Unscripted: Development Researcher training programme

Name: Unscripted: Development Researcher training programme
Start: 2024-01-13T09:30:00+00:00
End: 2024-01-13T13:30:00+00:00

Course 1 Application deadline

18th October

Days

Hrs

Min

Sec

Do you have a passion for unscripted TV?
Are you brimming with ideas?
Can you spot trends, subjects and/or people who would make great TV?
Would you like your next role to be part of a team developing unscripted TV show ideas?

If you answered Yes, then our Unscripted: Development Researcher training programme is for you!

Unscripted TV relies on ideas. Good ideas keep TV schedules full, viewers engaged and production companies in business. But where do they come from?

With an acute shortage of new development researchers, it’s more important than ever for the next generation of talent to find their feet in the world of unscripted development. Blending self-directed learning with live Zoom training, followed by a 1-month industry placement, this Unscripted: Development Researcher course will prepare you to hit the ground running in your first job as a Development Researcher.

Led by Development Executive and Series Producer, Perjit Aujla, the course focuses on the essential skills needed to work in development.

Course content will cover creative and ideation skills needed to generate exciting programme ideas, to editing and software skills needed to pitch them to commissioners. To support you in setting up sustainable development careers, the content will include vital communication skills which employers are looking for, and guidance on making yourself as employable as can be.

Following the course, trainees who complete the training will be given a placement within the development team of an unscripted production company. Testing your new skills and knowledge in a real company environment will consolidate what you learn and get you some industry connections along the way!

Unscripted: Development Researcher is open to a total of 60 people and will run with three cohorts. On applying, you will be asked to confirm your preference of dates and you are expected to be available for the duration of your chosen set.

WHO IS THE COURSE FOR?

This course is aimed at those who want a career in unscripted and who:

Are 18+ and not in full-time education.
Have approximately 2+ years of work experience in ANY industry.
Have demonstrable interest in a career in development.

You do not need to have worked in TV or development before to apply for this course.

We welcome applications for those looking to return to work following a career break.

This course is free to attend.

To ensure this training is accessible to the widest possible audience, the training will take place online and outside of standard office hours. Sessions will take place on weekday evenings, and some Saturday mornings.

This programme is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from BBC, Channel 4, Sky, A+E Networks UK, Discovery UK, Channel 5, Netflix, ITV, Amazon, UKTV and S4C matched by production companies.

We welcome applications from all individuals. If you would like support completing the application form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format, please email training@mission.guru

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION

Applications for this programme will be assessed on a rolling basis, with deadlines aligning with each iteration.

Closing date course 1: 18th October 2023 (23:59)
Closing date course 2: 6th December 2023 (23:59)
Closing date course 3: 15th February 2024 (23:59)

Candidates who are successful in the first stage of their application will then be invited to a short Zoom interview with the Course Tutor and Course Director.

Interviews will be reserved for places on the next iteration of the course.

When applying, we ask that you confirm your availability for this interview at a time, during office hours, on the appropriate dates for your preferred course:

Course 1: 26th – 27th October 2023
Course 2: 18th – 19th December 2023
Course 3: 4th – 5th March 2023

COURSE DATES

COURSE DATES

The classroom elements of this course blends live Zoom training with self-directed learning. The self-directed learning has been carefully structured to compliment your learning in the live sessions; participants will be expected to keep up with the self-directed learning and manage their own time in doing so.

The dates for live training sessions are listed below:

Course 1:

Saturday 18th November 2023 (09:00-13:30)
Wednesday 22nd November 2023 (18:30-20:30)
Thursday 23rd November 2023 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 29th November 2023 (18:30-20:30)
Thursday 30th November 2023 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 6th December 2023 (18.30-20.30)
Tuesday 12th December 2023 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 13th December 2023 (18:30-20:30)

With additional Q&A sessions with Commissioning Editors to be confirmed in line with availability of speakers.

