The students met some of the organisations that might one day be hiring them, including BBC South West, Beagle Media, Channel 4, Ocean City Media, Pushed, Rock Oyster Media, Seadog TV & Film Productions, Silverstream TV and Twofour Post Production. Following four sector-related Q&A sessions, the students enjoyed a networking lunch, exchanging email addresses and making crucial industry contacts.
Bafta award-winning production designer Joel Collins, whose credits include BBC One/HBO fantasy drama His Dark Materials, was in conversation with Falmouth University’s head of television and film, Kingsley Marshall.
Collins explained that the role went way beyond an “opportunity to sketch and draw, visualise stuff and wear a cravat”. Instead, Collins explained, “you’re like a ringmaster of a circus, which is really more complex than anyone realises”.
The first of two panels featured Plymouth-based artist Katy Richardson, film-maker and director Esther Campbell, who worked on Wallander, and Jack Hinchey, a senior production co-ordinator at Drummer TV.
The second panel was composed of recent graduates of the University of Plymouth.
Centre Chair Siobhan Robbie-James said: "If you join the RTS, it will give you lots of opportunities to meet industry professionals. Our focus is on helping to develop anyone who works in the industry."
The winners were announced in mid-May during a live stream – hosted by the Plymouth-based brothers and stars of E4’s Tattoo Fixers, Pash and Uzzi Canby – on the RTS YouTube channel.
Originally, the awards were due to be held at a ceremony at the University of Plymouth in March, but this was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The two showrunners talked about their work, from writing episodes of UK soap staples EastEnders and Casualty to the development of hit dramas This Life and Life on Mars, to their contribution to established shows Doctor Who and Shameless.
They described television as being a writer’s medium and how their writing credits for US multinationals opened the door to their current roles as producers.
