.  Entry costs 10 pounds for non BECTU members.

Seminars:

Starting with one that I’ve taken part in on the BBC/TRC Media Series Producer Programme, so I know it’s good!  Media Parents Editor Leo Carlyon also went to this session at the FastTrain event this week and thought it was great:

14.30 – 15.30 Combining Words and Pictures … Scripting for Factual TV presented by Frank Ash, courtesy of the BBC Academy

This session is for anyone who wants to improve the quality of their commentary writing.  Principally aimed at those in factual, but relevant to all. Writing effective commentary is one of the most challenging aspects of programme-making. This session will offer participants an insight into the essential ingredients of writing to complement and enhance pictures and sync, including the type of language to use, and the importance of rhythm and finding the appropriate style for your film. As well as practical tools and tips, the session will look at a number of case studies from different factual TV genres.

10.00 – 11.15 Back to the Future: What lies ahead for British Film? We debate film policy and key recommendations from the Film Policy Review and the BFI’s Forward Plan. Our panel will include Maggie Ellis (head of production & talent development at Film London), Roy Button OBE (senior VP and managing director of Warner Bros Productions), celebrated film director, Ken Loach and Martin Spence (assistant general secretary, BECTU).

11.45 – 13.00 Budget Blues: Making shows on a shoestring Investment, or lack of it, governs the range and quality of what we see on our screens and impacts on the way we work. Join John McVay from PACT and Kate Townsend from Storyville.

14.00 – 15.15 Data Wrangling: How to master this key technical challenge Managing your digital workflow and backing up what you’ve filmed securely is one of the most fraught – and potentially fiddly – aspects of shooting tapelessly. This taster session will help answer your questions, and show you how to handle your digital footage simply, safely and reliably.

15.45– 17.00 Get Your Career on the Right Track with top tips from the expertsEveryone knows that competition for jobs in film and tv is fierce and never more so than in the current recession. How do you get that all-important first break? Join this session for top tips on how to make your talent shine through, from our panel of industry experts: Caroline Carter, BBC talent executive; Colin Campbell-Austin, people development manager, Channel 4; Alison Small, director of the Skillset Film Industry Craft and Skills Academy; Carys Morgan, Broadcast Hotshot and head of development at Minnow Films.  The session will be chaired by documentary film-maker, Marc Sigsworth.

60 Minute Talks

11.30 – 12.30 Accountancy Question Time, chaired by Steve Sykes, Blue Skies Partnership

Steve Sykes will provide a briefing on key accountancy issues for freelances and then the floor will be yours! PAYE, Schedule D, VAT registered or not, Limited Co or sole trader? Submit your questions for our guest panel in advance to selliott@bectu.org.uk or bring them along to the discussion.

13.00 –14.00 New entrants: is it possible to avoid exploitation?

New entrants are caught in a double bind: they need experience but there is a severe shortage of paid entry opportunities. The national minimum wage exists to protect the vulnerable from exploitation but sadly some employers in our industry are willing to break the law. Join us to find out about your rights, how you can enforce them and what you can do to get paid. Our speakers will include, Martin Spence, BECTU assistant general secretary, Michelle Wyer, assistant director, National Minimum Wage Compliance Unit and a representative from Intern Aware.

16.00 – 17.00 Cast, Direct, Produce: The Importance of Collaboration in the Making of Quality TV Drama

The success of Downton Abbey, Titanic, The Tudors and others suggests that a new era has dawned for British drama. Lyn Burgess, top personal and business coach to the entertainment industry, will chair a conversation on the ins and outs of television drama casting, directing and producing.  Join Lyn, producer Madonna Baptiste (Margaret Thatcher:The Long Walk To Finchley), director, Diarmuid Lawrence (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and Jill Trevellick (Merlin) to discuss the importance of team collaboration, creativity, and imaginative casting to ensure success in quality TV drama. The session will be followed by an opportunity to network. PLEASE NOTE: This particular session is aimed solely at casting directors, TV directors and producers.

Advance booking for all sessions is strongly advised. Please avoid booking sessions where the times conflict.

Freelance Toolkit Workshop

Two sessions of the Freelance Toolkit will be delivered by the much-lauded David Thomas of David Thomas Media. 16 places per session. Advance booking essential.

