The Getting Inside the Media event is focused on creating links and opening discussion between academics and tutors with industry leaders on what graduates need to get top jobs in television.

After a brief introduction from RTS CEO Theresa Wise and Graeme Thompson, Chair RTS Education Committee, Lorraine Heggessey, media executive, chaired and event with The One Show's Executive Editor Sandy Smith, Production Executive Nick Todd and Researcher Emilios Shavila.

Emilios Shavila: "The hardest thing for me was making it from runner to researcher. It is very hard to, when you're making teas and coffee and taking the bins out, to show you're more than [that]. You have to go to the producer and ask them... Can I spend one day researching with you?".

Sandy Smith: "You would be amazed at how many people come for an interview and don't appear to have watched a single episode of The One Show".

Sandy Smith: "Curiosity [is a hidden skill]. I would like to underline its importance - if you look at a firework display and you just ask a very basic question of how do they never go wrong? ... [it's] curiosity! Curiosity! Curisoity!"

Nick Todd: "Technology has democratised what students can do. [They can] very easily shoot a film, cut a film and upload to YouTube and social media. The raw talent we look for in some roles can be found very quickly which is an exciting opportunity."

Red Productions' Emily Feller, Alison Loose and Chair Carolyn Reynolds (Credit: Sanya Burgess)

Chair Carolyn Reynolds spoke to Red Production Company' Emily Feller, Producer and Alison Loose, Line Producer. 

Alison Loose: [On The Driver] we had around 50 location assistants who were all local media students just helping us on the night... It's sometimes hard to find people, from our point of view. We put a few calls in and we did get people... But there is a shortage between what I do and talking to students and to get them to come help us really.

Emily Feller: I didn't know anyone; no one in my family has worked in television. [I got my job through] me slightly embarrassingly just going for it, sending emails to people. I'd watch programmes I loved, I'd see the names at the end, who the production companies were and who the executives were and I'd just drop them an email after I guessed what their email might be.

Emily Feller: [For budding script writers] I think considering budgets and logistics at that stage is not what they should be worried about as it was start to constrain the idea and creativity. Obviously if they are making something in space, then that will impact the likelihood of a very project being taken on".

Alison Loose: "When we are sitting at the monitors, everyone is talking about what dramas they watched last night on the tele. The make-up assistants are passionate about drama, right through the crew. There is a passion for drama on set."

True North's Carol McKenzie, Head of Production and Andrew Sheldon, Creative Director talk, were chaired by Barbara Govan: