Media Parents

New mum Christina Wilby talks about juggling her job in TV and her relationship, how her husband re-trained in order to support her career choice, and bridging the North South divide to keep working.

I’ve been working in television for the last seven years and love it. I knew it was for me well back when I was at school, and after I studied at Manchester University I got my first work placement in Religion and Ethics at the BBC in Manchester. It was a great starting point. I was still studying for my Post Graduate Degree while working full time as a runner and they were very accommodating when I had to take time off for my final exams.

Christina Wilby and Ollie. "Early on I had to learn to juggle my career and my relationship with Ollie who I met when I was 17 years old."

Early on I had to learn to juggle my career and my relationship with Ollie who I met when I was 17 years old. Ollie doesn’t work in TV so at first I think it was hard for him as he was alone at home a lot of the time as I often did not know when I would be home. But he has been so supportive and when I decided to go freelance and had to take a number of jobs in London he supported me 100%.

I worked in News and Current, then moved to ITV as a Senior Researcher on The Jeremy Kyle Show. It was this show that really taught me about the dedication needed to work in TV as the hours are long and you have to produce a show every week no matter what.

For the last four years I have predominately worked in London. Mentorn Media  gave me my first job as a researcher after leaving The Jeremy Kyle show, developing the BBC3 series Underage and Pregnant. I have worked for Mentorn a lot and they are a great production company.  I have managed to be able to continue to work in factual documentaries and factual entertainment which is where my passion lies and I finally got to the point where I was able to choose between different jobs that came up.

After four years working in TV, Ollie and I got engaged and decided to move to Canada for a year as we love travelling and wanted to visit my family who live out there. We thought if we don’t do it now we’ll never do it. So we moved to Vancouver where I worked at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and on a 48 hour Horror film which was brilliant. When we arrived back in the UK we were planning our wedding which took place at Kichaka Lodge, a Private Game Reserve in South Africa. Ollie and I love wildlife and Southern Africa and knew this was the place for us to celebrate our big day. I started work on Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands in Newcastle as Story AP which was brilliant but full on as I was away from home and planning a wedding abroad. We got married in October 2010 which was such a special day but straight away after we returned home I was back to London to help in the edit for Junior Doctors.

I love being a mum but love working in television. I had always said to myself I wanted to achieve my goal of being a Producer by the time I was 30 and before I had children. I have been able to achieve this goal and hope to set myself a new one once I get back to work.

I was lucky and worked as Casting Producer on One Born Every Minute, Series Four, in Leeds when Mako was 6 months old, helping out with some last-minute casting. It was hard leaving Mako for the first time but it was nice to get back out there again. I haven’t worked since then although I have been offered various projects in London but decided it was too soon to leave Mako. I decided to join Media Parents as I saw the flexible working event in Manchester which I thought was a great idea.  I attended the event and it was great to see some familiar faces, meet some new people and learn more about some of the current projects happening at the BBC and Indies in Manchester. Through Media Parents I also found out about the Fast Track North event at BBC Salford which I am attending on November 20th.

Mako is nearly 9 months old now and I am looking to get back to work, so I hope I am able to balance being a mother and working in TV – only time will tell.  I am looking for PD work ideally, but AP work if needed in Factual or Factual Entertainment. I have lots of experience in casting and development. I can self shoot but haven’t shot that much for broadcast recently.  I love working in TV because you learn and take away something new from every project you work on and I don’t want to do anything else. I am sure I will end up back in London again but hope I am able to work up North more often than not.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/1277/christina-wilby

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

On November 13th, Sinead Rocks, Creative Director of BBC Learning, will open the Media Parents MediaCity event hosted by BBC North.

Sinéad Rocks has worked as a journalist at the BBC since 1996 and was previously responsible for all of BBC North’s network current affairs content. As Creative Director she heads Learning’s in-house production team, taking the creative lead on all learning projects online, on television, radio, and face to face. Sinead started her career working in News and Current Affairs in Northern Ireland and was editor of Newsround for a number of years.

Sinead Rocks, Creative Director of BBC Learning will speak at the Media Parents MediaCity UK event this Tuesday. If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Sinead, along with other BBC employees working with Talent, is hosting a networking evening with Media Parents for freelancers and independent companies from across the North at Salford’s MediaCity UK.  This groundbreaking event which will embrace production across Manchester and the North has been co-ordinated by Media Parents, a jobs website and organisation which aims to pull all the short term, regular hours, job share and part time jobs in media into one place, to help freelance working parents, or anyone who wants to work flexibly to balance the demands of life and TV production.  Some of the other companies represented are Shine, ITV North, Title Role, Blakeway North, True North Productions and Nine Lives Media.

