And the 2013 Advisory Chair is....

 It’s official!  Karl Warner is the 2013 Advisory Chair!  

On his appointment, Warner said: “I hope next year's Festival will be the biggest celebration of creativity and innovation we've ever had. Everyone who attends should come away feeling inspired and equipped with highly valuable, practical insights on dealing with the creative challenges of the future. I'm thrilled to be appointed the Advisory Chair and I can't wait to get started."

Warner joined the BBC in 2007 as an Executive Editor, with an initial focus on BBC Three. He has recently moved to BBC One, where he has been tasked with finding the next generation of Saturday night entertainment formats.  

Karl is responsible for the editorial direction of the 2013 programme from commissioning session ideas to overseeing final production (No pressure). Karl will bring together a committee from across the entire industry to advise and produce festival sessions.

Since joining the BBC, Warner has commissioned and executive produced a wide range of programmes, ranging from John Bishop’s Britain, Russell Howard’s Good News and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Road Show, to Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man, The Undercover Princes and Junior Doctors. 

Elaine Bedell, MGEITF Executive Chair said: "For the last few years, Karl's worked right at the heart of the industry and has produced or managed some of the UK's biggest shows. He's also worked tirelessly on the committee for the television festival. His energy and enthusiasm is always infectious. I have no doubt that as Advisory Chair, his Festival plans will be big, ambitious - and fun."

And just in case you were wondering what all the 2012 fuss was all about catch up on ALL THE FULL MGEITF 2012 sessions you missed including ALL Meet the Controller sessions, Modern Family a Masterclass....

We are thrilled to welcome Karl on board as this year’s Advisory Chair.  He’s a joy to work with, brimming with ideas and enthusiasm, and I just know the 2013 programme is going to give this year’s a run for its money.  Let’s go!!


Over and out!

When my life flashes before my eyes when I die, I'm pretty sure a few frames will be dedicated to my time at The Network...

Get a place on The Network and you will go places!  Sometimes you might even go to famous places… while dressed as a panda having a series of telephone conversations with a lovely lady panda.  Confused?  Read James Fletcher’s story of what happened to him and fellow Network 2011 delegates Owen Cant and Lisa Robson:

My name is James Fletcher and I was a delegate on The Network 2011. It is my career goal to be a comedy producer, and The Network really gave me a push in the right direction. I had a great few days in Edinburgh, and look back at the memories fondly. When my life flashes before my eyes when I die, I'm pretty sure a few frames will be dedicated to my time at The Network - it was that good. The experience was made even better by the fact that I won a competition, in which you had to submit an idea to VisitScotland promoting the country in a 'unique/quirky' way. 

Skip forward ten months, and I'm stood in front of Forth Bridge. The wind ruffles the fur in my Panda costume. People are telling me it looks magnificent, but I can't see a thing, for the eye hole is ingeniously placed in the mouth, and thus is crap. "The bridge looks amazing! You look so funny in front of it!" I hear, as I look at the large Panda feet I'm wearing.

We filmed in a variety of locations; from old castles, to the caverns below Edinburgh, to golf courses, to portrait galleries, to tea rooms. Places you'd never expect to see a Panda. There's a good reason a Panda has never been to Willow Tea Rooms; the spaces in between the tables is rather small, and trying to navigate through them, blind, without smashing anything, was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. The Panda's face was always smiling, but the face under it was a sweaty mix of fear and worry.

In August I was invited to the advert's screening at The Network 2012's finale. It was weird being back and hearing Joe Godwin's closing speech.  As he spoke, I reflected on how far I'd come; not physically, as I was sat in the same room exactly as a year ago, so I hadn't gone anywhere in that regard - but experience wise, my CV is looking much better, and I have a tremendous advert for my show-reel which I'm extremely proud of. 

The Network is brilliant because I went from knowing nobody to knowing sixty plus people who all shared the same passion for working in Television. I didn't really make many contacts with industry professionals (as you can tell from this, I have a testing personality) but I kept in touch with many fellow delegates, and then milked their success, as they put me forward for work experience and made me aware of opportunities. I also found out through The Network's mailing list about the BBC looking for volunteers in Edinburgh during August, which I was successful in applying for, and I probably had the best month of my life there, so the benefits of being a Network delegate continue to grow, like a beautiful tree (of television).

--

James Fletcher

You can tweet James @themehospital - he especially likes panda related questions.  

Have a look at Owen Cant's blog for the director's perspective:  http://owencant.com/

Many thanks to Noelle Campbell and Ruma Cummins from sponsors VisitScotland, development mentors David Strachan and Andrew Blackwell from Tern TV, Edinburgh Zoo for loan of the panda costume and all the locations used for filming.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ddCNgRhaxw&feature=related

2012 Networking events - get the diary out!

Check out our social events schedule – from swanky drinks to late night shenanigans there’s something for everyone and you’re guaranteed a good, if slightly exhausting, time.

