The panel was: Lorraine Ruckstuhl (Barclays International), Katie Kelly (Barclays UK), Tom Dodds (Barclays International) and Danny Fenton (CEO ZigZag Productions)
The Broadcast Video Exhibition has now merged with the Media Production Show and is not expected to run again until 2021.
I have blogged on production funding previously from the perspective of Commissioners and to some extent from the viewpoint of Producers. This session concentrated on exploring the problems that Producers face and some mitigation available.
The big problem for Indy Producers is that there can be a large gap between getting a commission and getting that production made. Even when you get a commission there are degrees of support you can expect to receive. The clearest decision is that you will get a rejection, at least everyone knows where they stand! There is a level above that, the Commissioner thinks that your program should be made but is not necessarily right for their channel. In this case they will sometimes help you to get that made by suggesting people in their network that might want that made. The next level up is that they think your idea has potential so they will provide some development funds. That is not nearly enough to make the program but it will allow you to develop the idea.
The next level is that they like the idea and will fund it but not to the degree that will allow you to make the program, at least not to contain all the ideas you may have. This means they and you will look for funding from additional sources. Traditionally this has meant with the involvement of a “copro”. For example a program on wildlife that does well in the UK may well do very well in other Countries.