Delegates announced for TRC’s SuperSizing Development Teams 2024

Glasgow-based training provider TRC announces the return of their creative development programme SuperSizing Development Teams with four new Scotland based indies taking part.

The intensive short course was piloted last year as an expansion to TRC’s signature training programme for Development Executives SuperSizer, which is currently in its seventh edition.

Working closely with experienced trainer Alex Dalton, TRC has designed a company wide training programme focused on maximising creativity across teams of local indies. The three-month training course will aim to embed and nurture the development process across the full team with a series of sessions on creative leadership, creative facilitation, pitching, communication and ideation.

The selected participants on the second iteration of the programme are:

• Harry Bell, Andrew Blackwell, Brendan Hughes, David Marshall, David Kerr, and Olivia Brockett from Tern TV
• Rob Butterfield, Lucy Bacon, and Will Holmes from Ricochet
• Natalie Humphreys, Claire Aza-Selinger, Kevin Walker and Anna Hunter from Storyboard Studios
• Sarah Walmsley, Andrew Jackson, Linsay Gordon and Robert Brown from Raise The Roof Productions

 

Having taken part in the first iteration of SuperSizing Development Teams, Jane Rogerson, Managing Director of Red Sky Productions, commented:

 “This is a great course not just for development but for building teams. What I’ve found most valuable is the time and space for us as a team to share challenges, experiences and personal time away from the day to day. As a result, we’re even more open and trusting of each other than we were. That’s not an easily measurable goal in ‘supersizing development’ but if you don’t feel safe and trusted you won’t do your best work. This course has reinforced that investment into our core team makes all the difference, it’s a tough market and tough times but taking part in SuperSizer Development Teams has made our team more valuable than ever.”

Claire Scally, Managing Director of TRC commented:

“Following an impressive first iteration of SuperSizing Development Teams, we are delighted to announce the new cohort of Scottish indies taking part in its second edition. We look forward to supporting the development talent and creative teams across the selected indies, with an outlook to continue building on the the SuperSizer’s brand and success.”

 

Screen Scotland continues to be a core funder of TRC, as part of its long-term commitment to growing Scotland’s screen workforce. 

Steven Little, Head of Production at Screen Scotland commented:

“Supporting a second year of the SuperSizing Development Teams programme that was expertly delivered by TRC, is an example of the continuity and high-quality training initiatives that Screen Scotland are pursuing as part of the overall strategy to develop the screen sector. Screen Scotland’s pursuit of a mixed economy for screen practitioners in Scotland must be underpinned by supporting our local companies to grow and encourage innovation and origination of content from Scotland based production companies.”

To learn more about SuperSizing Development Teams please visit https://trcmedia.org/training/supersizing-development-teams/

To be notified about any upcoming editions of SuperSizing Development Teams, you can now register your interest.

 

Meet the Delegates

 

As MD Harry runs both the commercial and creative direction of Tern. His job is to help generate the best returnable ideas, sell the smartest shows, tame the trickiest talent and, ultimately, put bums on seats.

 As a multi-award winning producer, he’s been responsible for executive producing Tern’s critically acclaimed factual series in the UK and Internationally. He specialises in access documentaries, travel & adventure, clever clip shows and blue chip specialist factual formats.

Harry is originally from Argyll, starting his career as a print journalist for The Scotsman newspaper and working on oil rigs before moving to London and becoming one of ITV’s youngest TV producers.

Andrew leads Tern Development, overseeing the team’s pitches, proposals and sizzles.

Andrew joined Tern in 2010 after 20 years in radio and TV advertising and has stayed in Development throughout. His climb from producer to Head of Department has been helped by a succession of UK and International wins, largely in his key focus areas – Specialist Factual and Documentary. Many have been award winners.

Credits include: Spooked Scotland, 50 Years of the Mr Men, Britain’s Lost Masterpieces, Dolly: The Sheep That Changed The World and The Secret Life of Landfill. 

 Brendan is responsible for all output from the Belfast office. From there, he executive produces a range of Specialist Factual series, Daytime, and Features.

He has filmed across Arts, Music, Docs, Features and Specialist Factual – from South America to the Far East and the Arctic Circle. He even filmed with Hunter S Thompson and Allen Ginsberg.

Prior to working at Tern, Brendan ran Jeremy Isaacs Productions and made Time Team for Channel 4. He also made a wide range of music documentaries, including a film on Atlantic Records for Channel 4 and Dusty Springfield for the BBC.

David looks after Tern’s entertainment slate and is responsible for growing Tern’s returnable factual entertainment formats and shiny floor shows. 

Recent Tern credits include Martin Compston’s Scottish Fling (BBC TWO & BBC Scotland) and Paul Black: Under The Influence (BBC Scotland).