The evening will include a brief discussion on flexible working in TV production, followed by an opportunity to network with local TV production freelancers, broadcasters and Indies. The evening of networking and discussion on how TV can work more flexibly will begin at 6:30pm and is strictly by guestlist only.

Media Parents Director Amy Walker said “Media Parents currently helps experienced freelancers to find flexible and standard contracts in London, Brighton, Bristol, Scotland, Wales and elsewhere nationwide, so it is great to be working with companies in the North at this exciting time for Salford and MediaCity UK.  I am hoping that we will be able to forge some great flexible working relationships and open minds to the possibilities of working flexibly in production”.

On November 13th BBC North is hosting a networking evening with Media Parents for freelancers and independent companies from across the North at Salford’s MediaCity UK.  This groundbreaking event which will embrace production across Manchester and the North has been co-ordinated by Media Parents, a jobs website and organisation which aims to pull all the short term, regular hours, job share and part time jobs in media into one place, to help freelance working parents, or anyone who wants to work flexibly to balance the demands of life and TV production.

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Media Parents will be hosting with BBC North, and will be joined by Talent Execs, Managers and MDs from the BBC, Shine, ITV North, Title Role, Blakeway North, True North Productions and Nine Lives Media amongst other indies. The evening will include a brief discussion on flexible working in TV production, followed by an opportunity to network with local TV production freelancers, broadcasters and Indies.The evening of networking and discussion on how TV can work more flexibly will begin at 6:30pm and is strictly by guestlist only. Here’s who will be joining us from companies in the North:

Daniell Morrisey, BBC Talent Executive, BBC Children's. BBC Children's is a company which employs through www.mediaparents.co.uk

Daniell Morrisey is a BBC talent executive with BBC Children’s, career writer and coach, previously HR & Development Manager for BBC Comedy and Entertainment and headed up recruitment for BBC News. His experience in the commercial sector included recruiting journalists and editorial staff for the print, multimedia and broadcast industries and he has worked as a journalist and magazine editor himself. Also joining us from the BBC are Victoria Roye, Talent Executive for Entertainment North. Victoria Roye has been the Talent Executive for BBC Entertainment Production North for 3 years. Responsible for the staffing of productions like Junior Doctors, The Planners, Racing Legends, Dragons’ Den and A Question of Sport to name a few. Previous to that she worked with Channel 4 implementing and delivering a Series Producer course for their upcoming freelance PDS.  Her background is in entertainment production, making shows like Honey We’re Killing the Kids, Dragons’ Den and Mastermind. Paula Stringer, Production Executive for News & CA. Paula Stringer has a background in factual, entertainment and news production (both inside and outside the BBC) and is currently Production Executive for News Group North based in Salford.  She spans all News Programming including Radio Current Affairs (File on 4, 5Live Investigates, the Report and Profile), TV Current Affairs (Rip Off Britain, The One Show, James Martin’s Operation Hospital Food and BBC3 docs), 5Live (all programming now comes from Salford inc Nicky Campbell and Rachel Burdens breakfast show, Victoria Derbyshire, Shelagh Fogarty, Richard Bacon etc.), BBC Breakfast (3 hours of live News programming every day) and Regional and Local Programming (North West Tonight, Inside Out, Online, Sunday Politics and Sport on Sunday).  Her role is wide ranging and she works closely with Head of News North and editors/execs from each department on the strategic direction of News in Salford and offers the operational plan of action to achieve the specific goals set and manages the Production Management teams across News Group North.  A key part of her role is involvement in recruiting, retaining and developing the best journalists and production management talent in the North for News and also ensure effective succession planning takes place. We will also be joined by Aesha Zafar, Resourcing & Talent Business Development Partner, BBC North.

Jackie Barnett, Talent Exec, Religion & Ethics.

