4Skills | NFTS: All Things Digital

Welcome to Channel 4 and the National Film and Television School's booking page for an exciting week of online sessions that are all free and open for anyone to join. The theme of the week is All Things Digital. These sessions will offer unique insights from a wide range of experts working within the digital field, who will share their expertise and discuss the opportunities & challenges of working in digital. 

All sessions will be hosted on Zoom. To see the full schedule of sessions and to book your place see below. There will be the opportunity to ask questions during these sessions. 

Full Schedule & Links To Book Your Place:

Alice Cruickshank: Presenting in a Digital World I Monday 12th October | 10:30 - 12:00

Learn how to find your own presenting style and speak naturally to camera, as well as how to create strong hooks, interview guests and connect with an audience. Whether you’re thinking about launching a podcast, creating social content, or you simply want to feel more confident in front of a camera or microphone then this 90-minute webinar will provide the framework to get started.

Led by Alice Cruickshank (Instagram or LinkedIn), a journalist, presenter and digital creator who has worked across television, social media and podcasting, this session is a practical introduction to presenting for today’s digital audiences, from TikTok and Instagram to YouTube and podcasts.

Book your place here.

John Servante: Digital Storytelling I Monday 12th October | 14:00 - 15:30

This engaging masterclass, with John Servante utilises elements of his From Scratch to Screen method — a visual, flexible, creative methodology for structuring digital stories. There will be a chance to ask questions in the session.

John Servante is a writer and academic with a disability and neurodivergence. John won places on both Channel 4’s 4Stories initiative and the BBC Studios Writers Academy, working with a breadth of BAFTA-winning talent including Elizabeth Kilgariff, Marcus Wilson, John Yorke, Philip Trethowan and Ben Bickerton, and John Chapman. He has taught digital storytelling for Channel 4.0, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video and is currently a doctoral researcher at the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Digital Media Inclusion. 

Book your place here.

Ade Shannon: Pitch with Proof I Tuesday 13th October | 10:30 - 12:00

Before a commissioner or platform says yes, they want evidence. Ade Shannon (DiO) shows how innovative new technologies are being used to test ideas, formats and content with real audiences and how data can ensure a pitch lands, whether you're making TV, film or creator content.

Book your place here.

Sarah Tehranian: Making Films With Your Smartphone I Wednesday 14th October I 10:30 - 12:00

Led by Cinematographer Sarah Tehranian, this online webinar will help you access the full potential of your smartphone and create better digital content. Learn the essential kit, set-ups, apps and techniques for great sound, lighting, filming and fast edits — all from your phone.

Sarah Tehranian is a cinematographer with over a decade of experience across media, television news, documentary, and independent film. Her passion for journalism and human stories has led her to work on documentaries for BBC Panorama, Sky, ITV, Al Jazeera, and Amazon, as well as independent documentaries.

You will need access to a smartphone to make the most of this session. There will be a 30 minute Q&A at the end of the Webinar, giving you the opportunity to ask Sarah any questions you may have.

Book your place here.

John Offord: Developing Your Ideas for Digital Platforms I Thursday 15th October I 10:30 - 12:00

Learn how to take an idea and develop it across podcasts and digital platforms, from choosing the right format and audience through to creating content for YouTube and social platforms. This is a practical and accessible session, looking at how a podcast or audio idea can be developed into a wider range of digital content, including video and short-form social content, without losing sight of the story and audience.

John Offord is a freelance producer, presenter and journalist with experience across BBC radio, podcasts and digital storytelling. He’s produced and presented documentaries for BBC World Service and Radio 4, as well as working on podcasting and digital content projects. 

Book your place here. 

Helen Hyde: The Camera in Your Pocket I Thursday 15th October I 18:30 - 20:00

In this practical Webinar, we will cover how to create engaging video content on the very small screen. Including understanding the fundamentals of phone settings, composition, lighting, and sound to create content that works for today’s social platforms. Packed with equipment recommendations and filming techniques you can put into practice straight away, this session will help you turn your smartphone into a powerful storytelling tool. 

After years working in the TV industry, Helen started her own corporate video production company with just an iPhone and a few inexpensive pieces of equipment. 

Book your place here.

Andrew Davis: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of AI in a Digital World I Friday 16th October | 10:30 - 12:00

AI is changing how we create, develop and distribute digital content, but content creation is only one part of what it can do. This session explores the practical ways creators can use AI to research, analyse, plan, generate ideas and become more productive, while also examining the risks, limitations and wider impact of the technology.

AI is changing everything, this practical session looks at ways creators can use AI in a positive way across digital content creation. 

Andrew Davis is a generative AI trainer, keynote speaker and social media specialist who helps people use AI to become more productive, creative and effective in their everyday work. With more than 25 years’ experience across digital, media and marketing, Andrew has trained and worked with people from organisations including YouTube, Amazon Prime, Fremantle and FIFA, as well as many others.
 

Book your place here.

Andrew Davis: Beyond the Content: Building a Successful Social Media Strategy I Friday 16th October | 14:00 - 15:30

Creating content is only one part of building a successful presence on social media. This session explores how to develop a clear social media strategy, from understanding what you want to achieve and who you want to reach, through to creating the right content, growing an audience, building engagement and turning that attention into meaningful results.

Andrew Davis is a generative AI trainer, keynote speaker and social media specialist who helps people use AI to become more productive, creative and effective in their everyday work. With more than 25 years’ experience across digital, media and marketing, Andrew has trained and worked with people from organisations including YouTube, Amazon Prime, Fremantle and FIFA, as well as many others.

Book your place here.