CV/Showreel Clinic

Courtesy of the Crewing Company (which is also exhibiting along with its sister company Alias Hire) visitors can book in advance for a 15 minute One to One to review their promo material. Advance booking essential; places are limited. Prepare to subject your promo material in advance to make the most of the opportunity.

Accountancy Corner

Visitors will also be able to meet with a team of tax experts for advice and information. Arrive early to book a one-to-one.

BECTU members free, non members use this address to book your place:

http://www.bectu.org.uk/events/2012/06/29/713

Come say hi and workshop your CV with Media Parents at the BECTU fair on June 29th. See www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Media Parents PD Evy Barry writes about her experience of pitching at the BBC’s FastTrain Event, a free training day for freelancers on May 16th. Plus top five pitching tips from the speakers at the event listed at the bottom of Evy’s post.

PD Evy Barry (right) is in the TALENT section of www.mediaparents.co.uk http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/385/evy-barry

Having registered for various sessions at the BBC FastTrain freelancer training event, which I read about via Media Parents, I was interested to see a call for ideas for the pitching session.

The pitching session was expected to be one of the most popular sessions and a good opportunity to get some face time with some of the top commissioning editors from ITV, Channel 4, BBC and Channel 5.

I sent in an idea called ‘Can You Raise It?’ which was about tapping into the burgeoning philanthropical efforts of members of the public who would team up with an inspired celebrity for a unique challenge that would capture the public’s imagination with incredible feats of endurance and bravery and oh I could go on – but I only got 2 minutes to get the idea across.  Any longer and I would be silenced by the klaxon.

Part of the brief was to choose who to pitch to.  I picked Jo Clinton Davis at ITV as I felt this was where I could most see the idea as a programme.  I got an email on Saturday morning saying I had made it through the short list.  This gave me until Wednesday to work the idea up.  I began to identify what I could say in two minutes – which is not as long as you would think.

See www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information. To join us please go to www.mediaparents.co.uk See you at our networking drinks on Thursday 17th May.

Huge thanks to Reuben Milne from Spark Creativity for running this informative and enjoyable session and to ENVY post production facility for hosting in their bar. Photos below, tips to follow shortly!

Reuben Milne of Spark Creativity addresses Media Parents in the session How to Market Yourself

See www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information. To contact anyone on the Media Parents blog please go the the NETWORK part of the Media Parents site. To join us please go to www.mediaparents.co.uk

Thanks to all those taking part in this latest Media Parents event. See www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information. to join us please go to www.mediaparents.co.uk

The Media Parents CV Tear-Up is a great opportunity for freelancers to discuss with employers what’s working and what could work better on their production CVs.  This time we’re also joined by Channel 4′s Glynn Ryland and Nina Bhagwat who can advise on CVs generally, and altering a CV to get work beyond production.  Here are biogs for some of the employers attending the event, CV tips from these employers will be posted here after the event, and more can be found here : https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/11/media-parents-cv-tear-up-in-brighton/  Many thanks to all those who are giving their time for this event, and to Prime Focus for hosting.

Glynn Ryland, Industry Talent Advisor, Channel 4

Glynn is an award winning media professional with a broad film and television career of 17 years.  Glynn has worked predominantly in international roles for Universal Studios Networks (Worldwide Creative Manager) and NBC (Creative Director) launching and branding TV channels globally as well as producing promotional campaigns for many UK broadcasters, including ITV, MTV and BBC.

Glynn created a media support scheme for disadvantaged young talent while working for the trade charity of the UK film and TV industry: The Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund. Glynn set up and ran the BBC’s volunteering scheme, placing BBC staff with charities on media-related projects, and now works as an Industry Talent Advisor for Channel 4, working with young people across the 4Talent portfolio.

Outside his media career Glynn is a property developer, film producer and a qualified NLP coach.

Naomi Carter, Head of Production, Mentorn Media

Naomi is Head of Production, Factual Entertainment and oversees projects from early budgeting stage through to delivery.

Naomi started her career as a production manager and worked extensively across the industry on a variety of genres including early reality series Survivor, before becoming a Head of Production for Planet 24 looking after The Big Breakfast.

