Five candidates selected to take part in the Dream Big! Programme have now completed their training. The initiative, supported by the ScreenSkills Children’s TV Skills Fund, is now in its second year and provides new entrants with their first job in children’s TV via paid placements at a range of leading production companies.
The programme is run by training provider thinkBIGGER and has a particular focus on attracting underrepresented new entrants to Children’s TV and enabling them to build a successful career. In addition to the placements Dream Big! encompasses practical training, industry masterclasses, personal development skills, and mentoring with industry professionals.
The trainees were given roles as production coordinators or researchers, gaining invaluable experience on an active production and seeing first-hand what it takes to bring a children’s tv show to screens.
Lanna Cowles received a placement as a production coordinator and said: “It was eye-opening to understand the amount of paperwork that goes into creating these shows that we love! Even after production. It was also super interesting working for a company who worked so heavily on merchandising the show so I got to understand how creating audiobooks or games, based on the show, work.”
Fellow trainee Ella Dennis also welcomed her time as a production coordinator: “It was interesting how my production company can tackle intense news stories while also being entertaining. It was good to see how news can be made child friendly without being patronising.”
The training offered by thinkBIGGER occurred at regular points during the placements, which was another benefit of the programme, Ella added: “The training was great because it was a chance to touch base with everyone and be reminded that there were others in the same position.”
Erin Malinowski agreed. She spoke of how the rounded approach helped. “The training thinkBIGGER provided alongside the placements was what really made Dream Big! an invaluable opportunity. Starting with a crash course introduction to the industry over the first week and ending with a couple of days in London meeting talent managers and other industry professionals, the training was not only incredibly helpful but really good fun.”
Lanna agreed, “I really benefitted from all the training provided on the course! From discovering the huge amount of post-production paperwork to learning about how to manage finances as a freelancer. Programmes like Dream Big! are incredible. Not only do they provide you with an amazing opportunity to work with a production company but you also get the support and training from people who run the schemes! You also meet like-minded people who are on the scheme and is a great opportunity to network and make friends.”
Jeniva Chambers worked as a junior researcher on the programme and found it a great opportunity for those looking to get their first break in the industry. She said: “It allows access to the industry for individuals who might not have previously had access. The industry can seem heavy on networking and success is related to who you know, so there are often barriers for those trying to break in. Dream Big! provides excellent training and opportunities to practically apply your skills. It has been invaluable for me, and hopefully I will be able to translate this to success for the industry. It provides the opportunity to build your network and gain a practical understanding of what the industry is actually like from those living it. It is an amazing scheme for early-level individuals.”
Megan Gibney, who received a placement as a production management trainee, spoke about the need for programmes like Dream Big: “It can be very daunting trying to break into the industry and it's so important for people to know there are programmes out there that want to champion them and give them the opportunity to start building their career with a solid toolkit to do so successfully.”
She also spoke how her time on the programme shaped her future ambitions. “Staying in children’s TV is the goal! I have absolutely loved my time in animation and would definitely love to see a production from its beginning however I am very open to working across all genres to enrich my experience and develop on the skillset I have been able to build over the last six months.”
The cohort will now look to continue their career in children’s tv and take their newfound knowledge into their next move. For some, such as Ella, that next step is already secured within the industry, “I am staying on at my company as their full time production coordinator so I will be staying in Children's TV for the foreseeable. I'm really excited to see where this takes me!”
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Find out more about the Children's TV Skills Fund