Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Experts catching the eye of TV Producers - and of the Media

When I set up findaTVexpert.com in 2008 my aim was very simple: to help bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers. To give experts who want to be considered for TV&Media opportunities a chance to showcase their skills to the industry. And members of the media (primarily TV but also radio and press), a fast, free and easy way of finding experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show.

That's how I described the service and the business in my business plan, and that's exactly what findaTVexpert is doing today. Below are some of the latest experts who have been found on findaTVexpert and contacted by production companies for screentests, taster tapes and presenting opportunities; by journalists looking for quotes (being quoted is one of the steps to becoming a TV expert - read the other 9 here); by PR companies looking for media spokespeople (another great way of being heard and seen by TV producers on the hunt for experts and new ideas; and for other media opportunities.

I haven't included the names of the TV production companies, magazines, newspapers and PR companies that have been in touch with these experts because they probably wouldn't want their competitors to know what they're developing/writing/working on and who they're contacting. But trust me, it's all good stuff!

And one expert, who isn't mentioned below, has been signed up for a new BBC2 series. Needless to say, as soon as I can issue the press release, I'll be doing so!

1. Ben H, Award winning TV Designer & Renovation Expert

2. Rowan B, Hands on builder/developer and property finder

3. Sean B, Confidence Coach

4. Christopher T, Classteacher + Phonics/Literacy & Teaching Expert

5. Stuart F, Radio 1 Doctor Practising NHS Doctor & Media Medic

6. Lindsay A, Self Help Author & Coach: I Change Lives

7. Jennifer E, Chocolate Expert + Food Developer

8. Gary H, Human Ecologist: Science, Environment & Behaviour

9. Anita S, GP w/specialist interest in Dermatology

10. Alexandra J, Science, Technology and Environment

11. Lexi P, Dating Guru and Matchmaker

12. Sarah M, Fitness Trainer: Pilates to Pole Dancing

13. John G, The Spicy Cook

14. Joanna T, Leadership, China trade & culture

15. Agnes Chi, Science and Technology

16. Cate M, Love Coach

17. David M, Consumer & Corporate Technology Expert

18. Andrew W, Fatherhood and Mondern Parenting

19. Niki D, Psychotherapist & Counsellor: Adults & Teenagers

20. Debi B, Transform Your Life...Self Improvement Expert

21. Vanessa K, Passionate Trained Chef & Food Writer

22. Amana W, Coach: find your personal X factor and stand out!

23. Rachel R, Franchising Expert & Lay Minister.

24. Susie P, Get Happy, Change Your Life and Get on Track Fast.

TV Talent Hunters Head to Manchester

Could YOU be a TV Expert? Have you got the X-PERT factor? Do you want to know how to get on TV? Find out on the 10th of March 2011.

FindaTVexpert.com and Mentorn Media are on the hunt for new TV talent across the UK this year and their first stop is Manchester. They’ll be presenting the Could YOU be a TV Expert? seminar at The Cornerhouse on the 10th of March from 6-7.30pm and giving experts who want to be considered for TV opportunities the chance to find out how the TV industry works and what they should be doing to catch the eye of a TV producer. Advance booking is required.

Findatvexpert.com is the online database of new and existing TV experts which was set up by TV series producer Claire Richmond in 2008. And Mentorn Media is the UK’s longest established independent TV production company with programmes including Question Time, Motorway Cops, Cutting Edge and Panorama under its belt.

Experts who think they’ve got the x-pert factor and want to promote themselves to the TV industry, can attend the Could YOU be a TV expert? seminar and discover why experts are crucial to the success to TV programmes, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them, and what experts should be doing to make the industry sit up and take notice of them.

The seminar will be presented by findaTVexpert’s Claire Richmond, series producer of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom TV, and Mentorn Media’s Head of On-Screen Talent, Sonia Beldom.

“The aim of findaTVexpert is to bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers; to bring together experts who want to be considered for TV programmes with production companies looking for experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show,” says findaTVexpert founder Claire Richmond. “I’m sure Manchester’s got lots of experts who'd be great on TV and I’m looking forward to meeting them and helping them get a step closer to achieving their goal.”

