r/TransparencyforTVCrew

Looking for some advice.. I had a few calls/messages with a recruiter a couple weeks ago for a staff job I had been put forward for. The recruiter was doing the big sell, seemed keen for me to interview and I got very excited about it (stupidly!)
The recruiter has now gone quiet for 2+weeks... I have chased about the next steps.. but heard nothing. Should I cut my losses and forget about it?! I can't seem to find the job on any job pages so can't just apply myself. Is it normal for recruiters to ghost?

Hi people, I have a question regarding preparations for a job interview as a picture editor role at the BBC in Glasgow. The role is predominantly video editing and then using and operating some new softwares for broadcasting and file management, this part I have no experience in what so ever! But they are still inviting me for an interview and an edit trial. I’m not stressing about it at all I’m just curious if anybody has been put in a similar situation?

I’m a video editor with solid experience in cutting short documentaries, branded content and pure storytelling skills..

From Broadcast:

The School That Tried to End Racism indie Proper Content is to close due to a “dramatically changed” market, according to founder David DeHaney.

An administrator will be appointed shortly, after which the indie will cease trading. DeHaney said his priority is to ensure the closure has as little impact as possible on freelancers, staff, buyers and collaborators.

“This has been a very difficult decision. We have had nearly 10 years of making some of the industry’s most talked-about shows; entertaining programmes with social purpose. And that is exactly what I set out to do,” he said.

“But we want to do more, so much more, and the current environment does not support us in making that step-change.”

He added: “The reality is that the market has changed dramatically in recent years. Commissioning budgets have tightened, development cycles have lengthened and the opportunities for growing indies to scale have become increasingly limited.

“Those pressures have affected many companies across the sector and have undoubtedly contributed to the position we find ourselves in today.”

DeHaney, who is also the indie’s creative director, set up Proper Content in 2016, growing it rapidly to become an outfit with a turnover of £6m. It joined the Channel 4 Indie Growth Fund (now Creative Investment Fund) in 2020. Speaking to Broadcast in 2024, following a jump in its revenues by almost double, DeHaney reiterated his intent for the indie to do things differently, making impactful one-off or limited series such as The School That Tried To End Racism (C4) and Paramount+’s The Changemakers as a foundation to move into different genres.

Its output ranged from 999: The Critical List (C4), Chris Packham: Is it Time to Break the Law? (C4) to Mums On Strike (5) and The King’s Guard (5).

It was garlanded with awards, with its feature doc Suicidal: In Our Own Words winning a Grierson Award, The School That Tried to End Racism (C4) netting a Bafta, a Rose d’Or and Venice TV Award and Anorexic (5) shortlisted for Grierson and RTS Awards. More recently, its P Diddy: Rise and Fall (BBC3) was nominated for a Broadcast Digital Award.

Its most recent project to air was the feature length doc Kidnapped By My Mum (BBC3). Proper Content will fulfil existing commitments, including a new surgery series for 5 and a luxury series for Channel 4 due to air later this year.

Commitment to diversifying the industry ecology was a key tenet of Proper’s mission statement, in an environment which does not tend to favour Black-led companies.

“We have achieved what we have achieved despite this,” he adds. “It is not the central reason for our decision. We feel we have so much more to offer and aren’t fulfilling that potential. That is why we are closing,” he added.

“We are extremely proud of what we have achieved with Proper Content. We have held up a lens to society in so many different ways, and to such a variety of audiences. As a growing indie, we couldn’t have done more. Yet, for a company like ours, at this stage in its development, going to the next stage is incredibly challenging.

“There simply isn’t the commissioning risk, or the time or space to let companies stretch their wings in new ways. And, as a result, companies get ‘stuck’ – which doesn’t feel like a good, or a creative place to be.”

He added: “While Proper Content is coming to an end, my passion for storytelling and creating ambitious new projects remains undiminished. I am excited about what comes next.”

Hi people, I have a question regarding preparations for a job interview as a picture editor role at the BBC in Glasgow. The role is predominantly video editing and then using the departments transmissions procedures and talk back techniques which I don’t have experience in! I’m a video editor with experience in cutting short documentaries and branded content. They have inviting me over for an interview and there are some boxes that I do not take which is operating their assistance i.e. what people are there have any advice and any tips on how to land this life changing opportunity? I have to hear back from somebody.

My spouse isn't on Reddit and we've not got any media connection barring the one mentioned shortly. Thought this might be the best place to look for advice.

Through a friend my wife has told a TV company about an idea she's had and they seem to love it. Channels are being mentioned for them to take it to, some foreign. We are not media people at all. We know the chances of anything happening are slim but if someone wants it, realistically what happens? We just don't want to be in a position where she's responsible for the next big thing but ends up getting shafted.

Thanks.

I've posted this on the London subreddit, but it was sadly deleted and I feel this subreddit would be more empathetic:

37M originally from Sydney, moved to London in 2022. The main idea was to work in the film/tv industry over here and whilst I enjoyed some early success, having worked full-time for an unscripted post-production house 2022-2023 as a sound editor, I made the decision to resign and be with my dying mother for the last six months of her life. I've been back since May 2024, and have been struggling to land new work since, both freelance and full-time opportunities. Tbh I've been pursuing drama more than scripted this time around, as I have aussie sound effects editing credits. I've been in a priviledged position to live off inheritance money, whilst taking on some remote freelance work from Sydney from time to time, but this is getting reckless, and I'm at a critical mass point. I admit I should've taken action sooner, but here we are.

For context, I'm paying £1000 a month inc. bills for my ensuite room in Finsbury Park. My total monthly outgoings are about £1800 a month. I'm on a UK Ancestry Visa and I'm about six months away from being eligible for Indefinite Leave To Remain, which I'd love to get. However, from now until then, I need to slow/stop the burn somehow. An idea I have is to quit my room (one months notice), runaway to Albania for four months to cut my outgoings at least in half, I have some freelance work pencilled so that would at least cover my time away, and also consider retraining online. I've down the calculations and I'd still be within my continuous residency allowance. I have less than a week to make this decision, as my live in landlord will be away end of July-end of August.

I do take some personal responsibility, but to be fair the industry has been in contraction for a few years now, plus the threat of AI is not filling me with confidence, so it's time to change course.

I've been using ChatGPT and Gemini to give me guidance, but I'd love some human (and hopefully non-judgemental) input too. Thanks in advance!

Can anyone feedback on how AI is being integrated into their productions as of late? The show I am working on is really encouraging the use of it, especially for some editorial aspects. Although I’m not sure whether this is the norm now, or a ‘test’ to see how capable it is?

Hi all

I am a coordinator in unscripted who has never really been on location that much. I have an interview coming up where I think this may be a requirement which I'm fine with but because I haven't done it before, it may be a mark against me, does anyone have any advice as to what to say if this comes up? I.e. they want someone with more location experience, is there anything reassuring I can say that would help my case?

Thanks