The First Light Awards 2013

It was really great to have attended The First Light Awards 2013 as it was an event that celebrated young talent that fills the future of British filmmaking full of hope.

Held at ODEON Leicester Square in London, the ceremony was hosted by funny duo comedian Iain Sterling and CBBC’s Hacker T Dog.

For more information, visit the website.

Useful links:
- First Light
- Second Light Blog
- Make a Film

2012 RTS Programme Awards winners

Proudly, the BBC has received a whopping 35 nominations at this year’s Royal Television Society Programme Awards. The ceremony took place last night at the Grosvenor House Hotel and it was hosted by comedian Rob Brydon, who was hilarious.

The Awards, chaired by David Liddiment, honour excellence in key genres of television programming, from children’s fiction to comedy performance, history to soaps, covering both national and regional output. Held annually, the RTS Programme Awards aim to recognise the work of exceptional actors, presenters, writers and production teams, as well as celebrating the programmes themselves.

Here is a list of winners:

Entertainment
Derren Brown – The Experiments
Objective Productions for Channel 4

Presenter
Gareth Malone – The Choir: Military Wives
Twenty Twenty for BBC Two

Arts
Graffiti Wars
TwoFour for Channel 4

Single Documentary
Terry Pratchett: Choosing to Die
Keo North for BBC Two

Documentary Series
24 Hours in A&E
The Garden Productions for Channel 4

Nations and Regions Programme
The Scheme
Friel Kean films for BBC One

History
Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb
Windfall Films for Channel 4

Science and Natural History
Mummifying Alan: Egypt’s Last Secret
Blink Film and Television for Channel 4

Soap and Continuing Drama
Coronation Street
ITV STudios for ITV1

Children’s Drama
Tracy Beaker
BBC Productions for CBBC

Children’s Programme
Newsround – My Autism & Me
BBC Productions for CBBC

International Award
Modern Family
Twentieth Century Fox Television/Levitan-Lloyd Productions acquired by Sky 1 HD

Daytime Programme
Deal or No Deal Live
Remarkable Television, an Endemol Company for Channel 4

Popular Factual and Features
Hugh’s Big Fish Fight
Keo Films for Channel 4

Actor (Male)
Dominic West – Appropriate Adult
ITV Studios for ITV1

Actor (Female)
Emily Watson – Appropriate Adult
ITV Studios for ITV1

Single Drama
Eric & Ernie
Blue Door Adventures/BBC Wales for BBC Two

Drama Serial
Top Boy
A Cowboy Films/Easter Partisan Production for Channel 4

Drama Series
Luther 2
BBC Productions/BBC America for BBC One

Writer – Drama
Peter Bowker – Eric & Ernie
Blue Door Adventures/BBC Wales for BBC Two

Writer – Comedy
Sam Bain & Jesse Armstrong – Fresh Meat
Objective Productions/Lime Pictures for Channel 4

Entertainment Performance
Ant and Dec – I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, Red or Black, Push the Button, Britain’s Got Talent
ITV Studios/Syco TV/Thames/Gallowgate Studios for ITV1

Comedy Performance
Russell Tovey & Sarah Solemani – Him & Her
Big Talk Productions for BBC Three

Scripted Comedy
Fresh Meat
Objective Productions/Lime Pictures for Channel 4

The Judges’ Award went to ITV commissioner Laura Mackie.

Men Behaving Badly star Martin Clunes presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Beryl Vertue OBE, who helped shape the television industry without working for a broadcaster.

Congratulations to all!

- Royal Television Society
- RTS Futures
- Television magazine

RTS Craft & Design Awards 2010/2011

Congratulations to all the winners of the Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards 2010/2011. The ceremony, hosted by Myleene Klass, was held last night at the Savoy, London. Here’s what the RTS said:

The RTS Craft & Design Awards recognise the huge variety of skills and processes involved in programme production, from costume design and digital effects to editing and lighting. Nigel Pickard, Group Director, Family Entertainment and Drama at Zodiak Media Group, chaired this year’s awards.

The biggest winner of the evening was The Crimson Petal and The White, produced for BBC Two by Origin Pictures/Cité Amérique, which won in three categories: Costume Design – Drama, Make Up Design – Drama and Production Design – Drama.

Other programmes awarded included 24 Hours In A&E, produced by The Garden Productions for Channel 4, which won Multicamera Work; Strike Back: Project Dawn, produced by Left Bank Pictures for Sky1 HD, which won Big Bang Stunts & Effects; and Downtown Abbey, produced by Carnival Film and Television for ITV1, which won Photography – Drama.

The Winners:

Effects – Digital
The Mill – Doctor Who – Series 6 ‘A Christmas Carol,’ BBC Wales for BBC One
“A vast array of visual effects, displaying a Hollywood-style ambition, was hugely impressive, despite a modest budget.”

Nominees
Phil Dobree, Dan Upton, Sophie Orde & Matt Chandler, Jellyfish Pictures – Inside The Human Body, BBC Productions/Jellyfish Pictures for BBC One
Erik Ellefsen, George Kyparissous, Sarah Norton & Jo Amery – Misfits Series 2, Clerkenwell Films for E4

Effects – Special
Big Bang Stunts & Effects – Strike Back: Project Dawn, Left Bank Pictures for Sky1HD
“Precision effects and stunts achieved with perfect timing, combined with fast-paced choreography, delivered high-tension drama in a way that is rarely seen on television.”

Nominees
Danny Hargreaves – Coronation Street – Tram Crash, Real SFX for ITV Studios for ITV1
Ed Smith, Colin Gorry Effects – The Shadow Line, A Company Pictures/Eight Rooks/Baby Cow Production in association with CinemaNX and Isle Of Man Films for BBC Two

Costume Design – Drama
Annie Symons – The Crimson Petal and The White, Origin Pictures/Cité Amérique for BBC Two
“Stunning, highly designed with beautiful detail. The jury thought the heightened reality was like nothing they’ve ever seen before, showing the underbelly of a period with extraordinary use of colour.”

