{made in glasgow} feature reports

True TV’s report from New Platforms , New Politics Seminar and the Documentary Campus Master Class – the Secrets of Success, July 2009

BThe New Platforms seminar was aimed at developing cross platform projects for the International Market. The projects were selected from all over Europe and developed intensively over three days with international experts in the field. It was organised by the EDN (European documentary Network) and a new media program funded Greek organisation ‘Storydoc’. 

Immediately after it t ran the ‘Secrets of Success’ - the last of a series of the Documentary Campus professional Master Class seminars which run alongside their Masterschool 2009 course.  

Both seminars brought together course participants with other industry producers and European and US Commissioning Editors from terrestrial and satellite channels.   It was a marvellous opportunity. Not only did I manage to get great feedback on a current cross platform project I’m developing and nail the idea and concept, but I was able to pitch it informally at the Documentary Campus seminar to the Commissioning Editor in Europe most likely to commission it.  He was there as a panel speaker.  

Additionally , I was able to meet other producers working in the territories I am needing to make contacts in – the Middle and Far East.  I had contacts already for Iraq and Afghanistan – I now have key people to help me access comedians in Palestine, Syria, and now Burma.  I’d been trying for Burma for months.  

These events are incredibly useful value for money seminars not only to progress specific projects, but to keep up to date with targeted market trends that help produce what is ‘niche product’, in a global marketplace.  Attendance is essential to keep the relationships going on which this business works.    

Barbara Orton, True TV.  July 2009.

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