28/01/2020 - The Development Executives programme is awaiting the next generation of broadcasting executives and commissioning editors, with the deadline set for 31 January

Widely known as a residential training programme for emerging talents who are developing their upcoming series, MIDPOINT TV Launch also focuses on up-and-coming development executives. Aiming to raise a new generation of broadcasting executives and commissioning editors from the Central and Eastern European region, the programme is awaiting the new participants in its 2020 edition, which is being incorporated into the upcoming TV Launch programme (see the news).

The training initiative for development executives was first introduced during the 2019 edition of TV Launch and aims to meet the demand for this position in an industry that is expanding dynamically and needs more qualified professionals. According to the structure of the television industry, the development executive or commissioning editor is the person that should bridge the gap between the series’ writers and the production company or broadcaster. Therefore, his or her crucial role isn’t only limited to reviewing scripts, but also involves communicating with the creative team, and offering the necessary feedback and guidance. More importantly, the executive must collaborate with the teams in order to bring about the best results possible for their project.

Following MIDPOINT’s methodology, the future executives will be trained for their roles through the use of real existing series projects, and this will help them to develop the requisite skills, and to be able to adjust and validate various different stories. In addition to their own tutors, who will oversee their learning process and follow them across all three workshops, the development executives will also interact with the tutors of the TV Launch project development programme and will attend their courses, which will help them to better understand the techniques and methods used in developing a scripted television series, while enhancing their ability to analyse stories and offer valuable feedback.

To add greater value to this experience, the emerging development executives will work closely with the participating projects by being actual members of their groups. In this way, they will be able to observe the creative process behind the series’ development and be better versed in communicating with the writers, a skill that is extremely important and necessary in this flourishing market. Moreover, they will learn how high-quality TV is prepared for an international audience.

The first two alumni of the programme are Zuzana Ferenczova and Martynas Mendelis, and were tutored by MIDPOINT experts Gabor Krigler and Steve Matthews. Apart from covering the theoretical aspect, these experts offered practical advice to Ferenczova and Mendelis on creating a portfolio and being ready to represent themselves in the future market.

The deadline for applications is 31 January 2020. For more information, please click here.