Jackie Barnett, Talent Executive, BBC Religion & Ethics. I am a Talent Executive for BBC Religion & Ethics looking after Editorial staff for both TV and Radio programmes. I’m keen to meet those across all job categories with relevant knowledge and experience and an interest in working across BBC Religion & Ethics programming.  Victoria Goodwin, Talent Executive, BBC Learning Current Role: Leads on staffing & recruitment for BBC Learning teams, based in Salford, London and Bristol; ensuring that we attract, manage and develop the very best staff base possible; reflecting diversity & creative excellence, which helps us deliver our strategic objectives.

Victoria Goodwin, BBC Learning, Talent Executive.

19 years’ experience of working in the Broadcasting Industry.  I began my career after a work placement on Good Morning with Anne & Nick at BBC Pebble Mill.  From there I went to a small independent production Company specialising in the production of Corporate training & promo videos.  I moved from there to ITV for 5 years, where I was trained as studio gallery Production Assistant in News programming. This was followed by a short foray into the Cable Network, where I worked on the start-up and operational growth of local Sports programming studios for NTL across the UK, which subsequently became Virgin Media. I returned to work for the BBC 10 years ago and joined the Children’s department in London. I have predominantly worked in Production Management roles throughout my career, from Production Secretary to Production Executive. I have worked for a variety of Companies and genres in the industry, from Daytime programming ,to Corporate, News, Sport, Children’s, Multiplatform, News & Currents Affairs and now BBC Learning.  

Luke Frost, Talent Manager, BBC Children's.

Luke Frost is a Talent Manager for BBC Children’s, responsible for the development, recruitment and scheduling of staff across CBBC.  His main areas of responsibility are CBBC & CBeebies Presentation, CBBC Development and CBBC non-drama covering all factual and entertainment productions.

Melissa Mitchell.

Melissa Mitchell is a Talent Manager for BBC Children’s, responsible for the development, recruitment and scheduling of staff across CBBC tv and interactive output and genres including news, factual, entertainment and drama – main areas of responsibility are Blue Peter, Newsround, CBBC Interactive, CBBC Drama including WolfBlood and 4 O’Clock Club, as well as many diversity initiatives across BBC Children’s and BBC North.

Sarah Murch, MD, Blakeway North.

Sarah Murch - Blakeway North Managing Director Sarah Murch, award winning Executive Producer joined Blakeway from Granada Television. Since her arrival at Blakeway, Murch has started developing factual programming in Manchester to complement Blakeway’s London slate of Current Affairs and Documentary Commissions – and is responsible for a range of factual commissions for an assortment of broadcasters. Maire Tracey – Blakeway North Producer I worked at Granada for 10 years as a producer / director. I produced and directed a wide range of factual programmes ranging from Science and history documentaries for Nat Geo and Discovery (Time Machine, Battlefield Detectives, The First Americans)  to Factual Entertainment and archive shows (Farewell Mike, 40 Years of University Challenge) for ITV and BBC.   I have filmed around the world extensively in the US and China and throughout the world using local and international crews.  My factual entertainment documentary “40 Years of University Challenge” won an RTS North West award.

Tracy Walker, Talent Executive for Factual and Entertainment, ITV North, will be joining us.

   Amy Buscombe joined LA Productions as Head of Development in September 2009.  She has since worked on twenty episodes of the acclaimed Jimmy McGovern-created MOVING ON for BBC One Daytime, with series four currently in post-production for tx in 2013.  Amy developed and script edited JUSTICE (BBC One Daytime 2011), SECRETS AND WORDS (BBC Learning / BBC One 2012), and STEPPING UP, the company’s first children’s drama series, which aired on CBBC and BBC ONE in 2012.

Amy Buscombe, Head of Development for LA Productions will be networking with Media Parents on Nov 13th.

Amy is currently working on COMMON, the new BBC One single drama from Jimmy McGovern, which has been greenlit for production in 2013.  Among other projects in development are new dramas from Alice Nutter, John Fay, Marks and Gran, Shaun Duggan, Nick Leather and Esther Wilson. Previously Amy has worked as a freelance script editor, New Writing Co-ordinator at BBC writersroom, Broadcast Assistant at BBC Radio Drama and Business Rights Executive for BBC Television Drama and Children’s Programmes.

Amee Fairbank, MD of Lizardfish TV.

Amee Fairbank, MD, Lizardfish TV Amee Fairbank graduated from the University of Teesside in 2006 with a BA (Hons) Media. Her experience in production lead to her researching and making over thirty programmes for Lizardfish for channels such as the BBC, Teachers TV and corporate companies, with two of the programmes being nominated for RTS and BAFTA Awards. She has directed programmes for Teachers TV.

