91Èȱ¬
Talent launches seven schemes seeking new broadcasting talent
Initiatives
search for everyone from actors to weather presenters, from great
sports reporters to aspiring documentary makers
91Èȱ¬
Talent background notes
Case
studies
If
you have what it takes to work in television or radio, but feel
you've never had the opportunity, now is the time to act!
The
91Èȱ¬ is beginning its annual search for budding broadcast talent
this month with seven new schemes offering people everywhere opportunities
to work in different areas of the media.
If
you have ever wanted to be in an epic television drama or present
the weather, now is your chance. Or if directing a video on Top
Of The Pops or making a documentary about something you're an expert
on is what you seek in 2003, then 91Èȱ¬ Talent wants to hear from
you.
91Èȱ¬
Talent is the 91Èȱ¬'s unique initiative to find and develop new broadcast
talent in the UK, and on Thursday 6 March 2003 seven new schemes
will be launched looking for people of all ages for a diverse range
of opportunities:
Actors
are sought for the 91Èȱ¬'s forthcoming epic drama series, The Canterbury
Tales, which have been adapted by some of Britain's top television
writers. (More details below)
91Èȱ¬
Radio 1 is looking for people who are passionate about R'n'B, dance
or alternative/indie music to take up one-year contracts and work
alongside Trevor Nelson, Pete Tong and John Peel. (More
details below)
91Èȱ¬
Sport is offering a budding sports enthusiast and wannabe reporter
the chance to be part of the sports reporting team for the Athens
Olympics in 2004. (More details below)
91Èȱ¬
FOUR wants to hear from experts in their field with ideas for interesting
documentaries which will be commissioned and shown on the digital
channel. (More details below)
There
is a chance to direct a music video which will be funded by, and
shown on, Top Of The Pops. (More details below)
91Èȱ¬
English Regions is looking for trainee weather presenters to present
the local weather in different areas of the country. (More
details below)
Comedy
acts and sketch writers have the chance to compete for the 91Èȱ¬ THREE
New Comedy Awards. (More details below)
Further
details of all the schemes can be found on the or by calling the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on 08700
106060.
Application
forms are available from 6 March and the closing date for most schemes
is 30 May 2003.
Lorna
Clarke, Talent Executive, said: "We have a really wide range
of schemes this year and the 91Èȱ¬ wants to find the best new broadcasting
talent in the country. Whether you want to work on the Olympics
or present the weather, make a pop video or a serious documentary,
act in a drama or work for Radio 1, now is your chance. Don't let
the opportunity pass you by."
91Èȱ¬
Talent has been running for three years and has so far awarded contracts
and opportunities to more than 200 people.
91Èȱ¬
Talent 2003 - The Schemes
Radio
1 Music Masters
On
offer are three one-year contracts to work on the most prestigious
radio music channel in the country, with some of the biggest names
in the business: John Peel, Trevor Nelson and Pete Tong.
91Èȱ¬
Radio 1 is looking for people who know everything there is to know
about alternative, R'n'B or dance music. People who are passionate
- and knowledgeable - about the music, the artists, the influences,
the history and the future of any of these genres should apply for
the opportunity to be trained by some of the industry's leading
production teams.
The
three selected people will work at Radio 1 and receive training
in broadcasting, editing, reporting, production, research and have
the chance to take part in outside broadcasts and other Radio 1
events.
The
scheme is open to people over 18 and who are not working in network
radio production.
Trevor
Nelson said: "This would have been a once in a lifetime opportunity
for me before I got into the business - the chance to get an inside
view of how DJs and the Radio 1 team make great shows and create
a platform for exciting new music. It could be a great start in
the industry for three lucky people."
For
further information call the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on 08700 106060
or apply online at .
Closing date for applications is 9 May 2003.
New
TV Experts
Whether
you are an academic or an anorak, if you have a great idea for a
television documentary - and you've always wanted to make it - now
is your chance.
The
search is on for people who are experts in their own field, who
are great storytellers and who want to present programmes about
their chosen subject.
