TV presenter Rick Edwards hosts the comedy panel at the Hallam Conference Centre. Talent manager Daniell Morrisey, and comedy producers Lucy Armitage, James Farrell, Carol Baffour-Awuah and Gavin O'Grady discuss the hard work that goes in to making people laugh, and provide their top tips for succeeding in TV comedy.
The wide-ranging debate heard how “everybody gets short-from now,” according to the night’s chair Pat Younge, co-founder and managing director of Sugar Films.
With most of the audience only prepared to sample online shorts (many people stop watching during the first 15-20 seconds) established TV players like Channel 4 have adopted a more rigorous approach.
“When we develop ideas, from the beginning we think about how we’re going to sell them…
There were sobering words among the laughs generated by the panel, which was expertly chaired by writer and presenter of ITV2 panel show Safeword Rick Edwards.
BBC Comedy producer James Farrell, who boasts Mrs Browns’ Boys among his credits, warned the audience of would-be comedy producers and writers that “comedy is the most difficult genre by a mile to get into and make”. However, he added, “the flip side is that there are very few people who are good at it so, if you’re talented and tenacious, then you will make it”.
As well as giving you the chance to meet a host of industry experts, we’ll be hearing from a panel of rising stars of the British media scene for a light hearted but insightful discussion about the many mistakes you can make as you build a career – and how to learn from them.
Afterwards move onto the canal-side terrace (covered, so even a classic British summer won’t be able to dampen our spirits) for drinks, networking and – hopefully – sunshine.
Experienced production manager and founder of the industry online jobs board The Unit List, Jude Winstanley, offered her personal dos and don’ts over the course of a revealing two-and-a-half-hour workshop.
A panel of top TV development executives at the RTS Futures Introduction to Development event share their tips about how to develop an idea and pitch it for television.
KICKSTART 2016 BY GETTING YOUR FIRST JOB IN TELEVISION!
Are you ready to take your first steps in the TV Industry? Want to meet some of the most influential TV Industry people to help you make your dreams come true?
RTS Futures is offering you an exclusive opportunity to get your foot in the door by meeting some of the decision makers who can help you break into the TV Industry.
December sees the return of the infamous RTS Futures Christmas Party, and this year we’ve teamed up with Broadcast magazine to celebrate this year’s BAME Hotshots.
This year Broadcast decided to focus on BAME Hotshots to shine a light on the diversity with the industry. The response was overwhelming.
BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh fielded harsh criticism from audience and panel alike at the RTS Futures Summer Party.
"Is TV out of touch?" asked former CBBC presenter Kirsten O’Brien, who chaired the event, "is it relevant for 16 to 34 year olds?"
With the BBC’s youth brand soon set to relinquish its linear channel, Kavanagh was told that young people were bearing the brunt of difficult BBC cuts.
Without competent researchers, TV would be riddled with half-truths and even outright lies, the butt of viewers’ derision and the recipient of libel lawyers’ writs.
Helpfully, the latest RTS Futures event, "How to be the best... researcher", explained how the job should be done.
"Research is the life blood of the TV industry. Without research, we’d have no Big Brother, Gogglebox or Panorama," argued broadcaster and writer Rick Edwards, who chaired the June event.