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Amy Walker, Media Parents Director and founder continues to work as a factual Series Producer in addition to championing flexible working and Media Parents. Currently working for Mentorn Media on the World’s Scariest series for Channel 5 which regularly gets more than 2million viewers for the channel, Amy has worked in TV production for more than ten years, in five continents, gaining an RTS award along the way. She has worked for all the major broadcasters, with many indies large and small, and has had her own ideas commissioned. Her passion is to keep experienced talent in TV, and she believes that production can work more flexibly in order to do this.

Claire Brown works as Companies Liaison for Media Parents. Claire works flexibly from home on the Media Parents website, as well as bringing up her three children.  Claire previously worked as a Business Development Manager for BBC Broadcast, and as a business consultant for FOX International Channels, Nat Geo and the BBC before leaving to start her family. Please scroll further down this blog to see a photo of Amy and Claire.

Cat Lewis of Nine Lives Media will be networking with Media Parents in Salford.

Cat Lewis is the CEO, Joint Creative Director and Executive Producer for Nine Lives Media an Independent Production Company based in Manchester. Cat has worked continually since 2002 as an Executive Producer, specialising in factual programming and winning many awards. She has come up with the ideas for and overseen the production of hundreds of hours of factual programmes for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Channel 5, AETN, Discovery and Sky. Cat also makes programmes directly for American channels. She set up her own production company – Nine Lives Media on 3rd September 2007. Nine Lives has built a reputation for producing programmes which are highly acclaimed, have great production values and usually rate exceptionally well. Before becoming an Executive Producer, Cat enjoyed a successful career as an award winning Producer/Director, Series Producer and on screen News Reporter for the BBC and Granada. Cat is the founder and chair of the Indie Club, which she’s run since September 2006 to support television production in the north – www.indieclub.tv. She is on the PACT Council as the representative of independent production companies based in the English Regions – www.pact.co.uk . Cat is also on the committee of the Royal Television Society North West.

Liz Bayliffe, Production Executive, Shine North will be joining us at MediaCity UK on November 13th.

 Helen Tonge Title Role, Managing Director & Executive Producer.

 

After 6 years with the broadcaster she left to set up Title Role Productions, but her affiliation with the channel continued.  She was asked to produce and direct Ghosthunting with Girls Aloud for the channel, a format she established that has been highly successful.  She also edit produced for the Saturday night entertainment show, Soapstar Superstar. Now as the co-owner and Managing Director of Title Role Productions, Helen continues to produce and Executive produce a wide range of quality programming for UK and International broadcasters. In the last few years she has created 2 high rating returning series, ‘Crimes That Shook Britain’ and ‘Britain’s Biggest Heists’ for Sky, both of which were nominated for RTS awards.  She has also created a number of factual entertainment series for ITV and stand alone documentaries for History and Discovery. Helen is a member of the RTS Committee.

Ian Bradshaw, Technical Director & Director of Photography.

Ian Bradshaw of Title Role.

Royal Television Society Winning Cameraman Ian has had a successful career at ITV for 10 years.  He has also worked on news, factual and entertainment programmes for C4, MTV and Sky.  He left Granada Television in 2005 to set up Title Role with Helen Tonge. Ian now has many TV credits to his name and is a highly recognized Cameraman and Director of Photography within the industry. Since becoming Technical Director for Title Role Ian has helped produce programming for ITV and the History Channel and gaining countless award nominations for the company. Amongst Ian’s credits are Crimes That Shook Britain & Britain’s Biggest Heists. Carol McKenzie: Head of Production and Facilities, True North Carol joined True North in April 2009 after 25 years in YTV, Granada and ITV, where she worked across a wide variety of drama, entertainment, children’s and sport, but spent the last decade as Head of Production for Factual programmes in the North. Programmes supervised include Billy Connolly’s Journey to the Edge of the World, Tonight with Trevor McDonald, numerous 100 Greatest for C4, Challenge Anneka and Naked Science. Carol will be joined by Samantha Stamp, Production Manager, True North. We look forward to being joined by a host of talented freelancers, and more respresentatives from other indies in the region.  The guestlist for this event has now closed, do join us at future events soon. Please note that you must have 3 years’ production experience to join Media Parents.

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Helen Tonge of Title Role Productions.

