Senior Commissioning Executive, Film4

Department Description

Film4 Productions is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking, both new and established. Since its inception in 1982 Film4’s films have won a collective 43 Oscars® and 97 BAFTAs.

Film4’s recent films include Oscar®, BAFTA and Venice Golden Lion winning Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos); Oscar®, BAFTA and Cannes Grand Prix winning The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer); Savanah Leaf’s BAFTA winning Earth Mama; Molly Manning Walker’s Un Certain Regard winning How to Have Sex; and Andrew Haigh’s BIFA winning All of Us Strangers. Recent releases include global box office hits We Live in Time (John Crowley) and Wicked Little Letters (Thea Sharrock), as well as Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding, Karan Kandhari’s Sister Midnight, Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, and Rebecca Lenkiewicz’ Hot Milk.

Upcoming films include Thea Gajic’s Surviving Earth; Oliver Hermanus’ The History of Sound; Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada; Dylan Southern’s The Thing With Feathers; Philippa Lowthorpe’s H is for Hawk; Kaouther Ben Hania’ The Voice of Hind Rajab; Ashley Walters’ Animol; and Ben Wheatley’s Bulk.

Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most ground-breaking and successful UK films including Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite; Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Lenny Abrahamson’s Room; Asif Kapadia’s Amy; Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave; Andrea Arnold’s American Honey; Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady; Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire; Sarah Gavron’s Rocks; Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War; Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here; Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch; Chris Morris’ Four Lions; Shane Meadows’ This is England; and Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin.

Job Purpose

The Senior Commissioning Executive is required to source, curate, and work with the Director of Film4 to oversee the film development and production slate. The role is one of two senior commissioners in the team and can commission with autonomy for development. This person will also be part of a small group involved in the greenlight decisions for the production slate. As such the individual needs to have a proven track record in successfully overseeing high quality films from start of development until marketing and release, as well as having extensive, high-level talent relationships. The Senior Commissioning Executives, in conjunction with the Director of Film4, is responsible for allocating Film4's annual budget, which includes production, development and debut features and new talent. The individual must also have deep relationships with the British and International film distribution, financing and production sector, and be able to navigate it with ease and authority. The Senior Commissioning Executive is responsible for line managing one of the three Development & Production Executives and a Development Editor.

Key Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Director of Film4 and Senior Film4 Team, to progress and implement Film4’s creative strategy.
• Leverages high profile talent and financier relationships to identify and shape ground-breaking and genre-defying films for Film4.
• Oversee the development team, line-managing one of the three development and production executives and the development editor, as well as mentoring junior staff across the wider team, to ensure they are meeting Film4’s needs in terms of the slate, identifying new talent, covering theatre, books, TV talent etc.
• Be the senior point person on 3-4 film productions per year, working closely with talent and key partners to ensure the films fulfil their potential and are made to Film4’s high standards.
• Key player in shaping and building the slate, such that it enhances Film4’s reputation.
• Ensure sufficient high quality, and diverse projects convert to production.
• Play a significant role within the Senior Film4 Team.
• Represent the Senior Film4 Team externally, both in industry press as well as a spokesperson at key industry events
• Keep close track of the industry both nationally and internationally.
• Understand wider issues facing the industry and to help Film4 navigate and respond to a changing landscape. Understand the wider industry from a commercial viewpoint and help Film4 be a leader working towards a more sustainable UK film industry.
• Manage and quality control a wide range of often challenging development and productions projects. This includes overseeing any complex, high-stakes challenges, such as managing reputational risks or steering troubled projects back on track.
• Oversee creative aspects of the production process including script, casting, conception of scale, financial approach, editing and press & marketing in collaboration with the wider Film4 team.
• Brief and inspire production companies and be able to speak on public platforms.
• Represent Film4 nationally and internationally at major markets and key festivals.
• Work effectively with other parts of the Channel - e.g. legal and compliance, marketing, press, other commissioning areas such as drama, arts, specialist factual etc.
• Look and think internationally
• Support career growth in the team.
• Help formulate and take responsibility for systems and processes within the creative team.
• Have a strong awareness of the challenges facing the industry in terms of representation and put this at the centre of the decision making process.
  
   

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Demonstrable knowledge of the British and international film industries with wide connections in film and parallel creative industries (e.g. theatre, TV and publishing and agents) 
• Strong demonstrable knowledge and experience of the development process
• Strong demonstrable knowledge and experience of the creative aspects of the production process including script, casting, conception of scale, financial approach, editing and press & marketing
• An extremely high standard of demonstrated script editing and note making experience
• Strong existing high level talent relationships across film and creative industries and ability to find and build new ones
• Proven ability to seek out and build commercially and critically viable projects
• Creative and practical flair and a constant flow of new ideas and different approaches
• Demonstrable experience in successfully collaborating with production companies
• Fast and reliable response to scripts and a high turnover rate. 
• Good organisational skills
• Good communication skills in order to interact confidently and effectively with staff and external providers both verbally and written
• Proven ability and confidence in working independently, autonomously and taking initiative
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Passion for film, theatre and creative writing talent
  
   

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• The ideal candidate will have experience as an independent film or TV drama producer, making scripted content of a high standard and profile.