If you are aiming to be a film or programme maker or a producer, you will be wanting the opportunity to get your programme ideas away, and also to be employed as the producer or director on the project. There are various channels to go through, and if you have good ideas and can express them clearly and effectively in an appropriate manner, then you will stand a better chance of seeing you idea come to fruition. Most TV channels will only accept ideas that come through a production company, so you will need to build relationships and contacts (even if you have your own company, relationships and contacts are vital). You will need to build a track-record. And ideally your idea will be one that nobody else can offer, for example because you have access to people or situations that are unique and that only you can provide. This section gives examples of ways to approach the commissioning process. At the end of the section you will find an assignment that will require you to produce a proposal in the appropriate format for submission to a broadcaster, or an application to a funding body.

			Interview Material

Our Media Professionals discuss their experiences with getting work commissioned.

			Victoria Noble On how she works on getting her ideas commissioned

			Sarah Beecham and Graham Howard On the process leading to a contract

			Kate Broome On the differences between commissioning for the BBC and Independents

			Vin Arthey On commissioning ideas for the BBC, ITV and C4, and how going through another company is sometimes necessary

			Web Research

The following links provide detailed information and guidelines for writing and submitting proposals. Use them to complete Research Project 2 below.

4Producing
Channel Four's extremely useful and thorough guidelines to the Proposal Process and their requirements for commissioning.

BBC Guide to Commissioning
The BBC's guide for programme makers, encompassing structure, strategy, programming needs, pitching an idea and who to contact.

PACT
The PACT Directory of Independent Producers is available from the website.

Other available web sites include:

Anglia Television
Border Television
Carlton Television
Discovery Channel
HTV
ITN
ITV
Meridian Television
S4C
Scottish Television
Sky Television

			Reaserch Project 2 - Writing and Presenting Your Ideas Download and print out the Research Project 2 instruction sheet (168Kb PDF)

This Research Project asks you to develop an idea for a funding application or for a company presentation, and to use the links above to research the organisation best suited to your idea.