Naomi was also a long serving Production Executive for Endemol UK where she was involved in the production of reality series such as The Salon, Celebrity Safari School and Big Brother before coming to work for Mentorn in 2009.

Steve Wynne, Joint MD, Rival Media

Steve Wynne is an award winning executive producer with over 15 years of production experience in television, radio and emerging technologies.

Steve’s career in the media started at the age of 15, when he became a presenter for his local ILR station in Wrexham, UK. His move from radio to television came in 1994 when he joined Orbit in Italy, where he produced over 200 hours of original music, kids and entertainment programming.

On return to the UK, Steve worked at Channel 5 and Buena Vista Television. In 1999 he became a producer of the phenomenally successful series  SMTVand CD:UK, hosted by Ant & Dec and Cat Deeley. That year, the show won a RTS Award & two BAFTAs, setting a new standard for Saturday morning television.

In 2000 Steve was appointed Executive Producer at The Disney Channel.  During his time at Disney, Steve produced the BAFTA Award winning show,The Disney Channel Kids Awards 2000 and the BAFTA Award winning seriesStar Ticket Active in 2003. In 2004 he was executive producer of another BAFTA nominated show, Madabout. He also notched up three further New York Festival Finalist Awards and was named a Broadcast ‘Hot Shot’.

In 2005, Steve joined Warner Brothers International Television as Director of Production. Whilst at Warner Brothers, he was responsible for the development, production and supervision of all Warner television formats created outside the US. He rolled out ABC’s The Bachelor internationally and was at the forefront of WB’s move into scripted formats such as Perfect Stranger’s, Suddenly Susan and Full House.  He is now joint MD of Rival Media.

Nina Bhagwat, Training Manager, Think Bigger

Nina is an experienced Talent and Training Manager, with over ten
years’ experience in TV production. She is currently Training Manager
for thinkBIGGER!, working across Channel 4’s Production Trainee Scheme
and other career development initiatives.

With a background in
factual, she has experience of working across a broad range of
programmes and genres, from serious social documentary to
factual-entertainment.  Since leaving production, Nina has worked as a Training / Talent Manager.

Helen Matthews, HR Consultant & Trainer

Helen Matthews is an accredited coach in career and management coaching, working independently as an HR Consultant and Trainer.

Helen was HR Director at Tiger Aspect from 2007 – 11, with overall responsibility for Tiger Aspect HR.  She had previously worked at the BBC in various HR roles, leading the HR recruitment and freelance contracting teams across London programme making departments, including Drama, Entertainment, Children’s, Radio & Music, Television and Sport.

Prior to the BBC, Helen had worked at various independent companies and broadcasters, including Planet 24, ITN and deckchair.com in early 2000.

Sara Hill, Commercial Director of UK Broadcast, Prime Focus

Based at the Broadcast facility in London, Sara is responsible for bringing business into the company. Sara is an expert in the area of post production for longform television programmes and has a loyal and ever expanding network of clients built up over 18 years in the industry. As part of the senior management team, she works with her colleagues to ensure that the Prime Focus Broadcast division’s finishing solutions remain of the highest creative and technical quality. She also advises on sales and commercial strategy for the UK businesses and globally with the Prime Focus international facilities.

Amy Walker, Site Director, Media Parents

Amy Walker is an award-winning factual producer / director, series producer and development exec who runs Media Parents and continues to work in production.

Amy has developed, written and produced programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and the major non-terrestrial channels for nearly 15 years. Her production career began at Channel 4 on Right to Reply, and since then Amy has worked across a variety of TV genres in five continents.

In 2010 Amy set up www.mediaparents.co.uk and believes that flexible working is the future of television.

Media Parents would like to thank Prime Focus for generously hosting the Media Parents CV Tear-Up.

Execs and Talent Managers from the Endemol group met talent from www.mediaparents.co.uk in October.  Here are some photos from the event, thank you to everyone who took part, all those from Endemol who gave their time and helped to organise the event, and to Hannah Smiles for taking these photographs.

