Breaking into a competitive industry is hard. When you’ve grown up in one of the worst areas of London, it’s even harder.
Opportunities are difficult to come by. Role models are few and far between.
But by bringing young people together with industry pros, teaching
them new skills, and giving them a platform on which to build, I’m hoping to tackle that problem in the industry in which I work.
Why TV, why now?
TV production is notoriously tough: even the best-qualified newcomers may struggle to find work without a family connection or a friend on the inside, and even those who do must work long hours, on little or no pay, to get the chance of a break.
That excludes a wealth of talented people from even trying to find a job in TV – people who don’t have access to contacts or parents who can support them financially.
The recruitment system is broken.
Talented, dedicated people are excluded.
And production companies are missing out on them as a
result.
What is Me In TV?
Me In TV aims to improve the prospects of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds of getting into TV.
After a successful one-day pilot in late 2010, I’m putting together a one-week bootcamp for young people from an east London charity to start a sustainable talent development programme.
Over five days the participants will create a TV show idea, film and edit a trailer for it, and then pitch their idea to a panel of TV experts.
I’ll be working closely with the charity – Community Links – and with colleagues from my employer (FremantleMedia) and its UK production company (talkbackThames) to make it happen.
This website will document the creation, running, and aftermath of the project.
Check back regularly for updates, or Like it on Facebook, follow on Twitter, or grab the RSS feed.
Cheers!
~ Todd