Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about commissioning (but were too afraid to ask)

As part of our Step Up strand, we’re offering training to help individuals coming back into the industry after a break, moving into a new role or responsibility level, or improving skills in unscripted TV. 

Ever wondered what PTK actually means? Not sure if you know your BBAMs from your ROIs? Don’t worry, you’re not alone - every broadcaster seems to have its own particular process and in this 90 minutes we aim to demystify the work of a commissioner to help you understand this significant role better. Whether it be about the nuances to get greenlit or the crucial journey beyond, the session is a no holds barred look at some of the more perplexing elements of the commissioning process, with anecdotes and jargon busting to help you have a positive working relationship with the commissioner.

Who it's for

This session is for all unscripted tv professionals who want to improve their knowledge of commissioning to enhance their careers.

The majority of the USF online short course offering is for those at early career stage and above. As a result, we generally require applicants to have at least three credits (unless working in a traditionally uncredited role). If you strongly feel you would still benefit from the training, please email USF@screenskills.com so we can assess if an exception should be made.

We are committed to ensuring all our courses are accessible to everyone. This course is designed to be as interactive as possible. Please email the above address if you have any access requirements and we will be delighted to help, be that clarifying the form such interaction is likely to take or discussing reasonable adjustments.

Course tutor:

Claire Zolkwer is a consultant with more than 30 years of experience in the TV industry. Working as an idea creator, indie boss and producer has given her an insight into how the commissioning process impacts production, but it is her experience as a commissioning editor for several broadcasters for more than a decade that will be most relevant in this session.

How to apply

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘apply for ticket’ and follow the instructions to apply for your place: you must login or register before you are able to complete your application.

Places on these free online courses are limited and applications are often highly competitive. To stand the best chance of securing a place, please be sure to consider the following:

• When asked to list your three most recent credits, please include the programme title and your job role.
• When asked what you hope to gain from the course, please be concise but ensure you cover the specific elements of the topic you would like to gain knowledge of and what gaps in your skillset you believe the course may address. A rewording of the course title or a general comment on career progression does not tell us much about how this course would benefit you.

If you are no longer able to attend, we ask you to please use the 'decline ticket' function on the right hand side of the page so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.

This session is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

This course would normally cost participants to attend, but thanks to this support, we are able to offer it to you for free. If you fail to attend, we reserve the right to request reimbursement of costs, unless your place can be taken by someone else.