Tim Hincks, Chief Executive Officer of Endemol UK addressed the floor at the Endemol meets Media Parents event. Bella Lambourne, Global Head of HR for Endemol (left) and Media Parents Director Amy Walker (right) look on.

50 members of the Media Parents TALENT section attended the event.

Sue King, Head of Production for Remarkable Television is in the NETWORK section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

Nick Metcalfe, Executive Producer at Darlow Smithson Productions holds a speednetworking appointment at Endemol Meets Media Parents

Tiger Aspect's Head of Factual and Features Jo McGrath at the Media Parents event

Initial's Head of Production, Sandra Smith

PD Zoe Fryer is in the Media Parents TALENT section

Ulla Streib, Head of Operations at Darlow Smithson Productions

Colette Foster, MD Remarkable Television met freelancers through www.mediaparents.co.uk

Initial's Head of Development, Cat Lynch

Tiger Aspect's HR Manager Maria Keaveney martialled the troops with Endemol's Nyree Clarke

Chloe Samwell-Smith, Endemol's Production Talent Manager is in the NETWORK section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

more photos to follow.

Hannah Smiles is a London-based freelance photographer who recently shot the Endemol Meets Media Parents event.  Hannah is an events photographer covering conferences and parties in and around London, and specialises in men’s fashion and portraiture. Hannah can be found in the NETWORK section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

Hannah Smiles photography for Vivienne Westwood. To contact Hannah please use the NETWORK section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

Self-taught, Hannah has been taking photographs for five years and has worked for a variety of clients, including, Jaguar Magazine, Redwood Publishing, Royal Mail, InLondon magazine, Pepsico and De Beers.

Hannah Smiles photography for Rankin

Hannah Smiles : The Horrors

Daisy Dares You by Hannah Smiles

Mr Hudson by Hannah Smiles

Endemol Director of HR Bella Lambourne at the Endemol Meets Media Parents event. Photographed by Hannah Smiles.

www.hannahsmiles.co.uk

www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information. to join us please go to www.mediaparents.co.uk

Tim Hincks, Endemol's Chief Creative Officer will be at the Endemol Meets Media Parents event on October 11th

On Tuesday 11th October, Endemol, Darlow Smithson, Remarkable, Initial etc will open their doors to Media Parents talent.  Here are some of the Execs and Talent Managers from Endemol who will be attending:

Tim Hincks: Chief Executive Officer

Tim Hincks is Chief Executive officer of Endemol UK. Endemol UK is one of the largest independent production companies in Britain and annually produces over 2,000 hours of output. It incorporates a number of production brands including – Remarkable Television, Intial and Zeppotron.Credits include BBC One’s new hit series Total Wipeout, popular factual entertainment series Supersize vs Superskinny (Channel 4); Gok’s Fashion Fix (Channel 4); Coleen’s Real Women (ITV2); and The Sex Education Show (Channel 4) horror series Dead Set (E4, Channel 4); hit game shows Deal Or No Deal (Channel 4); Golden Balls (ITV1) and 1 vs100 (BBC One); reality blockbuster Big Brother (Channel 4; E4); and comedy series  8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4); Would I Lie to You? (BBC One); and Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe (BBC Four; BBC Two)

Tim began his television career in 1990 when he divided his time between producing BBC Two’s Food and Drink programme for Bazal (now a part of Remarkable Television) and working on current affairs programmes such as Newsnight and BBC Westminster.Tim became Creative Director of Endemol UK in 2002 and stepped up to become Chief Creative Officer in January 2005. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in January 2008.Tim sits on the Endemol International board; He is also the Executive Chair of Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival.

Bella Lambourne is Global Head of Human Resources at Endemol, and can be found in the NETWORK section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

Bella Lambourne: Global Head of Human Resources

Bella Lambourne originally joined Endemol UK in 1993 and took responsibility as group Head of Human Resources in 1997. Bella was promoted to Human Resources Director for Endemol UK in 2002 and working with the Director of Operations also oversees the administrative functions of the group.In addition to her UK role, Bella was promoted to Global Head of Human Resources at Endemol Group in March 2011.Bella is a member of PACT Council, chair of the PACT Diversity Committee and she also sits on the Industrial Relations Committee.