Helen Tonge began her television career working on a series for FIVE with Endemol.  She then worked her way up the ranks at Granada Television, researching, then producing and directing factual and entertainment programmes for ITV.  She was part of the team that produced the RTS award winning series, Crimefighters.

Media Parents is working with the BBC who are kindly hosting an evening of networking and discussion on how TV can work more flexibly, at Salford’s MediaCity on November 13th.

Media Parents will be hosting with BBC Manchester, and will be joined by Talent Execs, Managers and MDs from the BBC, ITV North, Title Role, Blakeway North, True North Productions and Nine Lives amongst other indies. The evening will include a brief discussion on flexible working in TV production, followed by an opportunity to network with local TV production freelancers, broadcasters and Indies.

Who’s coming so far? From the BBC – Daniell Morrisey, Victoria Roye, Paula Stringer, Jackie Barnett, Luke Frost, Victoria Goodwin, Helen Tonge from Title Role, Carol McKenzie from True North, Maire Tracey from Blakeway North,
Cat Lewis from Nine Lives and Katharine Oates from ITV North amongst others.

A quick reminder of the details:
Can TV Work More Flexibly in Manchester? will take place on Tuesday November 13th at 6:30pm at BBC MediaCity UK in Salford.

If you would like to join us at this FREE event we are sorry to say that applications have now closed, all successful applicants will be contacted on Monday 12th November with final details of the event. Priority will be given to Media Parents subscribers to attend this event, and please note that you need 3+ years TV experience to be a member of www.mediaparents.co.uk

Hope to see you there!

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

On Tuesday 13th November Media Parents’ Claire Brown will be at BVE North.  Claire will be offering CV tips and advice on returning to work – FREE! Why not come along to meet us at this free event.  Here are more details of how to apply for a FREE pass. http://www.bvenorth.co.uk/

Claire Woodward, right, at the Media Parents Summer Party.

Following the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural event, BVE North 2012 returns to Manchester Central on 13-14 November 2012 with even bigger plans to inspire and educate broadcast and media professionals in the Northern regions.

With the continuing growth and development of MediaCityUK as the major hub for the region, opportunities for business have never been better and the run-up to BVE North is reflecting this optimism.

The show organisers are also pulling out all the stops to provide the expected 3000 visitors with more topical, informed and valuable free seminars, presented by the UK’s leading broadcasters, content creators and technicians. Visitors will be able to get the inside track on media industry trends, pick up insights into future broadcast technology and how this affects workflow, and learn key production and post-production skills from the practitioners at the top of their game. All seminars are free to attend and seats are allocated on a first-come, first served basis.

The Broadcast Theatre covers IT, Audio and Post Production issues, examining the latest infrastructure and tools for delivering broadcast quality images and audio in the new digital landscape. Visitors will gain valuable insights into the new tapeless workflows and how digital content is being delivered, how the lines are being blurred between production and post, and the new skillsets required by post professionals to integrate IT into everyday workflows.

Speakers include Tim Sargeant, Head of Technology, BBC North, examining how major broadcasters are developing their workflow and infrastructure around the challenges of managing data, moving assets around and working at scale;

Mike Thornton, Audio Meister, hosting an essential workshop session on handling audio post production for self-shot film, identifying the necessary tools and providing key tips and tricks for getting better results, faster; and Andy Wild, Technical Director, CauseandFX, discussing the crucial issues of managing meta data, from where it fits in the workflow to the benefits it brings for commercialising assets.

In addition this theatre will host sessions on the technical and commercial considerations of remastering projects, the issues surrounding the preparation of audio broadcasts, and the evolution and continuing challenges of best practice digital workflows and delivery.

For those interested in Production issues, the Production Theatre offers content creators a plethora of strategic and practical sessions, with experienced professionals from the commissioning world through to on-set and post-production professionals sharing their experiences and advice on how to create compelling, beautifully shot and highly marketable content.

Speakers include Louise Brown, Multiplatform Commissioning Lead, Channel 4, examining the implications for broadcasters of multi-screen viewing, Connected and Smart TVs and what content creators need to take into account when creating content for future audiences; Nicola Shindler, Chief Executive, Red Production Company, presenting a fascinating insight into what production companies look for in a script and how to develop your story while taking production considerations into account; Claire Brown, Media Parents, discussing CVs and Lynne McCadden, Head of Development, CREATIVE ENGLAND, Hugo Heppell, Head of Production, Screen Yorkshire, and Nicola Lees, TV Mole and WFTV share their considerable expertise on how to get the green light for projects, identifying new sources of funding and examining successful and innovative financing models;

In addition there will be sessions on LED lighting techniques, recreating a filmic look with digital content, and new creative opportunities offered by the latest digital cinema technology.

