Mastering Development

A TWO DAY, IN PERSON EVENT FOR TV DEVELOPMENT TEAMS & INDIVIDUALS.

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

This session 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.

This course would normally cost participants to attend but, thanks to this support, we are able to offer it to you for free.

The Course is split across two days.

DAY ONE

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 to a networking drink.

DAY TWO

Breakout topic specific sessions, complementary to the whole team training but 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.

 
ON GOING SUPPORT
Mastering 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 Course

Who is it for?

This course is aimed at unscripted development teams working within production companies, as well as individuals and freelancers working in development roles.

All levels of development job are covered from Researcher up to Development Executive and Head of Development.

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

There are also 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.

Dates & Prices

The Mastering Development 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 course would normally cost £800 per person but 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. We are therefore able to offer it to you for free.


There is bursary funding available, aimed at supporting freelancers who require help with additional costs (e.g. caring, travel, or return to work).

If you would like to apply for bursary funding, 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

Facilitators

Anna Blue and Will Spokes are Entertainment Executives who each have over 25 years’ experience in TV development and production.

Often working together, and sometimes apart, they have co-created, sold and produced numerous formats including The Fortune Hotel (ITV), 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), OAP Internet Virgins (Sky) and many more.

They have managed and trained numerous development departments at various major production companies, both in full time positions as creative directors, and as consultants – constructing teams and advising on strategy.  Importantly they are still in the thick of TV development and production and will be delivering this course around their ongoing roles.

Anna is currently Director of Entertainment at Gold Dust Films.

Will oversees development and is an Executive Producer at Tuesday’s Child.

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

She creates bespoke casting strategies, establishes industry standard best practices, and works from the ground up from the initial idea to the final pitch to commissioning editors and channel execs.  Often tackling sensitive subjects and working with diverse communities, Mel partners with networks and prod-cos to pull together casts of all types.

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), TheBiggest Loser (ITV1) and Big Brother (C4).

Since 2019 Mel has devised and presented multiple casting training courses for ScreenSkills, PACT, ScreenSkills Ireland/RTE and has collaborated with leading TV companies to run in-house casting workshops and seminars.  Her area of training expertise includes Casting Strategies, Inclusive Casting, Casting and Duty of Care.