All delegates are welcome!

THURSDAY 

 

DELOITTE NETWORKING DRINKS 
Time: 17:15-18:00
Venue: The Tinto

CHANNEL 4 OPENING NIGHT DRINKS RECEPTION 

Time: 19:30-21:30
Venue: National Museum of Scotland

Once again, we’re back in the Museum of Scotland for our opening reception. Mingle amongst the priceless relics as you catch up with old friends, unwind after an action-packed day at the festival with a drink, and sample the very finest canapés from Scotland’s world renowned culinary larder.

The Festival will be running shuttle coaches directly from the EICC entrance to the Museum for all delegates straight after the MacTaggart Lecture.

FRIDAY 

CCTV NETWORKING DRINKS
Time: 16:30-17:30
Venue: The Tinto

CCTV invite you to join them for drinks and one-to-one discussions on collaboration opportunities.

CHAMPAGNE AND CANAPES WITH SONY TELEVISION PICTURES
Time: 16:45-17:45
Venue: The Moorfoot & Kilsyth

Join SPT’s UK production companies to raise a glass and toast the Edinburgh International Television Festival. 

WATCH PRESENTS THE FRIDAY NIGHT PARTY
Time: 21:30-02:00
Venue: The George Hotel

Watch and MGEITF are celebrating the eve of the final day of the Edinburgh TV Festival with a night out of the ordinary. Join the party at The George Hotel on Friday 24 August for a truly mind bending experience where unexpected furniture and a giant motion mirror will test your senses.

SATURDAY

REST!

Pack painkillers. And Echinacea.  And energy supplements. And possibly even sun tan lotion! Fingers crossed.

Festival Team
 

Date the commissioners in Edinburgh

Limited spaces available so make sure you book your space quick sharp! 

In a festival first... Channel 4 will be setting up stall and allowing producers and content creators to pitch fresh ideas and formats to their commissioning team!

  

With a maximum of five minutes per pitch, commissioners from across Channel 4’s genres will be ready and waiting; producers can secure one on one time with:

 

Delegates can email datethecommissioners@channel4.co.uk to reserve a slot – stating who you work for and who you would like to pitch to.

Don't miss out and book your slot today!

Festival HQ

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Victoria Wood and Doctor Who Lead TV Festival Screenings Programme

We are proud to unveil our full MGEITF screenings programme for Edinburgh 2012!

We are offering members of the public and Festival delegates an exclusive first look at some of this year’s most hotly anticipated television content.

The programme, which plays out between Thursday 23rd August and Saturday 25th August at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse, includes the world premiere of Victoria Wood’s film Loving Miss Hatto, the first Scottish showing of the long awaited seventh series of Doctor Who, and an exciting first chance to see Channel 4’s new comedy Friday Night Dinner, which stars The Inbetweeners favourite Simon Bird. 

All of the post screening Q and As will be moderated by writer and broadcaster Andrew Collins.
 

Loving Miss Hatto, which charts the story of Joyce Hatto, the renowned 1950s and 1960s concert pianist who only achieved critical acclaim thirty years after she disappeared from the limelight, will be followed by a Q and A with comedienne Victoria Wood, who will discuss the inspiration behind the project.

Doctor Who writer Steven Moffatt will be on hand to answer fans’ burning questions in a live Q and A segment after the explosive first episode of the new series, while Friday Night Dinner creator Robert Popper will be discussing his new comedy. 

Some Girls is a vibrant new comedy series for BBC Three produced by Hat Trick Productions. Following the lives of a group of 16 year old girls who play on the same school football team and live on the same inner city estate. This screening will be followed by a Q&A with Cheryl Taylor, Zai Bennett & Justin Davies

The lineup is completed by action series Hunted, a co-production between the BBC and Cinemax. Writer Frank Spotnitz, of the principal writers on X-Files, and producer Jane Fetherstone, take part in the Q and A.

The full timetable appears below: 

Venue
The FilmhouseTHURSDAY 23rd AUGUST

3:00pm – 4:30pm
Friday Night Dinner

FRIDAY 24th AUGUST

12:00pm – 13:30pm
Loving Miss Hatto 

4.45pm - 5.15pm

Some Girls

15:00pm – 16:30pm
Hunted

SATURDAY 25th AUGUST

10:00am – 11:30am
Doctor Who

If you have a FULL MGEITF ticket all the screenings are FREE and tickets will be available at the registration desk on a first come first served basis! 

If you do not have a MGEITF pass but would like to attend a screening never fear! You can buy tickets here.

Make sure you get your ticket before they sell out!

