How to be a Good Researcher

If you’ve ever wondered what skills are needed to be a good factual researcher, this is the course for you. We’ve enlisted an expert in factual programme making to talk through exactly what he looks for in someone to fill this role.

We'll talk about the experience you’ll need to get the job and, most importantly, the skills you’ll need to be good at it. You’ll be walked you through the pitfalls of this role and how to avoid them, and how you can thrive in one of the most creative disciplines in factual TV.

You may also be interested in our other upcoming masterclasses:

Innovating for the Streamers: The Making of HBO Max’s A World of Calm

Archive and Music in Visual Storytelling: A Workshop

Who it's for

This course is aimed at researchers as well as those interested in becoming one.

Speaker

Andrew Walmsley is a Series and  Executive producer and Head of popular factual at Middlechild Productions with over 20 years experience producing prime time factual entertainment, features and documentary formats. He has a strong reputation for new series creation as well as freshening returning formats. During his time in the world of TV he has put together and managed numerous production teams and knows that one of the most vital secrets to a successful production is finding strong researchers , with the skills and attitude to give the team just what they need.

His positions and credits include:

• Head of Popular Factual - Middlechild Productions
• Series Producer - Secrets of the Transport Musuem (UKTV)
• Executive Producer - Restoration Workshop (UKTV)
• Executive Producer - The Dog Rescuers (Channel 5)
• Series Producer - Salvage Hunters (Discovery Quest)
• Executive Producer - Location Location Location (C4)
• Executive Producer - The Weakest Line (BBC1)
• Head of Development - Raise the Roof Productions
• Executive Producer - Phil Spencer Secret Agent (C4)

 

This event is supported by the ScreenSkills Television Skills Fund which invests in training for the freelance television workforce thanks to contributions from the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

It is part of a ScreenSkills programme managed by the Indie Training Fund to support freelancers to upskill and stay connected, helping keep the industry resilient in these difficult times.

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘get ticket’ to reserve your place: you must login or register before you are able to get a ticket for this event. A booking confirmation with a joining link to the session will be sent to you via email.