Nominees
Joanna Eatwell – Eric and Ernie, BBC Wales in association with Blue Door Adventures for BBC Two
Charlotte Walter – This Is England ’86, Warp Films and Big Arty Production for Channel 4

Costume Design – Entertainment & Non Drama Productions
Lucia Santa Maria – The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, BBC Productions for BBC One
“The costumes were hilarious, taking the jury by surprise, and the detail really added to the impressions.”

Nominees
Stephen Adnitt – Dancing On Ice – Series 6, ITV Studios for ITV1
Annie Hardinge – Come Fly With Me, Little Britain Productions/BBC Productions
for BBC One

Picture Enhancement
Sonny Sheriden – Eric and Ernie, BBC Wales in association with Blue Door Adventures for BBC Two
“A fresh take on nostalgia, this astounding piece of grading elevated the production to a whole new level.”

Nominees
Ross Baker – Armstrong And Miller – Series 3, Hat Trick Productions for BBC One
Gareth Spensley, Molinare – The Hour, Kudos Film and Television for BBC Two

Lighting For Multicamera
Chris Chisnall & The Lighting Team – Coronation Street – Live, ITV Studios for ITV1
“The jury was impressed with the degree of atmospheric and dramatic lighting that the team achieved in a very challenging and ambitious live drama.”

Nominees
Mark Kenyon – Strictly Come Dancing – Series 8 ‘Halloween Special’, BBC Productions for BBC One
Roger Williams – Copycats – Series 2, BBC Children’s Scotland for CBBC

Multicamera Work
Camera Team – 24 Hours In A&E, The Garden Productions for Channel 4
“This winner was a perfect marriage of subject matter and technique. Its extremely complex use of 70 fixed camera rigs captured the drama with a commendable level of skill and respect.”

Nominees
Paul Davies & The SIS Camera Team – Wimbledon – Nadal Vs Murray (Men’s Semifinal), SIS Live for BBC Sport
The Team of Directors & Cameramen – The Royal Wedding, BBC Productions (Entertainment and Events) for BBC One

Sound – Drama
Glen Marullo, Nigel Edwards, Linda Murdoch & Lee Crichlow – The Shadow Line, A Company Pictures/Eight Rooks/Baby Cow Production in association with CinemaNX and Isle Of Man Films for BBC Two
“This sound team demonstrated excellent location recording coupled with a highly detailed mix to create a subtle and yet tense atmosphere. It was the intimacy of the quiet scenes that particularly impressed the judges.”

Nominees
Alan Monks & The Sound Team – Coronation Street – Live, ITV Studios for ITV1
Sound Team – Bill Bailey’s Little Cracker, Sprout Productions for Sky1 HD

Sound – Entertainment & Non Drama
Matt Skilton, Paul Paragon & The Sound Team – Wootton Bassett: The Town That Remembers, BBC Bristol for BBC One
“The judges were extremely impressed by the unique sound treatment of this show. It conveyed the mood of the day perfectly, whilst demonstrating superb technical ability in difficult circumstances. It gave an intimate insight into the story of repatriation in a moving way, achieved on the whole by the superb soundtrack.”

Nominees
Tony Revell, Andy Tapley & Howard Hopkins – Strictly Come Dancing – Series 8 ‘Halloween Special’, BBC Productions for BBC One
The Farm Audio Team – The X Factor – Series 8, A Syco TV Production/ talkbackTHAMES for ITV1

Make Up Design – Drama
Jacqueline Fowler – The Crimson Petal and The White, Origin Pictures/Cité Amérique for BBC Two
“The detail of the winning entry was perfect, the hair and make up had a very strong sense of itself and the make up in particular gave the characters an unhealthy look. The whole piece was visually amazing and bold choices were taken for the cast to be unadorned.”

Nominees
Christina Baker – Eric and Ernie, BBC Wales in association with Blue Door Adventures for BBC Two
Penny Smith – Psychoville Halloween – Series 2, BBC Productions for BBC Two

Make Up Design – Entertainment & Non Drama Productions
Lisa Cavalli-Green & Team – Come Fly With Me, Little Britain Productions/BBC Productions for BBC One
“The make up totally delivers the comedy for this series. It’s hard to believe the characters are two men.”

Nominees
Lisa Armstrong – Strictly Come Dancing – Series 8 ‘Halloween Special’, BBC Productions for BBC One
Lucy Cain & Team – The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson, BBC Productions for BBC One

Photography – Drama
David Katznelson – Downton Abbey, Carnival Film and Television for ITV1
“A visual delight conveying in beautifully observed detail the different worlds above and below stairs, from the rigidity of stiff upper-lipped life upstairs, to the frenzied hustle and bustle of work downstairs.”

Nominees
Kieran McGuigan – Christopher and his Kind, Mammoth Screen for BBC Two
Owen McPolin – Martina Cole’s The Runaway, Company Pictures/Warner Sisters for Sky1 HD

Photography – Documentary/Factual & Non Drama Productions
The Camera Team – Human Planet – Jungles, BBC Productions for BBC One
“A work which triumphed over astonishing technical challenges and delivered an amazing sense of tribal and jungle life in one of the most remote and endangered corners of the world.”

Nominees
Camera Team – Human Planet – Oceans – Into The Blue, BBC Productions for BBC One
Matt Norman, Tony Miller, Vijay Bedi & Alphonse Roy – Storyville – Marathon Boy, One Horse Town Productions/Renegade Pictures for BBC Four

Production Design – Drama
Grant Montgomery – The Crimson Petal and The White, Origin Pictures/Cité Amérique for BBC Two
“The winning programme simply took you to another world with its stunning imagery of Victorian life. Nothing was sacrificed transferring this novel to the small screen.”

Nominees
Brian Sykes – Psychoville Halloween – Series 2, BBC Productions for BBC Two
Chris Roope – South Riding, BBC Productions/Masterpiece for BBC One

Production Design – Entertainment & Non Drama Productions
Harry Banks – Miranda – Series 2, BBC Productions for BBC Two
“The sets in this winning show genuinely feel like characters that add hugely to the comedy, allowing the central protagonist to perform all manner of slapstick. The semi heightened reality of each location ties together beautifully across the series to give it a distinctive look and feel.”