Colette Foster, MD, Remarkable

Colette Foster joined Endemol UK in 2007 to executive produce Channel 4’s hit factual entertainment series Supersize vs Superskinny (Channel 4).  She went on to oversee production on the company’s immensely popular run of features series including Gok’s Fashion Fix (Channel 4);  The Sex Education Show (Channel 4) and Extreme Male Beauty (Channel 4).As Joint Managing Director of Remarkable Television, Colette continues to executive produce series as well as developing and overseeing many other factual programmes.

Prior to joining Endemol UK, Colette was behind some of the UK’s most popular and groundbreaking feature programmes including 10 Years Younger, Embarrassing Illnesses and How to Look Good Naked.

Colette started her career at BBC Birmingham, working on flagship programmes for BBC One and BBC Two including The Clothes Show, Tracks, (which launched the career of Ray Mears), The Chelsea Flower Show and Gardener’s World.

Julian Ware is the joint Creative Director for DSP working closely with top broadcasting commissioners in the UK, US and around the world. Credits include The Falling Man, Rome Wasn’t Built in Day, The Beckoning Silence; Blitz: London’s Firestorm.

Julian joined DSP in 2004 as Head of Special Projects and was appointed as Creative Director in 2011. Previously he was Director of Programmes at ITN Factual.

Ben Bowie, Joint Creative Director at Darlow Smithson productions will be meeting Media Parents talent on Tuesday

Ben Bowie, Joint Creative Director, Darlow Smithson Productions

Ben Bowie is the joint Creative Director for DSP working closely with top broadcasting commissioners in the UK, US and around the world. Credits include Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking; Seconds From Disaster; I Shouldn’t Be Alive.

Ben joined DSP in 2001 as a producer becoming Executive Producer in 2005. He was appointed as Creative Director in 2011.

Ulla Streib, Director of Operations at Darlow Smithson Productions will be meeting Media Parents talent on October 11th

ulla streib, director of operations, darlow smithson productions

Ulla Streib manages DSP’s output. Her expertise is in achieving maximum onscreen value and efficient delivery. Ulla joined DSP in 1997 as part of the production team. She became Head of Production in 1998 and Head of Operations in 2002 and was made Director of Operations in 2011. Prior to DSP, Ulla was Staff Production Manager in charge of TV Production at Uden Associates.

Jo McGrath is Head of Factual and Features at Tiger Aspect

Jo McGrath, Head of Factual and Features, Tiger Aspect

Prior to her move to Tiger Aspect, McGrath was Head of Daytime and Features at Channel 4, where she was responsible for commissioning a number of enduring Channel 4 classic brands including, A Place In The Sun and 10 Years Younger. Since her arrival at Tiger Aspect in 2004 McGrath has created a number of hit formats including, three series of Diet Doctors for FIVE (accompanied by two books) and the popular Cook Yourself Thin for Channel 4 which also became a best selling book and one of the Channel’s most successful on-line brands. A second Cook Yourself Thin book was published in January 2009. The Cook Yourself Thin format has also recently been acquired by Lifetime in the US and 20 episodes are currently in production with a TX scheduled for spring 2009.

McGrath’s remit is to focus on winning returning formatted series with domestic and international appeal.

Chloe Samwell-Smith is the Production Talent Manager at Endemol. She is in the Media Parents NETWORK and will be meeting Media Parents talent on Tuesday.

Nyree Clarke is the HR Manager for Endemol UK, Tigress and Darlow Smithson. Nyree is in the NETWORK section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

Also joining us on Tuesday are Nick Mather, Head of Entertainment for Endemol, Nick Metcalfe, Executive Producer from Darlow Smithson, Jo Kay, Production Exec for Comedy, Kitty Walshe, Series Producer for Fact Ent and Features at Endemol, Maria Keaveney, Tiger Aspect’s HR Manager, Nicky Hughes, Head of Research and Development for Endemol, Cat Lynch and PM Sarah Holt, from Endemol Development, Tom Blakeson, LE and Entertainment, JohnPaul Chapple, Consultant Producer at Endemol, Catherine Welton, Executive Producer for Specialist Factual at Endemol, and Annette Clarke, Executive Producer, Remarkable.