The challenges of a shifting TV landscape will be discussed by television executives at this year's RTS Cambridge Convention, chaired by BBC Director-General Tony Hall.
Click here for the latest programme and news about Cambridge 2015
This year RTS Futures are joining forces with the Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival Talent Schemes to host a celebration and party for you with some of the biggest names in the television industry.
This is a party like no other – an opportunity you could only dream of – a chance to meet the people behind some of the most talked about shows on British television, as we open the evening with a special Q&A session
Dr Demis Hassabis is the Co-Founder and CEO of DeepMind, the world’s leading General Artificial Intelligence (AI) company, which was acquired by Google in 2014 in their largest ever European acquisition. Demis will draw on his eclectic experiences as an AI researcher, neuroscientist and videogames designer to discuss what is happening at the cutting edge of AI research, its future impact, and how developing AI may help us better understand the human mind, including the nature of imagination and creativity.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” The 1980s Billy Ocean lyric, no doubt part of the soundtrack to the teenage lives of the six menopausal women in new, Brighton-set “drama-with-funny-bits” Dun Breedin’, could be the mantra of its creator, Julie Graham, who starred in ITV’s Benidorm.
Edi Smockum was offering advice on how to break into the television industry at an RTS Futures webinar in mid-May, held during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Managing Director of ThinkBigger!, which runs new entrant schemes for the independent producers’ association Pact and Channel 4, admitted that entry schemes are highly competitive. But she urged people to apply, arguing that the process of applying will help “you understand what television’s looking for”.
Smockum reckoned that, with her colleague Sam Tatlow, she reads up to 1,000 applications a year for entry schemes.
“I’ve seen a tonne of people in these last few weeks reinvent themselves and how they’re doing things … At Nutopia, we’ve been working on amazing remote filming kits.
“Creative people are the most adaptable, so I’m very optimistic.”
The head of talent at factual producer Nutopia was part of a panel of talent executives talking at RTS Futures’ inaugural Zoom event – “Ask me anything” – in early May.
Futures members had emailed questions to the panel, including how to stand out at an interview with a production company for a TV-entry job.
Part of RTS Cymru Wales' 60th anniversary celebrations, the first event will be held on Monday 5 August at 3.00pm when media commentator Tim Hartley will be introducing clips from half a dozen classics from the TV archives over the past 60 years.
Voting forms will be available throughout the week for Sinemaes audiences to pick their favourite programme from the list. The show with the most votes will be shown on Saturday 10 August at 3.30pm.
In the afternoon, the TV presenter and naturalist spoke to media students about sustainable TV production, while in the evening he talked candidly about his life and TV career – and how he copes with the effects of Asperger Syndrome.
The RTS Cymru Awards evening will be held on 6th February at the University of South Wales ATRiuM in Cardiff, and will include both the new industry awards and the student television awards.
The judging panel for both the Industry Awards and the Student Awards was made up of senior professionals from the main broadcasters, the independent television production sector, and from the higher and further education sectors:
Over nearly four decades, Michael, now Lord, Grade walked the corridors of power at London Weekend Television, the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV – no one is more qualified to discuss the enduring appeal of Christmas telly.
Lord Grade commissioned many of the nation’s most memorable festive programmes, including the 1986 Christmas Day EastEnders when Den issued Angie with divorce papers. Ratings topped 30 million, although that figure includes viewers of a repeat showing.