Nominees
Peter Aston, BDA Set Design – Match Of The Day/Football Focus, BBC Sport for BBC One
Iain McDonald – How Not To Live Your Life – Series 3, Brown Eyed Boy Productions for BBC Three

Music – Original Score
Vince Pope – Misfits Series 2, Clerkenwell Films for E4
“Powerful, emotive, weighty and contemporary. A truly engaging score that worked well with the pictures… always adding to the drama, never becoming melodrama.”

Nominees
Will Gregory – Polar Bear: Spy On The Ice, John Downer Productions for BBC One
Rob Lane – The Suspicions Of Mr Whicher, Hat Trick Productions for ITV1

Music – Original Title
Adrian Johnston – Zen, Left Bank Pictures for BBC One
“Sexy, sophisticated and very classy, with beautifully understated references to Bacharach and David. A real signature tune.”

Nominees
David Arnold – Come Fly With Me, Little Britain Productions/BBC Productions for BBC One
John Lunn – Downton Abbey, Carnival Film and Television for ITV1

Tape & Film Editing – Drama
Roy Sharman – Exile, AbbottVision/Red Production Company for BBC One
“Beautifully built with abstract detail and clever atmosphere. The complex time frame is handled with care and precision to balance the differing time periods and building tension within the plot. A classic example of craft editing that shapes a stunning production graced by an excellent cast.”

Nominees
Victoria Boydell – Random, Hillbilly Films for Channel 4
John Smith A.C.E – Thorne, Stagereel/Cité-Amérique for Sky1HD

Tape & Film Editing – Documentary & Factual
Chris King – Our War – Ambushed, BBC Productions for BBC Three
“The fact that the programme was cut from material that was never intended for broadcast is testament to the skill and talent of the editor. He had the immense challenge of trying to make sense out of hours of rough and incoherent footage that had been filmed on helmet cameras. What he achieved was an incredibly powerful and moving piece of television. The narrative that was constructed out of the chaos was absolutely compelling.”

Nominees
Stuart Napier & Imogen Pollard – Polar Bear: Spy On The Ice, John Downer Productions for BBC One
Edit Team – 24 Hours In A&E, The Garden Productions for Channel 4

Tape & Film Editing – Entertainment & Situation Comedy
Lucien Clayton – Friday Night Dinner, A Popper Pictures/Big Talk Production for Channel 4
“This programme breathes new life into the traditional family-based sitcom and the way it has been edited is instrumental to its success. The editor displays great comic timing and pacing and captures quick fire banter and subtle nuance.”

Nominees
Post Production Team – I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Series 10, ITV Studios for ITV1
The Farm Editing Team – The X Factor – Series 8, A Syco TV Production/ talkbackTHAMES for ITV1

Graphic Design – Programme Content Sequences
Richard Gort, Mark Wilkin, Eddie Butler & Turquoise Branding – F1 Monaco Grand Prix, BBC Sport/Turquoise Branding for BBC One
“This was a stylish and very well conceived package with all of the elements dovetailing perfectly. The script, colouring and typography echoed a James Bond theme but still managed to make a distinctive creative design statement. Slick, classy and appropriate to its audience, it was beautifully executed.”

Nominees
Julian Gibbs, Ron Chakraborty & Richard Gort – Superbowl XLV, Intro for BBC One
Stuart Pitcher, Simon Dowling, Jason Griffin & Tim Baxter, Fugitive Studios – Random, Hillbilly Films for Channel 4

Graphic Design – Titles
Hugo Moss, Justin Lowings & Paul McDonnell – Any Human Heart, Carnival Film And Television for Channel 4
“A wonderful colour palette, great design and a stylish, elegant realisation made these titles a perfect introduction to the series. Flickers of light and lengthening shadows, clean lines and beautifully choreographed animation lifted the visuals into a class of their own.”

Nominees
Amy Merry & Yianni Papanicolaou – The Hour, Kudos Film And Television for BBC Two
Production Team – Come Fly With Me, Little Britain Productions/BBC Productions for BBC One

Design & Craft Innovation
Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice Production Team
“This delightful and amazing film was principally shot by unmanned cameras over a period of six months in the very extreme and demanding conditions of the Arctic. Using spy cameras, this film gets the viewer closer than ever before to the world’s greatest land predator, the polar bear.

The cameras, using complex central rigs, not only achieved remarkable close-up footage of the bears but also star in the film as distinct characters in their own right, with names like Iceberg Cam, Blizzard Cam and Drift Cam. These state-of-the-art cameras enabled the production team to uniquely capture an intimate portrait of polar bears’ lives, creating a classic natural history programme while at the same time making a film that was innovative and contemporary in the way it was shot and the technology that was used.”

Judges’ Award

Spooks Production Team
“This year, the Judges’ Award goes to the production team behind one of the most important original British drama series of the last decade – a series which has re-invigorated the genre. First airing in May 2002, the series ushered in a new wave of smart, sophisticated, thought-provoking and above all entertaining drama on British television and beyond. It has firmly established its producer, Kudos, as one of the leading drama producers in the UK. Intelligent and complex narratives, often scarily precognitive, combined with craft and design innovation has made it a massive success.

Its wonderfully inventive visual style is created by a perfect combination of photography, powerful direction and stylish design. The late Colin Green pioneered the incredible editing style which included innovative transitions and multi screen scenes that helped interweave the complex plots and build the tension.

Graded like a commercial, sounding like a feature film and layered with special and digital effects that defied its budget, the series became the launch pad for many outstanding and award-winning craftspeople in our industry. However, their names were never revealed on air – it was the first and only BBC drama to have no end credits on screen.

The success and sustainability of the show, which has just completed its tenth and final series, is down to its outstanding production team.”

