Context & Overview of the Role:
Described as ‘the shop window’ to BBC Children’s, Presentation Links are shown in between programmes from the CBeebies House and CBBC HQ for both the CBeebies and CBBC Channels. Content from Presentation is also used across all digital platforms and socials.
The Producer/Director will be responsible for creative scripting (and overseeing others scripting), scheduling a weeks’ worth of studio filming at a time, and producing and directing talent in the studio. Working to an Executive Producer team who will be assisting brainstorming and signing off scripts and relationships with the BBC, Talent and Studio Crew.
We will operate 2 filming blocks of 12 weeks each between May and end-November.
Each of the 3x P/Ds we recruit will be responsible for Producing and Directing 1x week (5 days) worth of studio content at a time.
Each week will be a mix of CBeebies and CBBC content (with an approximate 75:25 ratio split CBeebies:CBBC).
Each P/D will have 2 weeks scripting and prep before their 5x days in the studio.
Rotating the P/Ds and repeating this pattern throughout the two filming blocks results in each P/D being ultimately responsible for 8x weeks’ worth of studio links across the course of the contract.
Core Responsibilities:
• Script-writing a high volume of children’s content (both pre-school and older children’s) – with ability to write for a variety of tones and talent across comedy, factual and educational.
• Producing and Directing talent in a studio gallery environment and working closely with them to craft fun, engaging prerecorded as-live links.
• Directing and managing a single and multi-camera studio floor crew.
• Delivering an average of 18mins of content per day in every day of their filming days.
• Producing/Directing on location with a PSC crew may be necessary – so experience in this area is welcomed.
• Getting great contributions from kids on set and managing excellent contributor relations (realising the responsibility of representing Three Arrows and the BBC).
• Generating creative ideas, as well as contribute to ideas and stories of other people’s.
• Excellent communication with a range of colleagues and contributors – including children, adults and experts.
• Working as part of a strong and effective team demonstrating good judgement on appropriate referral of issues to senior members of the team.
• Taking responsibility for delivering to tight deadlines while maintaining the highest standards.
• Ensuring that all the correct legal consents are obtained and reported, working closely with the Production Manager and Production Co-ordinator on all the requirements for the completion of programme paperwork and delivery to the broadcaster.
Essential Skills, Attributes and Experience:
• MUST have a passion for creating children’s content!
• MUST have an excellent understanding of television production techniques and procedures, with a track record of maximising the use of studio production resources, ensuring great value for money.
• MUST have demonstrable scriptwriting experience for children’s content (both pre-school and older children’s) across a range of styles including comedy, factual, educational, and writing to suit the ‘tone/voice/character’ of specific Talent.
• MUST have experience directing a single and multi-camera crew – preferably in a studio gallery and PSC/on location – responsible for junior production team members.
• MUST be able to stay organised and structure multiple consecutive days of filming.
• MUST have excellent Communication skills, exemplary studio etiquette: express ideas and give instructions clearly, convey what you need from the people you are working with, know how to bring out the best in them o MUST have experience of working with presenters and puppeteers – equipping them to deliver amazing performances. o Experience of excellent working with an Art Director and art team.
• Detailed knowledge of the current output on BBC Children’s and trends in children’s content consumption and lives.
• Producing/directing experience in CSO and/or virtual studio and virtual production environments.
• Understanding policy requirements, safety regulations, contractual provisions and limitations, statutory requirements relevant to programme making, producer guidelines, managing UGC (user generated content), and working with children in particular.
• Experience ensuring that the correct rights are sought and cleared for all forms of output, including reporting all financial implications to the Production Manager and the accurate reporting of programme content details for the completion of Production paperwork.
• Professional development: develop an ethos to learn and seek out learning and networking opportunities, identifying those that will be most beneficial.
• Ethics and integrity: honest and principled in all their actions and interactions.
• Respectful and inclusive of others and meets the ethical requirements of their profession.
** As we put a high emphasis on workplace culture, we like full time team members to be in the office at least 3 days a week when not in studio. We are open to flexible working but any requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.**
