Mastering unscripted TV development: team enrichment

Give your entire development team the skills boost they need to navigate the market, strategise their ideas pipeline and deliver business winning pitches.

‘Mastering unscripted TV development’ provides the rare opportunity for your whole team to step back and rethink their processes, whilst providing them with a wealth of tools to create a comprehensive development strategy. 

This two-day in person event is designed to enhance the skills of everyone on the development team. Day one is a group learning day that will follow the chronology of the development process from inception to sale. Day two comprises topic specific modules to cater for differing levels of experience. 

This is not an ideas sharing or generating workshop – as developers ourselves we understand the value of a great idea. Instead we will be sharing styles, strategies and experiences through talks and workshops that cover everything from understanding global markets to producing standout materials. We aim to demystify development and empower your team with the confidence required to develop and sell their own great ideas.

We believe that training in creative roles should itself feel creative. ‘Mastering unscripted TV development’ is designed to be as entertaining as it is informative – because a great TV show should be as joyful to develop as it will be to watch. 

Our team enrichment course runs five times between April and September 2024 in the following locations:

• London – April 18th and 19th
• Manchester – June 13th and 14th
• Glasgow – July 11th and 12th
• Bristol – September 12th and 13th
• Belfast – September 26th and 27th

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

Who it's for

This course is aimed at unscripted development teams working within production companies. But can also accommodate individuals and freelancers working in development roles. 

All levels of development job are covered from researchers up to development execs and heads of development.

Production companies are encouraged to send their whole development team whether that is just one person or a larger group, There are multiple ticket discounts for larger group bookings. 

There are a number of bursary places available which are aimed at supporting freelancers who are self-funding the training and those not currently on contract with a production company. If you would like to apply for a bursary please check the bursary box on the application form.

What it covers

Our two day team enrichment course aims to provide developers with the skills to:

• Plan and run a coherent development strategy, based on their company objectives.
• Generate a slate of vibrant, inventive and fresh ideas.
• Effectively develop those ideas and create world class materials.
• Successfully pitch those ideas and win business.  

Course overview: 

Day One will focus on group learning with a series of sessions that the whole team can benefit from – from heads of development to researchers. Including:

• One Team, One Plan, One Piece of Paper - Constructing the right team and managing a slate.
• The Journey of an Idea – The importance of resilience for people and projects.
• Open Development – Ideas and how to have them, inspiration, briefs, successful brainstorming and clear goals.
• Closed Development – Shaping an idea, testing, casting and producing materials. 
• Working with Talent in Development – How and when to attach a name to a project.
• The importance of selling – how to get a pitch and what to do once you’re in one.
• Creating a Strategy – using all the above to plan a coherent development strategy for your company

At the end of day one delegates will be invited a networking drink.

Day two will cover breakout topic specific sessions. They will be complementary to the whole team training but may be more specifically targeted at levels of experience. Including:

• Why the development lead is the most important person in the company – a view of the global formats market and the business of television.
• The robots are coming – AI in development.
• Decks and Sizzles - Everything you ever wanted to know about creating world class pitch materials.
• Development Casting Masterclass – Solving the quick turnaround problem, manging contributors for non-broadcast, gaining trust and finding stories for access and pitching a cast for a pilot.

Day two will also include a pitching session where we will be joined by a local unscripted commissioner from a major broadcaster. 

Ongoing support:

'Mastering unscripted TV development' is designed to create a legacy, connecting the workforce long after the course has expired. It is never good to develop in a bubble, so whilst this is not about sharing ideas, access or contacts, it is about creating a network which is able to share market insight, stories, skills and experiences. An optional course specific Slack group and a staying in touch zoom will mean teams can benefit from sharing skills and experiences beyond the length of the course and will have access to their tutors as they take their new skills back into the workplace. 

The interview sessions: tales from the frontline:

To complement the above sessions we will offer 5 virtual Interviews and Q&A sessions, with a selection of industry greats who have devised and commissioned some of our best loved shows. Anyone who attends the two-day course gets free access to these virtual interviews which will take place across the course of the spring and summer.

Tutors:

This course will be devised and delivered by Will Spokes and Anna Blue. Between them they have over 30 years’ experience in television development across multiple genres and broadcasters. Sometimes together and often apart, Will and Anna have trained numerous development teams at various major production companies. Most importantly they are still in the job and will be delivering this course around their ongoing roles developing, pitching and producing shows.

In their joint careers they have co-developed and sold numerous formats including The Mash Report (BBC2), The Magicians (BBC1), You’re Back in The Room (ITV), Got To Dance (Sky), The Big Jubilee Street Party (ITV), Push The Button (ITV), Life Stripped Bare (C4), Taxi of Mum and Dad (C4), The Beat Goes On (C5), and OAP Internet Virgins (Sky). Anna is currently Director of Entertainment at Gold Dust Films and Will is an Executive Producer at Tuesday’s Child and runs his own development consultancy.

They will be joined by Mel Walden who will deliver a bespoke session in access and casting. 

Mel is an in-demand Casting Executive with over 23 years’ production and casting experience across every genre at leading TV production companies.  

With particular focus on compliance, inclusivity, confidentiality, legal processes and duty of care, Mel advises companies on how best to navigate the intricacies of modern casting and develops protocols widely used across the rapidly-evolving TV landscape.  

Some of Mel’s credits include the upcoming Junior Taskmaster (Channel 4), The Savoy (ITV), Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars (BBC One), 20+ Stand Up To Cancer appeal films (C4), four series of Child Genius (C4), Back In Time For Dinner/The Weekend (BBC Two), Million Pound Menu (BBC Two), Bring Back Borstal (ITV), Jonnie’s Blade Camp (C4), The Voice (BBC1), The Biggest Loser (ITV1) and Big Brother (C4).

How to apply

To apply, please click the 'Book now' button at the top of this page. You'll be redirected to the 'Mastering unscripted TV development' website where you can fill in an application form.

This course would normally cost £800 per person but thanks to funding from ScreenSkills we are able to offer it in 2024 at the following subsidised rate:

Standard rate:

• £200 + VAT per person
• £175 + VAT for every additional person from the same production company. 

Early bird offer:

(available on any bookings made 28 days in advance of the course start date)

• £150 + VAT per person

There are a number of bursary places available which are aimed at supporting freelancers who are self-funding the training and require help with additional costs (eg caring, travel, or return to work). If you would like to apply for a bursary please check the bursary box on the application form.

If you would like support completing the booking form and/or would like us to send it to you in an alternative format please email info@masteringdevelopment.com

Judging information

Once you have completed the booking form someone from 'Mastering unscripted TV development' will be in touch to ascertain your eligibility for the course, discuss the amount of places required, and let you know whether spaces are available in your chosen location.