Lifetime Achievement Award
Martin Hawkins
“The recipient of this special award made his mark in the late 80s, running across fields chasing a young woman in Challenge Anneka. This is where he perfected his hand held camera technique as well as getting extremely fit.

Very soon he would make an even bigger impression as Director of Photography on many of the top comedy series of the last 20 years. Shows such as Drop the Dead Donkey, Birds of a Feather, Vicar of Dibley, Outnumbered, Armstrong and Miller, The IT Crowd, The One Ronnie and Phone Shop to name a few.

His sense of humour, infectious laughter combined with his skill at lighting and capturing the story made him the first choice for many producers and directors. He is also a joy to work with.

He has gone on to work especially well with writer/performer/directors such as Richard Ayoade on Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, and more recently with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant on Extras and Life’s Too Short.

Here is what Ricky and Stephen have to say about our recipient who they have dubbed The Hawk:

“The Hawk is one the finest DOPs we’ve worked with and he has a great pair of knees, which he shows off by wearing shorts whatever the weather.

On set he’s always calm and full of good-humour – and always does a terrific job whatever shooting style we throw at him – which could be hand-held documentary one minute, phony Hollywood blockbuster the next.

Congratulations on your lifetime achievement award, Hawk, much deserved. Although it better not push your price up.”

- Royal Television Society website

TV Choice Awards 2011 winners

Here are the winners of tonight’s TV Choice Awards.

:: Best Food Show – Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals

:: Best Entertainment Show – Celebrity Juice

:: Best Drama Series – Being Human

:: Best New Drama – Sherlock

:: Best Daytime Show – The Jeremy Kyle Show

:: Best Game Show – The Cube

:: Best Family Drama – Doctor Who

:: Best Reality Show – The Apprentice

:: Best Talent Show – Britain’s Got Talent

:: Best Comedy – The Inbetweeners

:: Best Lifestyle Show – Come Dine With Me

:: Best Factual Entertainment Show – Top Gear

:: Best Actor – David Tennant (Single Father)

:: Best Actress – Karen Gillan (Doctor Who)

:: Best Soap Newcomer – Paula Lane (Coronation Street)

:: Best Soap Storyline – 50th Anniversary tram crash (Coronation Street)

:: Best Soap Actress – Jessie Wallace (EastEnders)

:: Best Soap Actor – Shane Richie (EastEnders)

:: Best Soap – EastEnders

Congratulations to all the winners!

BAFTA TV Awards 2011

Here are the winners from last night’s British Academy Television Awards, which was hosted by Graham Norton. The BBC did very well, winning 16 out of possible 24 awards.

LEADING ACTOR
Daniel Rigby, Eric and Ernie, BBC Two

LEADING ACTRESS
Vicky McClure, This Is England ’86, Channel 4

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Martin Freeman, Sherlock, BBC One

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lauren Socha, Misfits, E4

ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
Graham Norton, The Graham Norton Show, BBC One

FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Jo Brand, Getting On, BBC Four

MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Steve Coogan, The Trip, BBC Two

SINGLE DRAMA
The Road to Coronation Street
Production Team
BBC Four/ITV Studios

DRAMA SERIES
Sherlock
Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Sue Vertue, Beryl Vertue
BBC One/Hartswood Films

DRAMA SERIAL
Any Human Heart
Lynn Horsford, Lee Morris, Sally Woodward Gentle, Michael Samuels
Channel 4/Carnival Films

CONTINUING DRAMA
EastEnders
Production Team
BBC One/BBC Productions

INTERNATIONAL
The Killing
Søren Sveistrup, Piv Bernth, Birger Larsen, Sofie Gråbøl
BBC Four/DR/ZDF Enterprises

FACTUAL SERIES
Welcome to Lagos
Will Anderson, Gavin Searle, Chris King, Andrew Palmer
BBC Two/Keo North

SPECIALIST FACTUAL
Flying Monsters 3D
David Attenborough, Anthony Geffen, Sias Wilson
Sky 3D/Atlantic Productions

SINGLE DOCUMENTARY
Between Life and Death
Nick Holt, Meredith Chambers, Marina Parker, Ben Brown
BBC One/BBC Factual Wales

FEATURES
Hugh’s Fish Fight
Andrew Palmer, Will Anderson, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Frankie Fathers
Channel 4/Keo Films

CURRENT AFFAIRS
Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children
Jezza Neumann, Xoliswa Sithole, Brian Woods, Deborah Shipley
BBC Four/True Vision Productions

NEWS COVERAGE
ITV News at Ten: The Cumbria Murders
Production Team
ITV1/ITN Productions

SPORT
Formula 1 – The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Production Team
BBC One/BBC Sport

NEW MEDIA
Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention
Production Team
http://www.bbc.co.uk/Aardman Digital/BBC

ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME
The Cube
Adam Adler, Nathan Eastwood, Andrew Newman, Andrew O’Connor
ITV1/Objective Productions

COMEDY PROGRAMME
Harry and Paul
Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Sandy Johnson, Izzy Mant
BBC Two/Tiger Aspect Productions

SITUATION COMEDY
Rev
Production Team
BBC Two/Big Talk Productions

YOUTUBE AUDIENCE AWARD (voted for by members of the public)
The Only Way Is Essex

Well done to all the winners and nominees.

RTS Student Television Awards 2010 Shortlist

I’m very much looking forward to this event:

The Royal Television Society (RTS), Britain’s leading forum for television and related media, has announced the shortlist for the RTS Student Television Awards 2010. Sponsored by Welcome to Yorkshire, the event will take place on 20 May at the National Media Museum, Bradford and will be hosted by comedian Seann Walsh.

Chaired by Peter Salmon, the RTS Student Television Awards celebrate the best in student television from across the UK – the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards are judged in four categories including Fiction, Entertainment, Factual and Animation.