The IOV Theatre combines valuable practical advice with expert insights into current industry issues.

Speakers in the IOV Theatre include Richard Laurence, MD, Innsight Television, examining the opportunities available to videographers from the 21 newly granted local television licences; Jeff Wood and Rich Daly sharing their experiences and tips for good wedding cinematography; and Matt Hubbard, Director, Reels In Motion discussing the growth of video marketing and how to maximise the potential market of corporate videos. On the practical side, Adobe Certified Instructor Simon Walker will be taking a look at Premiere Pro CS6 and demonstrating some improved workflow strategies.

Something new for BVE North 2012 is the Skills Zone. These informal one-hour sessions are designed to give BVE attendees the chance to get valuable advice from expert practitioners in the industry. The topics up for discussion will be essential, everyday business concerns, from running your own business to career advisory sessions. Each session can be attended by 10–15 people at a time, and visitors will be able to express interest in advance or drop in on the day.

And of course, BVE North also offers a great opportunity to network with fellow industry professionals, catch up with old friends, reaffirm business relationships and make new contacts. 2,500 professionals from all stages of the broadcast workflow visited BVE North 2011 and that number is set to grow to over 3000 for 2012. No other show north of London offers the chance to meet so many key industry people all under one roof.

All the information you need about the show is available to view at www.bvenorth.co.uk

Why did I think having children would be the end of the line for working in broadcast? I can’t answer that, I just did. After 13 years of working with presenters on location, spending hours in the cutting room, hanging contestants from helicopters, placing cameras in every possible place and interviewing and meeting dozens and dozens of contributors, I shifted into corporate and charity work. It felt like the zeitgeist had moved on from me.

I wish there was a fitting translation for the word zeitgeist. A moment in time when everything is brilliant, the coming together of all our hopes and dreams and then amplified beyond our hopes.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/4115/loretta-farrell

I continued to write, shoot and edit. I even directed a multi-camera music DVD at the Dominion Theatre and flew to Kenya, India and South Africa filming projects for a global charity. I also started a craft and gift market and organised a Health, Beauty and Fitness charity fundraising fair. My time management skills became well-oiled, juggling working around the kids. But something was still missing, something not quite right.

It was not until a few @lorettalikes twitter DM’s with a friend that I took the plunge and started the process of returning to broadcast. My friend tweeted: “Man Up, you’ve had kids, not a lobotomy”.  The gauntlet was down.  I set about the search for work with new skills acquired from motherhood: being a mother teaches you to enjoy every moment whilst it lasts, do what you love and be very very flexible.

With no family in the UK my husband and I decided to hire a full time live in au pair to look after the children to give me the freedom to shoot overseas for a few weeks at a time, take a last minute role or stay late to finish an edit without feeling guilty or be stressed about leaving on time.  A great plan, but I just needed a job to pay for it!

Fortunately I got my first returning TV job by following @MediaParents on twitter.  I joined the Media Parents site and less than 10 days after signing up, I had two interviews and the au pair had a start date, now I just needed that phone call.

Loretta Farrell got her first job in TV after having children through Media Parents. She followed @mediaparents on Twitter. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/4115/loretta-farrell

Mentorn were the first to call to say they would like me to join a team on a pilot for Channel 4. I admit that I did jump up and down a little (albeit quietly in public) but I was relieved. I was also chuffed and then a little bit sick, the kind of butterflies you get with a positive result on a pregnancy test. You know that you want it – but now it’s real.

It was a whirlwind seven days at Mentorn, my office days, aka meetings and location searching went fast.  I was nervous on the first shoot day as I was no longer used to having people around, but there was no need to be as the team were amazing. My camera arm got a good work out plus coffee and food were always on hand.By the last day of the shoot I could feel that the past had not forgotten me and was starting to breathe new life.

I’m now looking to put my 13 years experience into gaining more experience edit producing and AP self-shooting. l would also like to work more in development and am keen to pitch my ideas – so if you want to hear them, let me know.

