Abigail Gonda is a Development Producer at BBC Writersroom, here she introduces some of her work at the Writersroom and provides some useful context to tie in with her appearance at the Into Film Festival a free, annual celebration of film and education for schools and young people across the UK.
Working for the BBC Writersroom puts you in the unique position of being an interface between the outside world and the corporation’s internal editorial needs and desires. We are an “outward” facing department in that we accept unsolicited scripts for television, radio, film, theatre, drama and comedy through Scriptroom and various targeted schemes and competitions which anyone can find out about through our opportunities page on the Writersroom website. We also spend a lot of time parachuting into far flung places across the UK giving talks and presentations to make sure people know the BBC is interested in their stories.
I try to use public speaking engagements as opportunities to hear peoples’ opinions, dreams and aspirations for the BBC. After all, we are here for them! Of course you get the odd writer who feels hard done by because their unsolicited script hasn’t gone straight from the slush pile to the BBC One 9pm slot, but for the most part, people seem to hold a warm place in their heart for the BBC and only want it to have a bigger and bolder future in a world where the nature of entertainment and the way it is consumed is changing so rapidly.
In the Writersroom, we like to think we are forward thinking about entertainment and at the front lines of emerging talent. We exist to nurture writers and champion them across the BBC. Through our website, we try to provide as much professional development and support as possible. Part of the reality of being a writer in 2014, is looking toward different methods of content creation beyond the traditional paths of television, radio and film. I believe we may be coming into an era of “creators” rather than writers. This crystal balling comes from looking at the viewing habits of young people and acknowledging where they are finding their entertainment and what, indeed, they find entertaining.
This week I will be speaking at the Into Film Festival to a group of 15 – 19 year olds. What better audience to learn from? The festival is a free, annual celebration of film and education for schools and young people across the UK. I am planning to show clips of shows including BBC Three’s In The Flesh by Dominic Mitchell (pictured), iPlayer’s short Flea by Cat Jones and a sneak preview of a 24 hour drama made specifically for online through the BBC Writersroom. I will talk the audience through these writers’ journeys from sending their unsolicited scripts into the Writersroom to having their original ideas produced. Hopefully, these tangible examples will help them to see it’s possible their script could get them in the BBC’s door. Most importantly, I want these young people to know the BBC is a home for their creative ideas. I am going to encourage them to really think about what makes them unique as writers or creators and find their individual voice. In the end, that‘s what we’re all looking for: original ideas told by singular voices. And I am going to ask them what they would like to be seeing and hearing from the BBC. How can the BBC remain relevant to them?
Abigail Gonda is Development Producer, BBC Writersroom
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