The Shortlist:

Undergraduate Animation:

Mars, Joe Bichard & Jack Cunningham, Kingston University
The Little Red Plane, Charlotte Blacker, University of Central Lancashire
Vovô, Luiz Lafayette Stockler, University of Wales, Newport

Undergraduate Entertainment:

Cardiff Love Story, Tom Gatley & Victor Ortega, University of Wales, Newport
Roots, Faolan Jones, Confetti Institute of Creative Technology
Shadowed, Hamish Anderson, Annabelle Draper, Tom Coulson & Team, Bournemouth University

Undergraduate Factual:

Britain’s Young Soldiers, Danielle Clark, Joseph Martin & Team, University for the Creative Arts
Don’t Give Up Your Guns, Juris Kudeiko, University of the West of England
Our Life, Matthew Morris, Anthony Allen & Elvis Katoto, University of Teesside

Undergraduate Fiction:

Love Inc, Alex Battershall, Sam Ely, Anthony Woodley & Team, University for the Creative Arts
Not Enough Time, Samantha France, Anthony Dugdale & Team, University of Sunderland
Small Change, Cathy Brady, Tom Fitzpatrick & Team, National Film School, Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology

Postgraduate Animation:

Matter Fisher, David Prosser, Royal College of Art
The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Lion, Alois Di Leo Gremmelspacher, Jérémie Dubois, Polly Stokes & Team, National Film and Television School
The Eagleman Stag, Mike Please, Royal College of Art

Postgraduate Entertainment:

Creatures of the Compost, Justine Allan, University of Salford
Investigation, Laurène Delaporte & Team, National Film and Television School
Viral, Thomas Murphy & Team, National Film and Television School

Postgraduate Factual:

A Miracle in West Brom, Billy Dosanjh & Team, National Film and Television School
Living Without Men, Luo Yi, Goldsmiths, University of London
Noctuaries, Olivia Humphreys, Goldsmiths, University of London

Postgraduate Fiction:

Solstice, David Stoddart, Justine Watson & Team, National Film and Television School
The Confession, Tanel Toom, Caroline Bruckner, Emily Williams & Team, National Film and Television School
Until The River Runs Red, Paul Wright, Poss Kondeatis & Team, National Film and Television School

The fifth Student Television Awards Day, encompassing a series of masterclasses, will be held prior to the awards ceremony. Here students will be given the opportunity to benefit from the experience of respected industry professionals. Further details of the masterclasses can be found on www.rts.org.uk.

Please refer to the RTS Masterclasses and Student Television Awards 2010 event for booking information.

BAFTA TV nominations 2011

The list is out for the 2011 British Academy Television Awards. Great to see that my colleagues at LabUK have been nominated under the new media category. It’s looking good for Aunty as we’ve got 51 out of 92 nominations. Here is the official list:

LEADING ACTOR
Jim Broadbent Any Human Heart Channel 4
Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock BBC One
Daniel Rigby Eric and Ernie BBC Four
Matt Smith Doctor Who BBC One

LEADING ACTRESS
Anna Maxwell Martin South Riding BBC One
Vicky McClure This Is England ’86 Channel 4
Natalie Press Five Daughters BBC One
Juliet Stevenson Accused BBC One

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Brendan Coyle Downton Abbey ITV1
Martin Freeman Sherlock BBC One

Johnny Harris This Is England ’86 Channel 4
Robert Sheehan Misfits E4

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Gillian Anderson Any Human Heart Channel 4
Lynda Baron The Road to Coronation Street BBC Four
Lauren Socha Misfits E4
Jessie Wallace The Road to Coronation Street BBC Four

ENTERTAINMENT PERFORMANCE
Rob Brydon The Rob Brydon Show BBC Two
Stephen Fry QI BBC One
Harry Hill Harry Hill’s TV Burp ITV1
Graham Norton The Graham Norton Show BBC One

FEMALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
Jo Brand Getting On BBC Four
Dawn French Roger and Val Have Just Got In BBC Two
Miranda Hart Miranda BBC Two
Katherine Parkinson The IT Crowd Channel 4

MALE PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY PROGRAMME
James Buckley The Inbetweeners E4
Steve Coogan The Trip BBC Two
Tom Hollander Rev BBC Two
David Mitchell Peep Show Channel 4

SINGLE DRAMA
Eric and Ernie
Victoria Wood, Peter Bowker, Tim Bricknell, Jonny Campbell
BBC Four/BBC Wales /Blue Door Adventures

I Am Slave
Andrew Calderwood, Gabriel Range, Jeremy Brock
Channel 4/A Slate Films and Altered Image Production for UKFC, Channel 4, Limelight, JAC Rights Management LLP and the Film Agency for Wales

The Road to Coronation Street
Production Team
BBC Four/ITV Studios

The Special Relationship
Production Team
BBC Two/Rainmark Films and HBO Films

DRAMA SERIES
Being Human
Rob Pursey, Philip Trethowan, Toby Whithouse, Colin Teague
BBC Three/Touchpaper Television

Downton Abbey
Julian Fellowes, Gareth Neame, Liz Trubridge, Nigel Marchant
ITV1/Carnival Films

Misfits
Murray Ferguson, Petra Fried, Howard Overman, Kate Crowe
E4/Clerkenwell Films

Sherlock
Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Sue Vertue, Beryl Vertue
BBC One/Hartswood Films

DRAMA SERIAL
Any Human Heart
Lynn Horsford, Lee Morris, Sally Woodward Gentle, Michael Samuels
Channel 4/Carnival Films

Mad Dogs
Cris Cole, Andy Harries, Suzanne Mackie, Adrian Shergold
SKY One/Left Bank Pictures

The Sinking of the Laconia
Alan Bleasdale, Jonathan Young, Uwe Janson, Hilary Norrish
BBC Two/BBC Productions

The Promise
Peter Kosminsky, David Aukin, Hal Vogel
Channel 4/Daybreak Pictures

CONTINUING DRAMA
Casualty
Production Team

BBC One/BBC Productions
Coronation Street
Production Team
ITV1/ITV Studios

EastEnders
Production Team
BBC One/BBC Productions

Waterloo Road
Sharon Hughff, Sharon Channer, Fraser MacDonald, Lis Steele
BBC One/Shed Productions

INTERNATIONAL
Boardwalk Empire
Martin Scorsese, Terence Winter, Tim Van Patten, Howard Korder
SKY Atlantic/HBO

Glee
Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk
E4/Twentieth Century Fox

The Killing
Soren Sveistrup, Piv Bernth, Birger Larsen, Sophie Grabol
BBC Four/DR/ZDF Enterprises

Mad Men
Matthew Weiner, Scott Hornbacher, Jennifer Getzinger
BBC Four/Lionsgate Television

FACTUAL SERIES
Coppers
Production Team
Channel 4/Blast!