Course 2:

Saturday 13ᵗʰ January 2024 (09:00-13:30)
Wednesday 17ᵗʰ January 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Thursday 18ᵗʰ January 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 24ᵗʰ January 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Thursday 25ᵗʰ January 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 31ˢᵗ January 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Tuesday 6ᵗʰ February 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 7ᵗʰ August 2024 (18:30-20:30)

With additional Q&A sessions with Commissioning Editors to be confirmed in line with availability of speakers.

Group 3:

Saturday 16ᵗʰ March 2024 (09:00-13:30)
Wednesday 20ᵗʰ March 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Thursday 21ˢᵗ March 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 3ʳᵈ April 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Thursday 4ᵗʰ April 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 10ᵗʰ April 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Tuesday 16ᵗʰ April 2024 (18:30-20:30)
Wednesday 17ᵗʰ April 2024 (18:30-20:30)

With additional Q&A sessions with Commissioning Editors to be confirmed in line with availability of speakers.

Final closing dates for applications are:

Course 1: 18th October 2023 (23:59)
Course 2: 6th December 2023 (23:59)
Course 3: 15th February 2024 (23:59)

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1: Responding to BriefsThis module is designed to help you understand the end-to-end development process for unscripted TV, and to have the confidence to participate in the creation of commission winning ideas!

Session	Course Content
Session 1	What is a brief? What does a commissioner do and what keeps them up at night? What are the expectations of different unscripted genres and different commissioners? How to watch TV like someone who works in development. Understanding different channel expectations. Tone – what is it and why does it matter? Understanding your audience and why audience matters.
Session 2:	How to contribute well in a brainstorm. Brainstorming techniques for when you’re stuck in a rut. Unpacking what an idea needs to succeed. Identifying the things that your idea might be missing. Tariffs and budget considerations. How to use AI tools to become more efficient (without feeling like you’re cheating!)
Sessions 3 & 4	Commissioning Editor Q&A’s Hear first-hand from a commissioner. Ask them the questions you’ve always wanted answers to.

Module 2: Technical Skills

This module is designed to teach you the necessary skills to create and edit the materials to pitch ideas. From sizzle reels to presentations, the training will offer you a guide through the free software you can use to best showcase your ideas, before introducing you to the Adobe Suite with the support of an expert editor.

Part	Course Content
Part One	Introduction – what is an editor, organisation and the paper edit. The importance of structure in the editing process. Media Management and data storage – why good media management is vital. The importance of organisation when working on an editing project. The paper edit. How to plan your edit on paper before you start working with your material. How a plan can save time and highlight areas you are missing.
Part Two: Software	Creating folders Importing material Organising Media Adding to the timeline Trimming and splitting clips Using transitions Adding text Adding music Mixing audio Separating audio Adding keyframes Using effects Exporting final project Tackling issues
Part Three: Decks and images	Editing and manipulating images Graphic design tools Deck creation tools
Part Four: Adobe	A live session to look at the Adobe suite and how the skills learned through parts one to three transfer over to the Adobe Suite.

There will be one additional live Q&A session with an expert editor as an open forum to discuss your learning.

Module 3: Communication Skills

A key part of the development researcher’s toolkit is to be persuasive when communicating – whether that’s selling an idea or encouraging someone to take part in a show – so this module will start with the importance of persuasion, drilling down into specific tactics for each area.

