Need some advice on how to get into the television industry? We have some inside info from Lion TV....

We had a chat with Joff Powell, Entertainment Executive for Lion TV about how he got into TV and his tips for those starting out in their TV career....

1. How did you get into TV?

Via a friend. She was a PA and got me in for an interview with the MD’s of a company. I had tried for ages to get through the door but struggled with cold-calling people. Having someone help introduce me got it all rolling.

2. What was your first job?

Personal Assistant to 2 of the creative directors of a company. I was not great at the gig but I think they liked my personality. They moved me on to researcher after a couple of weeks which was much more suited to me.

3. Was the first job what you expected?

Not at all, if you’ve studied journalism or media related courses, you leave feeling like you can direct and straight away make programmes but you soon learn that you only have a foundation knowledge which isn’t enough. It was tough starting from scratch, you do long hours and often feel like you’re doing the same thing over and over but if you stand out and persevere, it pays off.

4. What did you find particularly hard when you were starting out?

Relentless tasks that do not challenge you creatively. What you never learn in studies is that there is a huge amount of administration within television production and that’s something you are often underprepared for and when you’re in your early 20’s, you want to be out on location filming something exciting, not stuck in a library researching facts and figures for other people to use out on a shoot.

5. Did you get any advice at the beginning of your career that particularly helped you?  Please share!

I think the best piece of advice I was ever given was to persevere, work hard and be polite to everyone you come across regardless of their position.

6. What things do you know now that you wish you knew then?

How to juggle a personal life and a work life – I still don’t think I have the answer!

7. What’s been a standout experience in your TV career so far?

Far too many – to succeed in our industry you have to be passionate, if you love what you’re doing then every experience is stand out but to contradict myself briefly, having just finished filming with American comedian, Rob Riggle, was probably the most rib tickling experience I have ever had.

Do you want to work in TV or know someone who does? There are 3 weeks left to APPLY for The Network, a FREE 4 day talent scheme this August in Edinburgh.

If you have any questions about the Network, follow us on twitter and ask ask away! @thenetwork_tv

Speak sooon,

The Network Team

Lets Play the first ever MGEITF Twitter Price Drop!

So the sun is shining and we are pretty happy here in the festival towers... so chipper in fact we have decided that this Friday we are going to play! And everyone is welcome to join in!

We are going to play the FIRST EVER MGEITF TWITTER PRICE DROP..... where you could nab yourself a bargain ticket to MGEITF 2012!

HOW TO PLAY... For every new twitter follower @edinburghTvFest between 1-2pm on Friday 30th March we will drop the price of our early bird tickets to Edinburgh by £1!

SIMPLES! So, the more new people that follow, the more pounds you save! Super!

THEN... the first 50 people to email amycahill@mgeitf.co.uk @2pm (and no sooner!) will have the chance to nab a bargain ticket for this year TV festival!

SO…. Make sure you, your friends and your colleagues are poised and ready to follow us this Friday!

And lets play the FIRST EVER TWITTER PRICE DROP!

See you then!

The Annual We Love TV Quiz Host announced!

After much deliberation and bated breath we are excited to finally be announcing our host for our annual  We Love TV Quiz – Tim Vine!

Tim Vine cemented his reputation as king of the one-liners after he won the prize for joke of the year at this year’s Lafta awards.

Tim saw off stiff competition from the likes of Jimmy Carr and Paul Daniels with his winning joke “Conjunctivitis.com – that’s a site for sore eyes” so we can’t wait for him to turn his attentions to the TV industry for one night only…

With only 2 tables remaining for the We Love TV Quiz and a chance to see Tim Vine live you really do need to book your table today!

And as a sneaky peak preview here are our top 10 Festival favourite Tim Vines jokes…

1.    Exit signs? They're on the way out!
2.    Black Beauty? Now there's a dark horse!
3.    Velcro? What a rip-off!
4.    Crime in multi-storey car parks. That is wrong on so many different levels.
5.    Eric Bristow asked me why I put superglue on one of his darts. I said you just can't let it go can you?
6.    I saw this advert in a window that said: “Television for sale, £1, volume stuck on full.” I thought, “I can’t turn that down.”
7.    I've just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I'll tell you what, never again
8.    Conjunctivitis.com – that’s a site for sore eyes (this year's Lafta winner)
9.    So I said to a Scotsman 'did you have terrible spots as a kid?' He said 'ac ne'
10.  Do you ever get that when you're half way through eating a horse and you think to yourself, 'I'm not as hungry as I thought I was'




TTFN!

The making of MGEITF 2012

When Caroline and I aren't busy making people's TV dreams come true I like to plonk myself in front of the telly and get on with a bit of cutting and sticking. So, imagine how happy it made me to be asked to use my skills with paper and glue to create the illustrations needed for the Festival and The Network's 2012 design campaign.

Making The Network

For The Network we wanted something fun to sum up what the scheme is - four free days of learning how to make great TV. Over several late nights I made a selection of paper TVs, cameras and associated paraphernalia that could be photographed along with cut-outs of some of our fabulous Network alumni.

Making the Festival

For the Festival we wanted to keep the message simple: It's in Edinburgh. It's absolutely great. So I got out my craft knife and got to work. On the morning of the photo shoot I suddenly realised what I had said I could accomplish and the fear kicked in. With Amy on hand and a length of magicians wire we managed to make what had been in my head all along come into being and ended the day with a whole bunch of great photos - the one below being mine and Amy's absolute favourite!

So, now my MGEITF illustration work is complete. Here's a little taste of how the graphic designers are using it, we hope you like it :)

OPEN FOR ENTRIES - Channel of the Year awards 2012!

It’s that time of year again!  Channel of the Year awards 2012 are open for entries and it's FREE!

With a brand new look!

We are preparing to celebrate the very best in British television, from digital and terrestrial channel of the year, to indie of the year, to cross-platform innovation award and more.

For anyone who doesn’t know or who didn't attend the festival last year (tut, tut), the way it works it is our esteemed Festival delegates have the power to vote for the 2012 winners! Simple...

The winners are then announced at an awards ceremony, which takes place at the Festival in August, (Don't forget the change of date, now moved to Friday 24th August).

If you missed all the 2011 winners you can find them here.

So if you’re  got an achievement you're proud of then download the submission guidelines now and submit your entry for FREE! 
 
You have to be in it to win it...

Good luck!

Can you guess who it is yet?

Last Thursday night it was off to ITV for the February Schemes’ committee meeting, the one where things really start to get exciting and TheNetwork programme takes shape!

Can’t say too much at this stage but here are little tasters of what the Committee is thinking:

• Opening Night – this is the big event where all The Network and The Ones to watch delegates really kick off their Edinburgh experience.  Last year, Al Murray brought his famous Pub Quiz to Edinburgh.

This year we’re thinking of treating our delegates to something urban and edgy - possibly with a sprinkling of magic?

• Workshops – Sky News, CBBC and ITV studios are confirmed as running workshops again this year – wooh!
• Masterclass – we’re looking at pulling in the top players from some of telly’s big entertainment shows – think Saturday night!

 
I did say teasers... keep you guessing until the full programme is announced! 

TTFN,

Caroline Meaby 

Director, The Network & Fast Track talent schemes