Category: New Talent
Date: 11.04.2005
Printable version
Would you love to share in the adventure of a lifetime with a TV audience? Do you understand the art of telling a tale and capturing an audience's imagination? Could you deal with music, news and features on the radio? Ever wanted to tell an amazing story, but didn't know where to start?
This year BBC New Talent is looking for the best British creative talent - with opportunities for producers, presenters, musicians, animators, film makers, comedians, young storytellers and adventurers.
BBC Asian Network is looking for a presenter to host their own weekend show on a six-month contract. They must have the ability to showcase the best in music, culture and conversation, but must not have worked as a presenter on national radio before. They will also receive training and mentoring during their time at the network.
CBBC is looking for eight young, energetic adventurers to take part in Serious Amazon - a serious adventure involving travelling up the Peruvian Amazon in dug-out canoes on an important mission to help rare monkeys and river dolphins. Serious Amazon will be broadcast on CBBC in early 2006.
Silver Street, BBC Asian Network's fast-paced daily soap, is looking for a trainee radio producer who can bring ideas and energy to script editing, casting, directing and contributing storylines. The contract is for 12 months and will involve working alongside writers and producers within BBC radio drama, as well as on-the-job training with The Archers.
BBC 7 and BBC Radio 4 are searching for young storytellers who have amazing stories to tell. Winners will have their words transformed into exciting radio at BBC studios and then broadcast on BBC 7's The Big Toe Radio Show and BBC Radio 4's Go4it.
BBC THREE is looking for fresh, innovative animators with distinctive ideas. Finalists will have their work shown on BBC THREE and showcased at the Brief Encounters Festival and the Bradford Animation Festival. The overall winner may also receive funding to develop an animation project.
BBC THREE is also looking for new film makers with edgy, funny ideas which reflect what matters to the channel's young, discerning audience. As well as funding winners - there is a first prize of £5,000 and £2,500 for two runners-up - winning entries will be screened on BBC THREE and at the Brief Encounters Film Festival. Finalists will also get the chance to pitch for three three-minute shorts to be made in early 2006.
BBC Wales is looking for presenters in English and Welsh for TV and radio, including guest presenters for the National Eisteddfod on S4C and a North East Wales community reporter for Radio Cymru to find and present stories on a regular basis. It is also looking for English-speaking reporters and presenters for 2W in communities throughout Wales. One person in each chosen community will work with them for a week, while developing and hosting a 15-minute slot.
BBC Radio Wales, BBCRadio Cymru and BBC Radio 1 are looking for Welsh musical talent. The most promising bands and artists will get the chance to record a session and get airplay, and be given a slot supporting a headline band at a live event.
BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, the brand new, vibrant local BBC radio station, is searching for a new early breakfast presenter. It is looking for someone who is based in and passionate about the area, and has the ability to turn local news and events into great conversation. The contract is for 12 months, presenting the early breakfast show (5.00-7.00am weekdays) and comes with expert training.
BBC New Talent is about finding raw talent. We're not necessarily looking for formal qualifications or experience, more for your passion - the kind that's been with you as long as you can remember.
Whether it's your hunger to tell a fantastic story or your desire for drama and adventure, BBC New Talent could be your chance to really shine, to explore those talents and gain insight and experience in radio, TV and the broadcast industry as a whole.
Further details of all schemes can be found at bbc.co.uk/newtalent or by calling the BBC New Talent Hotline on 08700 10 60 60.
BBC New Talent has already catapulted many people along their chosen path. All they needed was an opportunity to shine - their ideas and talent did the rest..
BBC THREE Sitcom Writer's Award
BBC New Talent joined forces with BBC THREE, looking for new half-hour sitcoms featuring unusual worlds and voices.
Robin Taylor received the award for Marigold - which has been filmed as a pilot and broadcast on BBC THREE.
"Winning this scheme has been amazing, as it's the first official recognition that I have potential as a writer. It's also fascinating to get more insight into how writing and production of television programmes work.
"I'm stupidly excited about my script being broadcast. I would definitely recommend that people try out for these things - you never know what might happen." Robin Taylor, 23, London.
London Young Singers
BBC New Talent were looking for boys and girls between the ages of 7 to 16 to star in BBC TWO's film production of the musical fairytale, The Little Prince.
"They offered the chance to bag one of the two lead roles (one boy and one girl), or 25 chorus places. The Little Prince was brilliant; the best experience of my life. Everyone was so kind and taught me so much. I definitely want to go into opera or musical theatre after school, because the project has definitely made me decide that this is the direction that I want to go in." Mairead Carlin, 15, Northern Ireland.
Usher Masterclass
Radio 1, 1Xtra and BBC New Talent joined forces with superstar Usher to search for an exciting new R&B artist.
We were looking for people with genuine talent to demonstrate that they had whatever it takes to make it in a tough business.
The six who made it to the final were invited to an intimate masterclass with the star himself.
"Taking part in the Usher Masterclass was a great experience; it gave me the opportunity to gain professional advice from people who really knew the business, including vocal coaches and a choreographer.
"I am now working on my album and looking forward to the future." Dwaine Hayden, 19. Derby.
BBC THREE New Animation Award
The scheme offered the chance to get an animation broadcast on BBC THREE - with a development deal thrown into the bargain.
The award went to Nick Mackie and friend Peter Avery for their animation Hobbies.
"Winning the BBC Talent New Animation Award has been fantastic. It has meant that I have been able to make six more films since winning the award, and has been a great benefit to my career, enabling me to start up my own animation studio last January when I received my award."
Nick Mackie, 39, Bristol.
Fame Academy Bursary
The Fame Academy Bursary was set up with the money raised from the public's telephone voting during the TV series. Each year a number of schemes are run, giving away hundreds of instrument and equipment awards worth up to £1,200 each to young people aged 11 to 15.
The awards have been used to buy a huge variety of instruments and equipment: everything from electric guitars, amps, drum kits, decks and PA systems to bagpipes, oboes, pianos, flugelhorns, trombones and cellos for music makers of all levels.
So if you're mad about music, need a new instrument and are aged 11 to 15 then you'll want to visit bbc.co.uk/newtalent to find out more.
Further inspiration.
The writersroom: The BBC's New Writing Team is constantly on the lookout for writers of any age, with potential for BBC TV or Radio for Drama, Entertainment and Children's programmes.
For further information please visit bbc.co.uk/writersroom.
You can send completed scripts to BBC Writersroom,
1 Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3JA.