Ten
people will be given the opportunity to make taster tapes to showcase
their presenting style. The tapes will be shown to the 91Èȱ¬'s senior
commissioning editors and one will be chosen to make a documentary
to be shown on 91Èȱ¬ FOUR.
Open
auditions will be taking place in specially adapted taxis which
will be travelling around the country over the next few months.
In the taxi studios people can record their ideas and suggestions.
Scheme
Executive Producer, Angela Wallis said: "We're hoping to find
people who are experts in their field and who have always wanted
to make compelling programmes.
"We
are interested in hearing from anthropologists to novelists, individuals
with an expertise and an opinion! People will have a chance to record
their ideas in the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Taxi. Whatever your passion is, no
matter how unusual it sounds, we'd love to hear about it."
For
further details and to find out where the taxis will be, visit the
91Èȱ¬ Talent website at
or call the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on 08700 106060.
Auditions
will be held May-July 2003.
The
Canterbury Tales
The
91Èȱ¬ are seeking actors for a variety of small speaking parts in
their epic new drama series, The Canterbury Tales. On offer are
parts in each of Chaucer's six tales - which have been adapted by
some of the countries leading television writers.
Auditions
are being held along the route of Chaucer's stories and filming
will take place over the summer for broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ ONE later in
the year.
Those
who come to audition will be seen by a panel of experts including
series Executive Producer Franc Roddam (creator of Auf Weidershen
Pet), who has previously discovered numerous people who have become
successful actors, including Timothy Spall and Phil Daniels.
Roddam
said: "These updated versions of Chaucer's classic stories
capture the essence of what he was writing about and we are looking
for local people to add more colour to the dramas. Everyone who
thinks there might be a role for them, should come and give it a
go."
For
more details of audition locations, look online at
or call the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on 08700 106060.
Road
to Athens
A chance
to become a member of the award-winning 91Èȱ¬ Sport reporting team
for the Athens Olympics/Paralympics in 2004. Two nine month contracts
to work as a trainee sports reporter are on offer and are open to
anyone over the age of 18, not currently working full-time as a
sports reporter on radio, television or online.
Competition
for the two places is expected to be tough and applicants will have
to send in an audio cassette or video with their report of a sporting
event as well as a written report on an Olympic or Paralympic sport.
Screen
tests will follow for the best and then a final short list of candidates
will be invited to London in September. One of the two successful
candidates will get to be part of the 91Èȱ¬ Olympic reporting team
for Athens 2004.
Dave
Gordon, Head of Major Events, 91Èȱ¬ Sport said: "This is a unique
opportunity for people with a passion for sports and who have the
ability to be enthusiastic reporters to become part of a great team.
We are looking for the talent of the future and for people who can
make a name for themselves in sports reporting."
For
more details call the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on 08700 106060 or apply
online at .
Closing
Date for applications is 30 May 2003.
Top
Of The Pops Video Director
This
is your chance to direct a music video which will be shown live
on the legendary chart show Top Of The Pops. The scheme is open
to anyone over the age of 16 who has never had their work shown
on television.
Applicants
need to pick a chart act from the official UK Top 40 in the past
year and either write a one page proposal for the video they'd like
to make for the act and song, send in a sample video or send in
a storyboard.
The
best five entrants will then be loaned a DV camera and given £500
to help develop their ideas. These final five videos will be featured
on a Top Of The Pops programme - the best will get the chance to
direct a video for a chart act which will be screened on Top Of
The Pops on 91Èȱ¬ ONE.
Top
of the Pops Executive Producer, Chris Cowey said: "We are looking
for new blood, fresh ideas, people with a passion for music and
who want to make something really original. This is a chance for
film makers to get their work aired on primetime 91Èȱ¬ ONE - so we
are looking for something special."
For
more details call the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on 08700 106060 or apply
online at .
Closing
date for applications is 30 May 2003.
Weather
Presenters
This
is your chance to follow in the footsteps of Bill Giles, Michael
Fish, and John Kettley! 91Èȱ¬ Talent is looking for weather presenters
for English regional television news.