One Born Every Minute
Production Team
Channel 4/Dragonfly Film and Television

Welcome to Lagos
Will Anderson, Gavin Searle, Chris King, Andrew Palmer
BBC Two/Keo North

The Young Ones
Leanne Klein, Tom McDonald, Michael Jochnowitz
BBC One/Wall To Wall Television

SPECIALIST FACTUAL *
Alan Bennett and the Habit of Art (The Making Of)
Martin Rosenbaum, David Sabel, Toby Coffey
More 4/Lone Star Productions

Flying Monsters 3D
David Attenborough, Anthony Geffen, Celia Taylor, Sias Wilson
Sky 3D/Atlantic Productions

Human Planet
Brian Leith, Dale Templar, Nitin Sawhney
BBC One/BBC Productions

Pompeii: Life and Death in a Roman Town
Paul Elston, Daisy Scalchi, Richard Bradley
BBC Two/Lion Television

* Specialist Factual is given in honour of Huw Wheldon

SINGLE DOCUMENTARY **
Between Life and Death
Nick Holt, Meredith Chambers, Marina Parker, Ben Brown
BBC One/BBC Factual Wales

The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan
Jamie Doran, Najibullah Quraishi, John Moffat, Mike Healy
More 4/Clover Films

Pink Saris
Production Team
More 4/Ginger Productions

Scenes From a Teenage Killing
Morgan Matthews, Ruth Kelly, Steve Hewlett, Michael Harrowes
BBC Four/Minnow Films

** Single Documentary is given in honour of Robert Flaherty

FEATURES
Come Dine With Me
Production Team
Channel 4/ITV Studios

Hugh’s Fish Fight
Andrew Palmer, Will Anderson, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Frankie Fathers
Channel 4/Keo Films

Mary Queen of Shops
Production Team
BBC Two/Optomen Television

Pineapple Dance Studios
Jonathan Stadlan, Pat Doyle, Hannah Springham
Sky One/Pulse Filmes

CURRENT AFFAIRS
Kids in Care (Panorama)
Simon Gilchrist, Roger Graef, Tom Giles, Clare Johns
BBC One/Films of Record

Lost Girls of South Africa (Dispatches)
Deborah Shipley, Brian Woods, Xoliswa Sithole
Channel 4/True Vision

Secret Iraq
Eamonn Matthews, Sam Collyns, James Jones, Philippa Lacey
BBC Two/Quicksilver Media

Zimbabwe’s Forgotten Children
Jezza Neumann, Zoliswa Sithole, Brian Woods, Deborah Shipley
BBC Four/True Vision Productions

NEWS COVERAGE
BBC One Ten O’Clock News: Handover of Power
Production Team
BBC One/BBC News 24/BBC News

Channel 4 News: From Chile’s Ecstasy to Congo’s Agony
Production Team
Channel 4/ITN Productions

ITV News at Ten: The Cumbria Murders
Production Team
ITV1/ITN Productions

Sky News: Egypt Crisis
Production Team
Sky News/Sky News

SPORT
6 Nations – England v Wales
Production Team
BBC One/BBC Sport

FA Cup Final: Chelsea v Portsmouth
Tony Pastor, Paul McNamara, Jamie Oakford, Rob Hollier
ITV1/ITV Sport

Formula 1 – The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Production Team
BBC One/BBC Sport

Wimbledon 2010
Production Team
BBC One/BBC Sport

NEW MEDIA
LabUK/Brain Test Britain
Richard Cable, Zoe Heron, Kathy Neil, Peter Harvey
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ BBC Multiplatform

Misfits
Matt Jarvis, Chloe Moss, Owen Priestly, Carl Hodler
E4.com/ Clerkenwell Productions & Kerb Digital

Malcolm Tucker: The Missing Phone
Dave Addey, Armando Iannucci, Henry Cooke, Henry Volans
iTunes App Store/Agant Ltd

Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ Aardman Digital/BBC

ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME ***
The Cube
Adam Adler, Nathan Eastwood, Andrew Newman, Andrew O’Connor
ITV1/Objective Productions

The Graham Norton Show
Graham Norton, Jon Magnusson, Graham Stuart, Steve Smith
BBC One/So Television

Have I Got News For You
Richard Wilson, Jo Bunting, Nick Martin, Mark Barrett
BBC One/Hattrick Productions

The X Factor
Andrew Llinares, Mark Sidaway, Nigel Hall, Richard Hall
ITV1/TalkbackTHAMES and Syco

*** Entertainment Programme is given in honour of Lew Grade

COMEDY PROGRAMME
Catherine Tate’s Little Cracker
Catherine Tate, Sophie Clarke-Jervoise, Izzy Mant
Sky One/Tiger Aspect

Come Fly With Me
Adam Tandy, Paul King, Matt Lucas, David Walliams
BBC One/A Little Britain Production

Facejacker
Kayvan Novak, Ed Tracey, Mario Stylianides, Tom Thostrup
E4/Hatrick Productions

Harry and Paul
Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Sandy Johnston, Izzy Mant
BBC Two/Tiger Aspect Productions

SITUATION COMEDY
Mrs Brown’s Boys
Stephen McCrum, Martin Delaney, Ben Kellett, Brendon O’Carroll
BBC One/BOCPix and BBC Productions, in association with RTE

Peep Show
Phil Clarke, Becky Martin, Sam Bain, Jesse Armstrong
Channel 4/Objective Productions

Rev
Kenton Allen, James Wood, Peter Cattaneo, Hannah Pescod
BBC Two/Big Talk Productions

The Trip
Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Michael Winterbottom
BBC Two/Revolution Films

To find out more, you can download the press release here.