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/4115/loretta-farrell

Wildlife Presenter and Fulbright Scholar Bryson Voirin is close to getting his doctorate. He has been studying sleep patterns in large mammals and birds at the Max Planck Institute for 4 years, and he breezes into our early morning shoot looking fresh as a daisy, despite having attended the Wildscreen Panda Awards ceremony for natural history programming the previous night.

PHOTO

Wildlife expert and presenter Bryson Voirin roped up for work in the canopy. http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/collaborator/4474/bryson-voirin

 28 year old Bryson is full of praise for the WildScreen Festival #wildscreenfest, the 6 day natural history film festival that’s just finished in Bristol.  “It’s the first time I’ve been to Wildscreen and it was really fun,” he enthuses, “I wanted to go to connect with natural history people in one central place, and it was great for that.  It’s a good medium to meet people in a social setting, in what is largely an academic field of study. Everyone from the natural history film world is there.”

I’ve met Bryson a couple of times now, and he is a pleasure to work with.  He has a breadth of zoological knowledge, and his love of the subject matter is a delight.  If he hasn’t studied a creature himself he generally knows someone who has, and peppers the interviews he does for our Channel 5 series with interesting examples and a lively turn of phrase.  Great TV.  I get the feeling that this enthusiasm and energy reflects his general approach to life.  When he was 16 years old, growing up in Florida, Bryson told his parents that he wanted more than his easy life in the sunshine, and took himself off to high school in Germany, where he’s been studying ever since.  Being bilingual has helped him to find work on German TV as well as on British and US channels.  “Brits don’t mind me because I’ve been in Europe so long I don’t seem offensively American,” he jokes, “But it seems that to crack American natural history presenting I need to be old and fat with a beard!”  Someone is clearly missing a trick somewhere, and it’s not likely to be Bryson.

Bryson Voirin is an expert in the BBC series The Dark: Nature's Nighttime World

“I also got to meet the head of just about every major natural history channel. Wildscreen publishes the delegate list ahead of time, which is brilliant because it meant that several people got in touch with me to set up appointments when they saw my name, and the rest came about organically.  I met people from Icon Films, Discovery, Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Wildscreen US…”  And those are the ones he can remember. “The Icon Films after party was pretty legendary”, he grins, clearly debating whether to tell me that it took two days to recover. (click here to see Icon Films’ Harry Marshall networkign with Media Parents https://blog.mediaparents.co.uk/2011/09/media-parents-networking-bristol-2/).

“Wildscreen was a great experience,” says Voirin, “I’m really hoping some of the projects discussed and projects I pitched will come off. I also met some really inspirational people from developing countries whose films I would not ordinarily have seen, and learnt tons about how TV works in sessions about filmmaking and scriptwriting.  I found it really exciting to learn about everything that can be done with GoPros.”  The series we are working on relies largely on UGC, so we too have a healthy respect for the GoPro’s quality and versatility.

The best part of Wildscreen "a surprise appearance by Sir David Attenborough!"

“I would definitely go to Wildscreen again.  Hopefully next time around I’ll be nominated for a presenter award,” he smiles.  The previous night’s partying doesn’t show, and Bryson has been smiling, engaging and delivering great lines and information throughout an on-camera interviews that take nearly five hours and cover ten different natural history subject areas.  I shake his hand at the end of the filming day, and congratulate him on a good day’s work.  “Not bad considering I got to bed at 5, eh?” Bryson smiles as he leaves to catch his plane.  I guess that’s a PhD in sleep research for you.

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.

Huge thanks to DLT Entertainment and 2Act Films for inviting Media Parents members to attend Friday night’s Leicester Square screening of The Academy, starring Sir Ian McKellen and Frances Barber.

DLT Exec Michaela Hennessy-Vass talks to Media Parents Development Producer and Voiceover Artist Emma Hyman whilst Sir Ian McKellen talks to a fellow cast member.

We were delighted to spend the evening in the presence of Sir Ian and many of the cast and crew, including the film’s writer, producer and editor Peter Hinton, a Media Parents Networker.  The film was transmitted in four parts with live entertainment from Sir Ian and other cast members in the intervals – a wonderful surprise that complemented the film brilliantly.  The film has been piloted but is yet to find a broadcaster.

Click on the following link to hear Sir Ian McKellen on Frances Barber.

