Freelancer Focus

The BBC and Channel 4 have partnered with the National Film and Television School to deliver two weeks of free online sessions aimed at freelancers working in the UK.

The schedule includes masterclasses, workshops, advice and wellbeing sessions for those working in both scripted and unscripted production. Delivered as webinars, they will offer practical knowledge, skills and support on topics as varied as financial planning, cv writing and self-confidence at a time when the sector is facing unprecedented challenges.

All sessions will be hosted on Zoom. Please note, they will not be recorded.

To see the full schedule of sessions and to book your place, please use the drop down links below.

Full Schedule (pdf)

Week One: Mon 2nd - Fri 6th October

Pitch Yourself Perfect: Mon 2nd Oct | 10.00 - 11.00

Is your CV or application getting lost in a stack? Don't know how to pivot into a different genre? Now more than ever, it's vital to build an approach and online profile for yourself that helps you stand out, as well as attracts the kind of connections you want to work with. And when the industry is quiet, it’s a chance to be proactive about it. Join co-MD of staffing company Talented People and Producer/Host of The Imposter Club podcast, Kimberly Godbolt for this useful and practical session on tangible ways to tweak your positioning.

BBC Unscripted: Career Progression Opportunities: Mon 2nd Oct | 14.00 - 15.30

Join Nichola Garde, BBC Creative Diversity, Disability Lead to explore BBC Elevate, supporting the industry wide progression of deaf, disabled and/ or neurodivergent production talent and learn about the Production Management Skills Fund, the RAD/ Supersizer/ Fast Track and SP programmes run by TRC.

Commissioners Beejal Patel and Emma Loach join to discuss funded regional female self-shooting courses and editor traineeships in Documentaries.

Followed by a Q&A.

CVs: The Good, the Bad and the Best : Tues 3rd Oct | 10.00 - 11.00

Your CV is still the most effective tool in marketing yourself and there are simple but effective ways to make it stand out. Media industry coach Matt Pearcey will take you through best practice on writing and updating a cv and the common mistakes everyone should avoid. See copy of slides here

How to be Strategic about your Freelance Career: Tues 3rd Oct | 13.30 - 14.30

Being freelance doesn’t mean you can’t be strategic in your approach to work. In this session, Sara Putt, founder of Sara Putt Associates and also Chair of BAFTA, shares insights and tips on how to take control of your career and navigate the ups and downs. See copy of slides here.

Managing Your Finances as a Freelancer: Wed 4th Oct | 10:00 - 11:15

Being freelance brings flexibility, but when times are challenging it also means you have to get organised with finances and keep money under control. David Thomas will look at how to engage with budgeting and cash flow planning as a freelancer. We will also cover how the tax office treats different types of freelancer, and how to keep records without wasting time on paperwork. After the session you will have online access to useful templates and downloads, some of which will be demonstrated during the session.
David Thomas runs a training business that helps creative freelancers develop their business skills. Paperwork and bureaucracy are two of his least favourite things. Free resources found here

C4 Digital Commissioning with Laura Marks: Wed 4th Oct | 14.30 - 15.30

Channel 4’s Senior Digital Commissioner and Senior Operations Lead, Laura Marks, will talk about C4’s latest digital slate and brief attendees on upcoming C4 Digital Commissioning opportunities.

Film and TV Charity: Wellbeing and Support : Thurs 5th Oct | 10.00 - 11.00

The Film and TV Charity provide support for people working behind the scenes, from freelancers to full time workers. In this session they will take you through the many ways they can support your financial, mental and practical wellbeing during this difficult time, along with a walkthrough of how their Whole Picture Toolkit can support you and any production you are working on to become a mentally healthy production.

In Search of the Perfect Story with John Yorke: Thurs 5th Oct | 13.30 - 14.30

John Yorke is widely acknowledged as the UK's foremost expert on story; in this masterclass he will take you on a tour of the origins of narrative structure and how you can apply it to tell increasingly powerful narratives. There will be the chance to ask John questions at the end of the session. Click here to view slides

Opportunities for Growth with Channel 4: Fri 6th Oct | 11.00 - 12.00

Join Rebecca Thompson, Head of Indie Relations, Caroline Percy, Senior Portfolio Manager and Kevin Blacoe, Head of Partnerships and Skills as they cover the support C4 offers for freelancers and indies. This will include information on the Emerging Indie Fund, Indie Growth Fund, 4Skills and the wider Nations and Regions strategy.