The Philips British Academy Television Awards will be hosted by Graham Norton and broadcast on BBC One on Sunday 22 May 2011. Good luck to all!

RTS Programme Awards

The Royal Television Society (RTS) has announced the shortlist for the RTS Programme Awards 2010.

Here’s what they’re saying:

The Awards celebrate all genres of television programming, from children’s fiction to comedy performance, history to soaps. Covering both national and regional output the Programme Awards aim to recognise the work of exceptional actors, presenters, writers and production teams, as well honouring the programmes themselves.

Chaired by David Liddiment, the Awards will be presented at a ceremony on 15 March at the Grosvenor House Hotel. The evening will be hosted by comedian and television presenter Dara O’Briain.

In the Entertainment category, ITV has received two nominations – The X Factor, produced by TalkbackTHAMES and Syco TV, goes up against The Cube, produced by Objective Productions, along with Channel 4’s The Million Pound Drop, produced by Remarkable Television, an Endemol Company.

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (ITV Studios for ITV1) and Britain’s Got Talent (a talkbackTHAMES and Syco TV production for ITV1) have earned Ant & Dec a nomination in the Entertainment Performance category. They will be fighting it out with Charlie Brooker for Newswipe, produced by Zeppotron for BBC Four and Graham Norton, for The Graham Norton Show, produced by So Television for BBC One.

In the category for Soap and Continuing Drama, Coronation Street, produced by ITV Studios for ITV1, will battle with the BBC’s Eastenders and Casualty, both produced by BBC Studios.

Sherlock, produced by Hartswood Films, will be trying to sleuth its way to victory in the Drama Series category, the BBC One programme goes up against Carnival Films’ period piece for ITV1 Downton Abbey, and Misfits, produced by Clerkenwell Films for E4.

Miranda Hart, who won Comedy Performance at last year’s awards is again nominated for Miranda,produced by BBC productions for BBC Two – the other nominees are James Buckley for The Inbetweeners, a Bwark Production for E4 and Tom Hollander for Rev, produced by Big Talk Productions for BBC Two. The three programmes also make up the shortlist for best Scripted Comedy.

Pineapple Dance Studios from Pulse Films for Sky1HD goes up against Don’t Tell the Bride, produced by Renegade Pictures for BBC Three, and The Great British Bake-Off, produced by Love Productions for BBC 2, for Features and Lifestyle Series.

Winner of last year’s International Award, Mad Men is again nominated, this year they’ll be duelling with True Stories: The Cove, produced by Vertigo Films for More4 and Sony Pictures Television’s Justified, for 5USA.

In the category for Presenter, Reggie Yates for Autistic Superstars, produced by Prospect Cymru Wales for BBC Three, will take on Professor Brian Cox for Wonders of the Solar System, produced by BBC/Science Channel co-production for BBC Two. Piers Morgan is also nominated in this category for Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, produced by ITV Studios for ITV1.

Julie Walters is nominated for best Actor (Female) for her performance in Mo, produced by ITV Studios for Channel 4, also nominated is Natalie Press for Five Daughters, produced by BBC productions for BBC One, and Vicky McClure for This is England ’86, A Warp Film for Channel 4. This production receives another nomination in Actor (Male), where Johnny Harris is shortlisted – the other nominees are Any Human Heart’s Jim Broadbent (produced by Carnival Films for Channel 4) and David Tennant for Single Father, produced by Red Productions for BBC One.

For Single Documentary, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, produced by Firecracker Films for Channel 4 is nominated, along with Between Life and Death, produced by BBC Productions/BBC Wales for BBC One, and Clover Films’ The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan for More4.

Here’s the list of nominees:

Actor (Female)
Vicky McClure – This is England ’86 A Warp Film for Channel 4
Natalie Press – Five Daughters BBC Productions for BBC One
Julie Walters – Mo ITV Studios for Channel 4

Actor (Male)
Johnny Harris – This is England ’86 A Warp Film for Channel 4
David Tennant – Single Father Red Productions for BBC One
Jim Broadbent – Any Human Heart Carnival Films for Channel 4

Arts
Genius of British Art (Episode 3: Howard Jacobson ‘Flesh’) Oxford Film and Television for Channel 4
Alan Bennett and the Habit of Art A Lone Star/National Theatre Production in association with Arts Council England and More4
A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss BBC Productions/BBC Bristol for BBC Four

Children’s Drama
Sarah Jane Adventures BBC Productions/BBC Wales for CBBC
Tracy Beaker Returns CBBC for CBBC

Children’s Programme
Y Diwrnod Mawr – Sion Pyrs (My Big Day – Sion Pyrs) Ceidiog for S4C
Something Special CBeebies for CBeebies
Horrible Histories Lion Television in association with Citrus for CBBC

Scripted Comedy
The Inbetweeners A Bwark Production for E4
Miranda BBC Productions for BBC Two
Rev Big Talk Productions for BBC Two

Comedy Performance
James Buckley – The Inbetweeners A Bwark Production for E4
Miranda Hart – Miranda BBC Productions for BBC Two
Tom Hollander – Rev Big Talk Productions for BBC Two

Daytime and Early – Peak Programme
Deal or No Deal An Endemol West Production for Channel 4
The Indian Doctor Rondo Media and Avatar Films for BBC One
Moving On – Sauce For The Goose LA Productions for BBC One

Documentary Series
Wormwood Scrubs Wild Pictures for ITV1
One Born Every Minute Dragonfly Productions for Channel 4
Welcome to Lagos KEO north for BBC Two

Single Documentary
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding Firecracker Films for Channel 4
Between Life and Death BBC Productions/BBC Wales for BBC One
The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan Clover Films for More4

Drama Serial
Any Human Heart Carnival Films for Channel 4
This is England ’86 A Warp Film for Channel 4
Five Daughters BBC Productions for BBC One