Two
six month contracts are being offered to those who feel they have
what it takes to explain highs, lows, mid-Atlantic depressions and
incoming warm fronts.
Auditions,
in front of a panel of judges, will be held in July at the 91Èȱ¬'s
11 English regional TV centres.
Two
successful candidates will be offered training with the Meteorological
Office in London. The scheme is open to anyone aged over 18 and
who has never worked as a television presenter.
Campaign
Manager Hetta Scherman said: "The local weather reporter holds
a very important place in the hearts and minds of all television
viewers, and they can make such a difference to people's lives.
We are looking for people who have a keen interest in meteorology,
a great presence on camera and an ability to explain the weather
to local viewers."
If
you think you have what it takes to explain this country's climate,
visit the website
to apply for an audition or call the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on 08700
106060 for details.
Closing
date for audition applications is 30 May 2003.
91Èȱ¬
THREE New Comedy Awards
If
you think you can make more than your friends and work colleagues
laugh, this is your chance to prove it. 91Èȱ¬ THREE is offering £2000
in prize money and a slot on the channel to the winner of the Stand-Up
Award - open to anyone with a comedy act as long as they haven't
worked on the comedy circuit for more than three years.
There
is also a Sketch Writers Award - open to individual writers or writing
teams of no more than five members – with prize money of £1000.
The
scheme gives budding comedy writers the chance to see their work
produced and performed professionally and screened on 91Èȱ¬ THREE.
The
scheme's Executive Producer, Angela Wallis, said: "It's always
great to see what new comedians and comedy writers are out there.
I want to encourage everyone who has always wanted to make people
laugh on stage or who has wanted to write sketches to give it a
go. You could find yourself performing at the Edinburgh fringe later
this year."
Applicants
for the Stand-Up Award need to send in a VHS video cassette of their
stand-up routine (5-8 minutes long).
For
the Sketch Writers Award, applicants will need to submit a written
script or VHS (three sketches of no more than two minutes long).
For
further details on how to apply, call the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Hotline on
08700 106060 or visit the website .
Closing
date for applications is 11 April 2003.
91Èȱ¬
Talent - Background Notes
Since
its launch in March 2000, 91Èȱ¬ Talent has run 34 different schemes
and awarded 155 contracts and commissions with more than 300 additional
people having their work showcased or being shown on-screen.
In
year one 91Èȱ¬ Talent launched with six schemes looking for television
presenters, Radio 1 trainees, sitcom writers, programme developers,
composers and stand-up comedians for the 91Èȱ¬ New Comedy Awards.
32
talented people were given their first break in broadcasting.
In
year two, 91Èȱ¬ Talent ran schemes including looking for actors to
appear in 91Èȱ¬ Drama Series, sports reporters for Radio 5 Live, graphics
designers for Top Of The Pops, presenters for 91Èȱ¬ Local Radio, script
writers for drama series, kids to make their own television programme
and musicians and vocalists across music of black origin.
65
talented people were given their first break in broadcasting.
In
year three, some of the 91Èȱ¬ Talent schemes on offer were looking
for new film makers, drama directors, presenters for C91Èȱ¬, Radio
Production trainees, interactive presenters for 91Èȱ¬i, reporters
for 91Èȱ¬ Sport and science experts to present on television.
58
talented people were given their first break in broadcasting.
91Èȱ¬
Talent - Case Studies
Year
One
Zevi
Watmough
A former
recruitment consultant from Edinburgh, Zevi got her first break
with 91Èȱ¬ Talent in 2000 and secured a presenting contract with 91Èȱ¬
Scotland. She is now the new face of 91Èȱ¬ Scotland's arts programme
Artworks. Last year, Zevi received a BAFTA nomination for best new
presenter.
"I
had been working in recruitment for five years, but I was at the
stage where I wasn't being challenged enough. I was helping people
find their dream job rather than chasing my own. I'd always dreamed
of working in television but had no idea how to go about getting
through the front door.