Skills	Course Content
Verbal Skills	Phone calls – when and how? Introducing yourself to people you don’t know and persuading them to get involved with your idea. Interviewing techniques and skills when trying to get knowledge out of contributors/experts. Communicating your idea internally – including how to communicate your idea to a senior member of the team How to verbally pitch successfully to a commissioner – the power of a strong opening, how to structure the middle, and crafting a memorable closing.
Written Skills	How to write persuasive emails (and knowing when email is appropriate to use) Making initial contact via an email – what you need to include. The importance of a paper trail when communicating with internal and external stakeholders Writing a topline or paragraph pitch Writing a pitch deck – including what a pitch deck needs to cover, how to bring the right tone to your writing, how to breakdown and clearly sell your idea and an overview of some successful pitch decks.
Visual Skills	What makes a standout pitch deck – how to use visuals to elevate your idea and make it sing and the importance of finding the right image for your ideas. Sizzle reels and taster tapes – what makes a sizzle reel sizzle. How to use pre-existing footage and/or shot footage in your sizzle. The power of music to create a sizzle with impact. Shooting talent taster tapes – what you need to sell your talent to the channel.

Module 4: Employability Skills

This module will cover the broader employability skills a Development Researcher will need to work in the industry alongside specific CV, interview and placement strategies and tactics to ensure successful placements.

Session 1	What makes a good development researcher? How to get the most from your placement Working in the office and working remotely Who’s in the development team and what do they do? Curiosity and a proactive / can do approach Value of regular updates and progress check ins Working on more than one project at a time Prioritising tasks and working to a deadline
Session 2	Working as a freelancer in Television How do TV contracts work? Managing your money on irregular income How do you find opportunities? Building your networks Finding companies that are a good fit for your ideas Understanding the value you bring to a company Writing a winning CV Interview skills and strategies

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING

The self-directed learning elements of the course will be hosted on the Learning Management Portal LearnDash on the Mission Accomplished website.

Participants will be given login details at the start of the course and will have exercises and activities to do in advance of the training beginning and between the subsequent live sessions. Keeping up with this independent work will enable participants to come to live sessions ready to be a part of the conversation!

While completion of tasks will be expected in advance of sessions, participants will be able to do them at times to suit them!

LIVE ZOOM TRAINING

LIVE ZOOM TRAINING

Live Zoom sessions have been scheduled outside of standard office hours and are designed to bring participants together with our expert training team for live learning and support.

Participants will be expected to attend all of the sessions with their selected course to maximise learning.

PLACEMENT OUTLINE

PLACEMENT OUTLINE

All participants who complete the self-directed and classroom-based elements of the course will be eligible for a 1-month work placement within an unscripted development team. These placements are expected to start less than 3 months after completing the course and are designed to consolidate your learning and to help you connect with the industry!

The Unscripted TV Skills Fund will make a salary contribution of £1300 for each 1-month placement to the host production company.

Mission Accomplished have extensive networks of production companies and will match participants up with an opportunity appropriate to them.

BY THE END OF THE COURSE...

BY THE END OF THE COURSE…

By the end of the course participants will be expected to have learned:

the role and duties of a Development Researcher
how the development process works
the technical skills needed to create pitch decks and sizzles
the communication skills needed to work as a development researcher
about the freelance nature of the industry and be prepared to for this type of work
how to make the most from their placement

COURSE TUTORS

This course is delivered by Film and TV Industry Professionals and sector experts

Alison Grade | Course Director

Alison founded and runs Mission Accomplished. The company regularly delivers training courses for ScreenSkills. Alison is an experienced Line Producer and Production Manager as well as a Nesta Accredited Creative Enterprise Trainer. She regularly delivers training that enables creatives to take their careers to the next level. Alison is the author of the Penguin published book, The Freelance Bible and offers many workshops and training programmes to support freelancers.

Perjit Aujla | Course Tutor

Perjit has 13+ years’ experience in factual TV as an RTS award-winning Series Producer, an Edit Producer and a former Head of Development. She has won commissions from Channel 4, Channel 5 and worked on programming as diverse as a Joe Wicks series for 4OD to the Bafta-nominated Cbeebies series Maddie’s Do You Know.
Based in Leamington Spa, Perjit is a champion of the regions, producing and chairing local events on behalf of Women in Film and Television and RTS Midlands, where she is also on the committee. She has supported diverse off-screen talent via. Creative Access and the Channel 4 Trainee Scheme.

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