Drama Series
Downton Abbey Carnival Films for ITV1
Sherlock Hartswood Films for BBC One
Misfits Clerkenwell Films for E4

Single Drama
The Road to Coronation Street ITV Studios for BBC Four
The Song of Lunch BBC Productions/Masterpiece for BBC Two
Mo ITV Studios for Channel 4

Entertainment
The Million Pound Drop Remarkable Television, An Endemol Company, for Channel 4
The X Factor A talkbackTHAMES and Syco TV Production for ITV1
The Cube Objective Productions for ITV1

Entertainment Performance
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly – I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! / Britain’s Got Talent ITV Studios for ITV1 / a talkbackTHAMES and Syco TV Production for ITV1
Charlie Brooker – Newswipe Zeppotron for BBC Four
Graham Norton – The Graham Norton Show So Television for BBC One

Features and Lifestyle Series
Pineapple Dance Studios Pulse Films for Sky1HD
Don’t Tell the Bride Renegade Pictures for BBC Three
The Great British Bake-Off Love Productions for BBC Two

History
Words of the Blitz ITV Studios for ITV1
At Home With The Georgians Matchlight for BBC Two
The Secret Life of the National Grid BBC Productions for BBC Four

International Award
True Stories: The Cove Vertigo Films for More4
Mad Men Lionsgate for BBC Four
Justified Sony Pictures Television for 5USA

Presenter
Piers Morgan – Piers Morgan’s Life Stories ITV Studios for ITV1
Reggie Yates – Autistic Superstars Prospect Cymru Wales for BBC Three
Professor Brian Cox – Wonders of the Solar System BBC/Science Channel co-production for BBC Two

Nations and Regions Programme
Taggart STV Productions for STV, ITV and Alibi
Breaking the Silence Tern TV for BBC One Northern Ireland
Snowdonia 1890 Indus Television for BBC One Wales

Science and Natural History
Wonders of the Solar System BBC/Science Channel co-production for BBC Two
How Earth Made Us: Deep Earth BBC Productions for BBC Two
Lost Land of the Tiger BBC Natural History Unit for BBC One

Soap and Continuing Drama
Coronation Street ITV Studios for ITV1
EastEnders BBC Productions for BBC One
Casualty BBC Productions for BBC One

Writer – Comedy
Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong – Peep Show Objective Productions for Channel 4
Jo Brand, Vicki Pepperdine & Joanna Scanlan – Getting On Vera Productions for BBC Four
Graham Linehan – The I.T. Crowd talkbackTHAMES for Channel 4

Writer – Drama
Jack Thorne and Shane Meadows – This is England ’86 A Warp Film for Channel 4
Stephen Butchard – Five Daughters BBC Productions for BBC One
Neil McKay – Mo ITV Studios for Channel 4

Judges’ Award
This Award will be announced on the evening.

Lifetime Achievement Award
This Award will be announced on the evening.

Can’t wait to get glammed up on the 15th. With Dara hosting, it’s going to be a good night.

Watch this space for the winners’ list!

Royal Television Society 2010 Nominations

This year’s RTS Midlands Centre Awards is going to be on the 4th of November held at the impressive University of Birmingham Great Hall.

Here are the nominees:

Best Promotional Programme
Working for You – Tinker Taylor
Disabled and Living in Walsall – Pat The Bull Films
Be Active – Television Junction
Transforming Lives – Rebecca Battman
Facing the Fat – IdeasLab

Best Drama

TV Drama
Doctors – BBC Drama
Land Girls – BBC Drama

Best Short Film
Stained
Trolley
Handle with Care
The Interviewee
The Moon Bird

Best Acting Performance

Male
Danny Webb
Chris Walker
Stavros Flatley

Female
Elisabeth Dermot Walsh
Sophie Ward

Best Newcomer
Nicholas Woodman
Charlie Clemmow
Becci Gemmell

Best Digital Innovation
Embarrassing Bodies Live – Maverick
Such Tweet Sorrow – Mudlark
WeVee – InCahoots

Best Entertainment
Countrywise (War of the Roses) – ITV Central
The Man Who Shrank the Globe – AB Media
Countrywise (Guernsey) – ITV Central

Best On Screen Personality

Male
Bob Warman – ITV Central
Paul Heiney – ITV Central
Stavros Flatley – Aquila TV

Female
Marverine Cole – Sky
Sameena Ali-Khan – ITV Central
Lucy Kite – ITV Central

Best New Talent
Lucy Watson – ITV Central
Dave Stephenson – Fullrange
David Poole – The Interviewee
Deborah Aston – Made In Birmingham
Anna Louise Shelton – Trolley

Best On Screen Game
Keepy Uppy, Fish in a Bottle
Battle of Britain 308 Squadron, Fish in a Bottle

Best Production Craft Skills
Lewis Arnold – Stained
Neil Hillman – The Audio Suite – Handle With Care
James Willson – AB Media
Dave Stephenson – Fullrange
Andrew Fox – Inspirations: Bringing Education to the Himalayas – Maverick
Paul Thompson – Countrywise, ITV Central

Best News
Central Tonight – ITV Central

Best Current Affairs
Balls to Poverty – Peter Bearne, ITV Central
White Collar Boxing – Andy Bevan, ITV Central
65th Arnhem Anniversary – Keith Wilkinson, ITV Central
Time Warp – Victoria Davies, ITV Central

Best Documentary
Embarrassing Bodies – Maverick
The Man Who Shrank the Globe – AB Media for BBC East Midlands
Made In Birmingham – Birmingham Popular Music Archive
Countrywise – ITV Central

Good luck to everyone and see you on the 4th!

Your time to shine

The glitzy 2010 RTS Midlands Centre Awards is coming this November and they are now accepting entries.

You are invited to submit programmes or other content which were, or will be broadcast and/or published between 1st July 2009 & 1st July 2010 for consideration for the Midlands Centre Awards for 2010. Closing date for entries is Monday, 12 July 2010.

Please download the application form here: RTS Awards Entry Form 2010.