The Academy's Writer, Producer and Editor Peter Hinton takes a bow. Peter is in the NETWORK section of www.mediaparents.co.uk

If you missed the screening, you can see the promo by clicking on the image below.

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

Six years at Art College, and it all boils down to comedy underpants!

A typical washing load for Karen Hobbs - The Queen and Maggie Thatcher's smalls.

Microscopic swimming trunks; enormous running shorts; designer thongs; a dance support for an Alien; ‘courtesy’ pants for  an  S.A.  covered in mud; plus Pippa Middleton’s bottom recycled – and that was just my latest job!

Having studied Fashion, Theatre and Costume Design at Central I started my career in the costume making workshop of English National Opera. High art indeed. This was interspersed with small design jobs in theatre and other costume making capers.

My first TV job came in Australia, but more of that later.  Fast forward a few more years of working in TV from Avalon to Zeppotron, plus theatre and styling photo shoots, thoughts turned to raising a family – as we all know not an easy prospect in our industry.  The highs and lows of working freelance was indeed good preparation for what was to become an extraordinary journey.

A piece from Karen Hobbs' current Saatchi project on Adoption. Karen is a Costume Designer in the TALENT section of www.mediaparnents.co.uk

Adopting an older child is not for the feint hearted, and being forever equipped for uncertainty does have its advantages. Having initially taken time off to settle in, I am happy to report that most of the production companies that I have encountered since have been very supportive.  In particular VERA Productions who virtually held my hand through the whole experience!  Inspired by my experiences as an adopter, my costume project to raise awareness of Attachment issues may be viewed at Saatchi online – the link is at the end of this piece.

Our teenager realises that my job is not one that many Mums do. In spite of embarrassing her when out shopping by stocking up with Extra Large Men’s sparkly thongs when I spotted them on sale, she is the first to brag to her mates about which celebrities I’ve been working with.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/2632/karen-hobbs

As my two worlds collided, I explored  job sharing, and recently worked as Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor on a huge show at Bristol Old Vic. It was a nice opportunity to return to period costume and theatre.

But my spiritual home is Costume Design for TV comedy, and I am thrilled at being so well supported by those around me, including Media Parents.

Recently on  Alan Carr’s Summertime Specstacular  2, I was privileged to dress Olympian Fatima Whitbread and rub shoulders with medal winners from Team GB.  Basking in their glory was yet another highlight of my varied career.

Never, ever a dull moment.

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/2632/karen-hobbs

My first experience in television came in Australia, as mentioned.  I planned to take on casual work and see the country and started off with a couple of theatre jobs when I first arrived in Perth. Travelling solo meant that I could move around, explore, and work where I landed. The South Australian Opera seemed tiny after ENO,  and I sweltered it out costume making for the Victoria State Opera that Christmas.

Back in Adelaide, a  tv mini-series was in production. Set in 1930s, I started work on the beautiful costumes and I had my first wardrobe standby job on location.

New to the scale of TV compared to theatre, it amused me to be instructed to sew ‘as rough as guts’, an outfit that needed making on set. This has served me well ever since and one of my early UK TV series design jobs was secured during the pilot, by whipping up a copy of a 1970s dress on set, using an old sheet from the production manager’s car boot.

Volunteering at the National Film and Television School introduced me to colleagues and friends I still have now, and allowed me to concentrate on Costume Design for the screen. Working with tiny budgets was a theme that would run and run!

Serious TV drama was punctuated by light entertainment shows and a spate of Drama Docs. One of which took me to Cairo, to film in the scorching desert.  Having painstakingly researched and reconstructed an Early Egyptian pleated dress (perming lotion and muslin, twisted in the bath, since you ask), I could only stand by speechless as my wonderful assistant, a local tailor, Mr Abdul, took a large swig of water, spat the lot over the fabric, and ironed it completely flat!

Around 45 local (pre Arab Spring) youths were recruited to play the parts of slaves, and wear traditional loin cloths. Without exception, they arrived sporting long football-style branded shorts, so Mr Abdul was dispatched to source some discreet underpants to preserve their modesty. On wrap, I was helpfully handed steaming carrier bags full of sand encrusted y-fronts!

http://www.saatchionline.com/karenhobbs

http://www.mediaparents.co.uk/freelancers/2632/karen-hobbs

If you have more than 3 years' media experience see www.mediaparents.co.uk for great networking, talent, jobs and information.