Delivered online in the NFTS Scotland Virtual Classroom accessed by Zoom, over two lunch-time sessions

At a time when it’s arguably never felt more crucial to successfully develop and sell our ideas, this new Development & Pitching course for the NFTS is a practical workshop aimed at helping us sharpen our skills. 

Session 1 will cover an introductory tutorial from Natalie Humphreys, plus group discussion and practical guidance on idea development and insight into what the most successful ideas and pitches have in common. We will also kick off our ‘ideas surgery’ workshop session. 

Session 2 will continue and conclude the ‘ideas surgery’  and offer take away tips on the ‘4Ts’: topline, talent, treatment and tape.  

Natalie is also offering a 30-minute 1-2-1 follow-up session (via video call) with each participant after the course. 

The course will be run with strict confidentiality and to get the most out of the ideas surgery we can support you to work on a real idea that you can hone and improve as one of the outcomes of doing this course

The course is aimed at anyone who works in factual/non-scripted film and television who wants to hone their development and pitching skills and gain more confidence in how to work up and present ideas to buyers. 

About the tutor:

Executive Producer and Storyboard Studios Founder and Managing Director Natalie Humphreys has worked across the UK and global production sector for 25 years as writer, director and executive producer, winning awards for cinematography, innovation and reaching new audiences. She has created and delivered programming across the spectrum, from constructed factual to drama, observational documentaries, factual entertainment formats, arts, history, science and natural history landmarks. After working across the UK independent sector, she joined Shine Television as head of specialist factual. She moved to Glasgow in 2011 with her husband and sons while working for the BBC, where she held a number of roles including leading factual for BBC Studios, controller of factual & daytime for BBC Television and head of specialist factual for BBC Vision. Prior to launching Storyboard Studios, Natalie led the BBC’s UK factual production network, where she was in charge of a £100M production portfolio including teams in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Cardiff, Salford, Bristol, London and the BBC Natural History Unit. She served on the boards of BBC Scotland, BBC Television and was the editorial lead for the BBC’s partnership with PBS. With awards from BAFTA, Grierson, RTS, Banff and Broadcast, her portfolio has included Planet Earth II, The One Show, Big Blue Live, Countryfile, Trust Me I’m A Doctor, Life and Death Row, Louis Theroux, This Farming Life, The Big Painting Challenge, Handmade, Afterlife House, Supermarket Secrets, Prehistoric Autopsy and History Cold Case. Storyboard is currently in production on a new restoration series for Channel 4, a premium documentary series about the iconic Fire Department of New York and a new photography contest for the BBC, as well as producing for BBC Two’s Horizon strand.