"Since
starting at the 91Èȱ¬ I've had lots of opportunities to try new things.
You are given a real feeling that anything is possible as long as
you can back it up with hard work."
David
Bromfield
David,
a school science teacher from South London won a presenter contract
with Tomorrow's World in 2000. Since then, he has worked as a radio
and TV reporter for Radio Five Live and the Six O'Clock News and
from January 2003, David has been a presenter on 91Èȱ¬ ONE's The Morning
Show.
"I
never dreamt I could be a television presenter, but 91Èȱ¬ Talent gave
me the opportunity to do just that and so much more. Working for
the 91Èȱ¬ is one of the most varied and exciting jobs you could ever
have."
Kasey
Clarke
Kasey
was a 21 year old graduate, working as a waitress at Pizza Express
when she applied to 91Èȱ¬ Talent's Radio 1 trainee scheme in 2000.
She worked alongside Dave Pearce on Radio 1 and is now working as
a broadcast assistant on 1Xtra, the new 91Èȱ¬ digital black music
station.
"I
had never worked in radio or written for the school paper or anything,
but I always wanted to - I love all that media stuff, music especially!
I really thought I was going to be serving pizza forever. Then 91Èȱ¬
Talent came along with a great opportunity and a whole new life."
Year
Two
Linda
Thompson
Linda's
ambition was to be a full-time writer. A university administrator
from Wigan, Linda entered the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Drama Writer scheme in
2001. Her Doctors script 'Regrets' made the final of the competition
and was showcased on the Casualty set in Bristol. The Doctors team
were so impressed that her script was commissioned and it was shown
on 91Èȱ¬ ONE in May 2002. Linda went on to write another episode for
the series.
In
December 2002, Linda signed a contract to write a further five episodes
of Doctors. She also has a series proposal in development for 91Èȱ¬
Wales. She is now writing full-time and is also lecturing in creative
writing.
"Life
has really changed for me since I applied to 91Èȱ¬ Talent. I've given
up my job as an administrator and I'm writing full-time. Being a
professional writer means that I actually wake up in the morning
and look forward to the day ahead!"
Norma
Morgan
Norma,
a retired school teacher from Selly Oak, Birmingham was awarded
a contract on Radio WM after entering 91Èȱ¬ Talent's local radio presenters
scheme in 2001. She made it through the audition process beating
35 other finalists across the country and was awarded a six month
contract presenting her own weekly show.
She
started presenting her show, Up Front, in January 2002. She proved
so popular, her initial six month contract was extended to 12 months.
"I'd
reached the end of what I'd call my working life and then I got
this chance. I never ever thought I'd go into broadcasting but here
I am in my sixties, and I'm having a great time!"
Year
Three
Maddy
Stevens
Maddy
from Eastbourne, East Sussex, was 19 and working for an optician
when she won a year's presenting contract with C91Èȱ¬ which she started
in September last year. Thousands of people auditioned for the 91Èȱ¬
Talent Making It scheme in 2002 for the chance to become a children's
presenter. Maddy showed the Making It judges that she had what it
took to be a presenter but, in the end, the viewers had the final
vote.
"When
I saw that 91Èȱ¬ Talent were offering a contract to become a children's
television presenter I knew I had to take a chance and go for it.
I couldn't believe when they told me live on air that I'd won! The
job is a real challenge, it's been hard work but I'm having lots
of fun working for C91Èȱ¬."
Natalie
Pirks
Natalie's
love of sport goes back to when she was a child. She had always
wanted to be a journalist and she applied to the 91Èȱ¬ Talent Sports
Reporter scheme in 2002. She began her training contract with Grandstand
in September 2002.
"A
year ago I would never have imagined I'd be working for 91Èȱ¬ Sport,
I'm so glad I applied to 91Èȱ¬ Talent. It sounds a tired cliché
but winning the competition really has been a dream come true. I'm
really enjoying it and constantly learning from a team of fantastically
talented people. I often have to pinch myself that I get paid to
talk about something I love!"
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