Opportunities in Games and Immersive Production: Fri 6th Oct | 14.00 - 15.00

Many of the skillsets in tv production are also applicable to games and immersive storytelling. Writers, directors, producers and production managers for example, will have transferable skills that are sought by companies in the games and immersive sector. This panel discussion will explore where the opportunities lie and hear from those who have made the move. The session will be chaired by Trevor Klein (Producer for TV & Immersive, Freelance) who will be joined by Michelle Feuerlicht (Executive Producer, Factory 42), Rachel Nicholson (Head of Institution, Academy of Live Technology), Joe Ahearne (Writer & Director, Freelance) and Anisa Sanusi (Games UX Designer & Consultant, Freelance).

Week Two: Mon 9th - Fri 13th October

Introduction to Script Editing: Mon 9th Oct | 10.30 - 11.30: Join Zina Wegrzynski to gain an overview of the role of script editing within scripted television. We’ll look at how the role shifts through development to production and the different responsibilities that the script editor has as a show progresses. Slides for this session
BBC Comedy And Drama: Career Progression Opportunities: Mon 9th Oct | 14.00 - 15.30: Join Jess Loveland, BBC Head of New Writing to learn how BBC Writersroom discovers, develops and champions writing talent, and Emma Lawson, Commissioning Editor for Comedy, to find out about the schemes, projects, and bursary activity available within BBC Comedy. Nichola Garde outlines the BBC Elevate scheme and upcoming DDPTV networking sessions connecting Deaf, Disabled and/ or Neurodivergent talent with production companies to help expand contact networks. Followed by a Q&A.
Film and TV Charity: Wellbeing and Support: Tues 10th Oct | 11.30 - 12.30: The Film and TV Charity provide support for people working behind the scenes, from freelancers to full time workers. In this session they will take you through the many ways they can support your financial, mental and practical wellbeing during this difficult time, along with a walkthrough of how their Whole Picture Toolkit can support you and any production you are working on to become a mentally healthy production.
Freelancer Guide to Contracts and Negotiating: Tues 10th Oct | 13.30 - 14.30: Gwenda Carnie of Industry Media explains the different types of contracts that companies use to engage production staff and crew, the clauses that can be negotiated (and the bits that can’t) and other essential information every freelancer should know. See slides here
CV Clinic: Wed 11th Oct | 10.30 - 12.30: Sign up for a 1-to-1 with a Talent Manager who can give feedback and tips to improve your CV. Slots will be allocated on first come first served basis and this session is exclusively available for those who attended CVs: The Good, the Bad and the Best on Tues 3rd Oct - details for the CV Clinic will be shared during the webinar.
Introduction to 4Studio : Wed 11th Oct | 15.00 - 16.00: Join Channel 4’s in-house digital content team as they talk you through the work of their team, including insight into changing audience behaviours, how they engage with younger audiences, and how they work with the independent sector. The session will include Ally McCrae, Digital Development Producer and other members of the 4Studio team
Confidence Surgery: Thurs 12th Oct | 10.30 - 11.30: In this highly motivational session you’ll learn simple, practical skills that can be used to build up and sustain your confidence and self-confidence in any situation – be it an interview, starting a new job or learning new skills. Sasha Damjanovski is a coach, lecturer and an award-winning producer, director and writer with over 25 years of experience in film, TV, and business communications.
Managing Your Finances as a Freelancer: Thurs 12th Oct | 14.00 - 15.15: Being freelance brings flexibility, but when times are challenging it also means you have to get organised with finances and keep money under control. David Thomas will look at how to engage with budgeting and cash flow planning as a freelancer. We will also cover how the tax office treats different types of freelancer, and how to keep records without wasting time on paperwork. After the session you will have online access to useful templates and downloads, some of which will be demonstrated during the session.
David Thomas runs a training business that helps creative freelancers develop their business skills. Paperwork and bureaucracy are two of his least favourite things. Free resources found here
BBC Digital Opportunities and The BBC Academy: Fri 13th Oct | 10.30 - 11.15: James Reevell outlines BBC Creator Lab, the new talent scheme for social media content creators in collaboration with TikTok. He will be joined by Karlene Pinnock from BBC Content Social Team, Bethan Jinkinson Executive Editor, BBC Ideas, and Cerys Griffiths Creative Director, BBC Education to talk about opportunities in digital production and content creation for freelancers at the BBC. Louise Blythe, BBC Academy Training Manager will give an overview of the new Inclusion Hub and BBC Academy career networking initiatives.
Followed by a Q&A. See slides here
Creativity and Resilience: A conversation with Sally Wainwright: Fri 13th Oct | 12.00 - 13.00: Multi-award winning screenwriter, director and executive producer Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango In Halifax, Gentleman Jack) will be discussing maintaining creativity while navigating the inevitable obstacles and challenges that come with a creative profession.