Production coordinator training programme for unscripted TV - London

Applications Closed

Dates: 31st Jan - 4th Feb 2022

Production management offers an exciting career path in TV and high levels of employability. The production coordinator holds a dynamic and challenging role which requires key skills and industry training.

This programme is aimed at individuals who are currently working in production management, those serious about transferring into unscripted production management from other departments or genres within TV, those looking to return to unscripted TV after a career break and those from other industries who have transferable skills and/or experience e.g working in admin, travel agents, theatre, events etc.  

Successful applicants will receive: 

• 5 days training which will consist of 4 days of intensive in person training (this may shift to online training if COVID-19 restrictions come into place) and 1 day of self-guided e-learning. This training will provide a comprehensive overview of the production coordinator role in unscripted television.
• Optional 2 day online training (conducted via Zoom) focusing on organising overseas filming.
• Up to 12 months paid work placements in independent production companies each lasting 3 months and where possible providing experience across a wide range of genres working with both large scale and smaller scale companies.
• 6 x 1hr mentoring sessions from an industry professional.  
  Industry networking event on the final evening of the in-person training. 

This programme 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.

Who it's for

This programme is for freelancers working in and around London and is open to:

• Individuals at the early stages of their career and already working as a runner, production secretary, production coordinator or production management assistant who want to focus on developing a career in production management.  
• Those who work in other roles in the industry such as editorial, technical and craft who are looking to move into production.
• Those working in scripted or corporate/commercial who want to make the move into unscripted TV production.
• Those looking to return to unscripted TV production after a career break
• Those from other industries who have transferable skills and/or experience e.g working in admin, travel agents, theatre, events etc.

This training programme will run across several regional cohorts. Please only apply for the one closest to you. The other cohorts are Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, and Belfast.

Please take a look at the unscripted production management department job profiles to familiarise yourself with what is involved in a production co-ordinator role and the skills required.

What it covers

Content includes:

• Albert/Sustainability
• setting up shoots
• understanding kit
• creating a call sheet
• risk assessments
• release forms
• GDPR  
• expenses/petty cash/per diems/POs/credit cards/cost manager basics
• clearances/copyright
• post production
• paperwork deliverables/Silvermouse
• managing up (PMs & editorial teams)
• what to do when things go wrong
• Tackling bullying & harassment at work (e-learning)
• Addressing unconscious bias: basic awareness in the workplace (e-learning)
• Coronavirus basic awareness on production training (e-learning)

This will be an interactive course with group work/discussions and industry exercises. You will be provided with a resource pack and useful documents at the end of the course.

How to apply

Click the 'Apply now' button above. You will need to:

• create and be logged into your ScreenSkills profile
• upload an up to date CV to your ScreenSkills profile
• fully complete the application form

The training programme is heavily subsidised with a fee of only £200, payable by successful delegates or their employers. There are bursaries available for those who require support. Please email – production@mediacareeradvice.co.uk if you intend to apply for a bursary.

In order to apply you should meet the following criteria:

• You must want to pursue a career specifically in production management in unscripted television. This is not an opportunity work in scripted television or to develop an editorial career as a researcher, assistant producer or producer-director.
• You must have proven organisational, team working and scheduling skills, please outline this experience in your application.
• You must be able to attend all 5 days of training.
• You must be able to attend training in person & online.
• You must be able to work for up to 12 months in (paid) placements in or around the city you are applying for training in.
• You must have the right to work in the UK.
• You can pay the £200 fee or intend to apply for a bursary.

Course Tutor

Hannah Gosney is an experienced Head of Production/Senior Production Manager and founder of Media Career Advice. She has extensive knowledge and experience of what it takes to deliver programmes from pre-production to post production across a variety of unscripted genres.  

Starting out as an Office Runner Hannah quickly worked her way up the ranks working on extreme sports shows and commercials to remote and hostile shoots among others, to specialise in factual, factual entertainment and natural history programmes.  Credits include The Mekong River with Sue Perkins (BBC 2), Flintoff’s Road to Nowhere (Sky One), Wild Shepherdess with Kate Humble (BBC 2), Wales: Land of the Wild (BBC 2), Veganville (BBC Three) and Wonders of the Celtic Deep (BBC Wales)

Throughout her career she’s been passionate about nurturing and training crew and understands the importance of best practice in the industry. With this in mind she now focuses her time on providing training for the media industry with an emphasis on those working in production.  She has a Level 3 Train the Trainer qualification and is a Level 3 qualified ILM Coach & Mentor and is currently studying for a Level 3 Award in Education & Training.