BECTU Vision’s Producer Development Programme is designed to increase the local pool of HETV Producers in Scotland. The programme is bespoke to the needs of the individual participants dependant on their previous experience.
In 2020 we recruited for two Film Producers looking to develop their skills for producing High End TV in Scotland following a successful previous programme supporting four Line Producers to become Producers.
One of our 2020 participants Brain Coffey has 10 years’ experience producing feature films including recently producing Our Ladies and Boyz In The Wood.
Brian Coffey, Producer
‘I applied for the Producer Development Programme in order to get more insight about how TV production worked and introductions and connections to the people who work within that industry as there appeared to be very different networks and the TV industry felt alien to me despite my extensive experience in film.’
As part of the programme the participants attended courses delivered through BECTU Vision’s Short course programme alongside bespoke courses identified to fill the skills gaps of participants. The courses covered topics including Business Affairs, Managing COVID protocols on productions and Leadership and Management. As the programme began prior to the pandemic they were delivered both in person and then online.
‘It was fantastic to have access to an extensive range of short courses that covered a wide range of topics. I loved the 2-day Script Editing course with John Yorke and as a result of meeting on that course he is now working as a consultant on one of my projects.
The 1-2-1 Movie Magic training was very useful as that was an opportunity I wouldn’t have had otherwise and worked as a refresher to what I already knew and also taught me new parts. It was also really nice to work with tutors under the programme as you know
The speed with which we had access to Safe Management of Productions with COVID protocols was fantastic as it was really needed at the time.’
Alongside the short course programme meetings were held with commissioners and heads of production of production companies in Scotland and across the UK to learn more about the landscape of television in Scotland and the UK.
‘These meetings were really helpful to learn about the commissioning process and how much it differs from financing a film and the role of the producer in that. It was also very helpful to hear from the broadcasters about what they are looking for and that they often have a brand and a style to their TV projects, so you know what was going to be suitable and learning from that as well as having made connections and contact to follow up with in the future.
The timing of these meetings was ideal as they were done during lockdown and it was great to have an opportunity to speak to many different people and continue the programme despite the restrictions. I have also been paired with a mentor who has experience producing TV in Scotland and the mentoring will run for 6 months after the programme has officially finished which feels like a positive ongoing connection to the programme.
Being part of the Producer Development Programme has really helped me further my career.
As direct result of the programme I have two projects with the BBC for them to consider and am delighted to have received a Development Award from Screen Scotland allowing me to option a book to adapt to a TV Series. If it hadn’t been for BECTU Vision’s Producer Development Programme I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to discuss the projects with the BBC and I feel being part of the programme, and the knowledge that I already had from it really helped secure Screen Scotland TV Development Funding being given to a candidate with only film experience previously.
By pushing myself into the programme focussed my mind to getting an agent which has led to opportunities in TV, I have more confidence knowing I’m not going to stumble too much in the first steps on working in television and I feel really well placed to pursue my plans of continuing to develop my own projects, do further meets with other production companies and ultimately secure a job producing a TV series.’