Festival Team

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Indie heavyweights join panel line-up

One of five indies is set to scoop a sought after £30k investment from Pinewood Studios in the culmination of the Pinewood Pitching competition; those in the running are today confirmed as:

1.   RDF’s Neale Simpson, presenting Unbeatable
2.   Markthree media’s Adam Hunt, presenting Story:Time, STV’s
3.   STV’s Gary Chippington & Amy Maher, presenting The Lie
4.   Pirate Productions’ Jenny Williams & Avalon’s Toby Stevens, co-presenting Bid for Brains
5.   Zebra Crossing’s Nev Pitty-Rose, presenting Table 10

Each of the indies will one by one present their TV format idea in front of an audience and panel of experienced commissioning figures. The panel comprises Elaine Bedell (Director of Entertainment and Comedy, ITV), Zai Bennett (Controller, BBC Three), Emma Tennant (Controller, UKTV) and Phil Edgar-Jones (Head of Entertainment, Sky). The prize package will include studio time, crew and post-production towards a pilot.

Meanwhile, help will be at hand for aspiring or struggling Indies as the Festival plays host to The Indie Surgery, a Q and A with some of the biggest and most influential figures in independent TV production. Eileen Gallagher (CEO, Shed Productions), Magnus Temple (Founder, The Garden), Tom Manwaring (Managing Director, Mediatique) and Andy Harries (Chief Executive, Left Bank Pictures) will answer all of prevalent questions on buying, launching, sustaining success and selling, as well as addressing topics such as setting up in the USA and how crucial having an agent really is in long term expansion…

 

Only 16 days to go!! See you there.

Festival Team 

Top tips for festival first timers

With this year’s festival on track to deliver 15% more delegates year on year, over 50 sessions, nearly 2000 people coming from over 250 companies, I’m super excited about going up to Edinburgh next month.  I’m also hugely proud to be working on such an awesome – and awe inspiring – event.   But I can see that it all might seem a little daunting to if you’ve never been before.  

And as a relative Festival newcomer myself (class of 2011), when I was recently asked to offer up some tips for others visiting our event for the first time I thought it best to canvas some opinions.

So here, without further ado, are some of the top tips and handy hints that the wonderful Advisory Committee have to offer..!

1. Michelle Chappell 

 
On arrival, drop your bags and go to The George. The rest will all become clear (or not!). 

 

2. Miranda Chadwick 

• Go through the delegate list and plan coffees in advance. And then plan to change all your plans and go with the flow…

• Get a rolling system of queuing at the Bar at the George. I think the staff are prone to bribery through good tips. 
• Make sure you see at least 1 fringe thing!

3. Zoё Clapp

• Read the thoughts of panellists and audiences live for the sessions that you’re in (and, importantly, those that you’re not) by using the session hashtags on Twitter. Each session uses the hashtag of the room it’s being held in: #pentland, #fintry, and so on. You’ll never miss out on the stories as they happen.  

 4. Tamsyn Zietsman

• Always carry a bottle of water and a snack. The sessions are so good there is often little time to eat.
• Pack Berocca and nurofen. 
• Pack more of it than you think you will need.  You will need it. Pack clothes for summer, winter, spring and autumn. Guaranteed to experience all seasons during the weekend.
• Make a plan. As soon as you get the schedule, highlight the key sessions you want to go and see. 
• See some comedy if you get a chance!

5. Donna Taberer

• Don’t be afraid of “networking”. Networking is just gossiping. Who in the TV world doesn’t like talking about themselves and their great shows.
• Only buy large glasses of wine at The George – otherwise you’ll be back in the queue in no time.
• Share taxis outside the conference centre. It’s amazing who you can hop in with……

6. Kenton Allen

• Nobody minds people introducing themselves at Edinburgh. That, after all, is why we're all there. So don't be shy. If you spot someone you're dying to talk to, pick your moment and go and say hello. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the reaction. Resist the temptation to imagine they are now your NBF, stalk them for the next 24 hours and insist they come back to your hotel for a nightcap, but be brave. Fortune favours the brave.

7. Anna Fern

• Don’t be intimidated by the people you will meet, but also don't be pushy and thrust your script or CV under their noses.

8. Anonymous

• Be keen and introduce yourself to commissioners but don’t feel you need to pitch to them at every opportunity.  Make them remember you for being fun and passionate about TV; not for pitching to them in the toilets. 

9. James Herring

'Don't forget to make some time in the evenings to see a couple of comedy shows at the Edinburgh Fringe – but if you don't book them by the first week in August the hot names will already be sold out'

10. Simon Tomkins

Attend sessions which are 'out of your comfort zone’. This will help build knowledge and awareness of a range of areas which will be useful going forward.

11. Ian Johnson

•    Save embarrassment - Wear your name badge so it’s easily visible for anyone you’ve met the night before and who can’t remember your name
•    See something at the fringe right at the beginning so you have something to discuss OTHER than TV!

So there you have it. Top tips from those that know.  Have fun following (or ignoring) them. I’ll see you there!

Louise x