“New experts are crucial to the success of factual programmes because they bring passion and credibility to a series. They also bring new ideas to the table and access to people, places and projects that have the potential to inspire viewers, attract new audiences and set new trends. We are committed to making ground breaking factual television and we’re also committed to finding and nurturing new experts who will help us achieve that. Manchester here we come!" says Sonia Beldom, Head of On-Screen Talent at Mentorn Media.

Seminar booking info: Tickets cost £30 per person and must be purchased in advance as spaces are limited. For more information and to book your place email claire@findatvexpert.com.

If you can't make the Manchester seminar, you can join findaTVexpert and Mentorn Media on their hunt for new TV talent in Bristol (07/04/10), Glasgow (12/05/11), Cardiff (09/06/11), Birmingham (7/07/11) and London (08/09/11).

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Get on TV This Year

Last year I outlined the 10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert. Well ... I'd like to add an 11th one: if you can't get in through the front door, try the back one. What I mean is this: if there's a TV series that ties in with your passions & interests (instead of your expertise), apply to be on it as a contributor. For example, if you like cooking, get in touch with the Come Dine With Me team. If you're house proud, try ITV's May the Best House Win, etc. Because all these shows give you a platform to say who you are and what you do. They also give your personality a chance to shine through. Plus an understanding of how TV programmes are made, contacts within TV production companies and the chance of being clocked by the channel's commissioning editor. Think of Ben Fogle. He was on BBC's Castaway as a contributor in 2000 and hasn't been off our TV screens since. And the same is true of Alison Hammond. She was on the third series of Big Brother in 2002 and is now a regular on This Morning. So if you want to get on TV this year, think of the programmes you'd be good on and google them. If they're looking for contributors there will usually be something on the website. Good luck! (And if you want to find out how to promote yourself as a TV expert, come along to one of the 'Could you be a TV expert? seminars I'm hosting with Mentorn Media's Head of On-Screen Talent. Details in post below.)

Monday, January 10, 2011

GOT THE X-PERT FACTOR? WANT TO BE ON TV?

TV TALENT HUNTERS, FINDATVEXPERT.COM AND MENTORN MEDIA, ANNOUNCE DATES FOR THE 2011 'HUNT FOR NEW TV TALENT’ REGIONAL TOUR

News Release

Could YOU be a TV expert? Do YOU want to 'get on TV?' Findatvexpert.com has teamed up with Mentorn Media, one of the UK's longest established independent television production companies, to host a series of ‘Could YOU be a TV Expert’ seminars across the UK in a ground breaking hunt for new TV talent in 2011.

The 6-location tour will commence in March 2011 with two of the UK's best talent hunters visiting Manchester (10/03/11), Bristol (07/04/11), Glasgow (12/05/11), Cardiff (09/06/11) and Birmingham (7/07/11), finishing in London in September (08/09/11).

Experts who think they’ve got the x-pert factor and who want to be considered for TV programmes,can attend one of the Could YOU be a TV expert? seminars and discover how the TV industry works, what kind of experts the programme makers are looking for, how they find them, and what experts should be doing to make the industry sit up and take notice of them.

Each seminar will be presented by findaTVexpert founder Claire Richmond, who has series produced of some of TV’s most popular shows including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook and Don’t Get Done Get Dom and Mentorn Media’s Head of On Screen Talent, Sonia Beldom.

Seminar booking info: Tickets cost £30 per person and must be purchased in advance as spaces are limited. For more information or to book your place email claire@findatvexpert.com.

Ends

Note to Editors
Findatvexpert.com is an online database of new and existing TV experts. It gives experts who want to be considered for TV opportunities the chance to promote themselves to broadcasters and TV production companies. And it gives broadcasters and TV production companies a fast and easy way of finding experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show.

Since its launch in 2008, numerous experts have been found on findaTVexpert and booked for TV & Media opportunities, including personal finance & property expert John Rennie (BB1’s ‘The Unsellables); tapping expert Janet Thomson (Channel 4's 'Who Knows Best: Fighting the Fat); food scientist Audrey Deane (BBC2’s E Numbers: an Edible Adventure); Dr of Clinical Psychology Abigael San (Sky Real Lives); and explosives & bomb expert Stephen Miller (BBC2’s Victorian Pharmacy). And in the past 2 months alone, over 30 experts have been screentested for programmes that are in development.