Prior to Tern, David Exec Produced Wild Weekends for BBC3 and Series Produced the popular BBC One quiz show Impossible. He has also developed at STV, IWC and BBC Studios, created new formats for Sky, Channel 4 and BBC Three and worked on several of the world’s biggest brands including X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent.

David has worked across both production and development over the past 10 years, with a real focus on factual entertainment and comedy entertainment formats.

Currently a Senior Development Producer at Tern TV, past roles span BBC Studios Factual Entertainment, Two Rivers Media and Beezr Studios.

Recent commissions include an upcoming BBC quiz show pilot, the feel-good travelogue Martin Compston’s Norwegian Fling (BBC Two), daytime DIY show Tool Club (CH4), and youth-skewing adventure format Wild Weekends (BBC Three).

Olivia has newly joined Tern’s Development team as Development Researcher where her role includes generating new ideas, finding exciting new stories, talent and access, producing proposals, and preparing pitches for commissioners. 

Prior to Tern, Olivia worked for Two Rivers Media, joining in 2021 straight out of completing her BA (Hons) degree in Television. Starting as a Production Assistant, Olivia worked her way up to become a Researcher across both development and production. Her time at Two Rivers saw her work across a broad, multi-genre Development slate, and in 2023 she secured her first commission: a new three-part true crime series for BBC Scotland and BBC Three that is due to TX later in 2024. Olivia developed, secured key talent, and subsequently worked on the production of this. Other production credits include Facelift (BBC Scotland) Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens (UKTV and W) and Frankie Boyle’s Farewell to the Monarchy (C4).

 

Rob first joined Ricochet in 2004 and runs the company’s office in Glasgow. He is a key member of the company’s senior creative team having executive produced many of Ricochet’s major returning series including The Repair Shop, Food Unwrapped, The Bidding Room, Cowboy Builders and Britain’s Top Takeaways.

Lucy Bacon recently joined Ricochet’s Glasgow office as Development Executive. She has a legacy of pitching, originating, and developing programming which has enjoyed domestic and international success. Lucy joins Ricochet from Two Rivers Media where she was Director of Unscripted Development – where she oversaw a number of developments including Frankie Boyle Farewell to the Monarchy (C4), Gemma and Gorka: Life Behind the Lens (W), Cassius X: Becoming Ali (Paramount+) and The Warship: Tour of Duty (BBC2). Prior to this Lucy held Head of Development positions at Wall to Wall Media, BBC, Remarkable and Shine TV.

Will Holmes recently joined Ricochet’s Glasgow office as Development AP. Since starting out as a BBC Scotland Apprentice in 2017, Will has worked across various productions and development teams including BBC Scotland, Two Rivers Media and Firecrest Films, helping to win commissions such as Frankie Boyle’s Farewell to The Monarchy (C4), Secrets Of The Supermarket Own Brands (C4), The Ice Cream Wars (BBC Scot), Des Doesn’t Do Series 2 (BBC Scot) and Facelift (BBC Scot). His favourite programmes to watch are obs docs, quiz shows, and anything involving cars.

 

Natalie has worked across the UK and global production sector for nearly three decades as a writer, director and executive producer, winning awards for cinematography, innovation and reaching new audiences.

She has created programming across the spectrum, from constructed factual to drama, observational documentaries, factual formats, arts, history, science and natural history landmarks. After working across the UK independent sector, she joined Shine Television as head of specialist factual. She moved to Glasgow in 2011 while working for the BBC, where she held a number of roles including leading factual for BBC Studios, controller of factual & daytime for BBC Television and head of specialist factual for BBC Vision prior to launching Storyboard Studios in 2019.

Storyboard Studios Development Executive Claire has over 25 years of experience in the TV industry, across genres including Fact Ents, Specialist Factual, Docs, Drama and Children’s TV.

She has taken over 20 ideas from brainstorm to commission, from big science formats such as BBC One’s hit series How to Stay Young, to popular fact ents such as Channel 4’s Hire My Home and shiny floor competitions like CBBC’s Glee Club. Her extensive track record in development is down a genuine love of TV and a left-field way of thinking. Throughout her career, she has excelled in a number creative roles; including Director, Series Producer, Edit Producer and Storyliner.

 

Production Executive Kevin Walker works across Storyboard’s busy slate from managing series in production and budgeting projects in development.

With a background in documentaries, sport, science, arts, entertainment, music and event programming, Kevin has extensive domestic and international experience from single camera productions, studio and live outside broadcasts. Credits include BAFTA Scotland winner Scotland 78, Horizon, Trust Me I’m A Doctor, Russia’s Toughest for National Geographic and coverage of Belladrum Music Festival, Eurovision Choir and Ceilidh Na Bliadhn’ Ùire (Hogmanay) for BBC ALBA.

 

Anna joined Storyboard Studios as Development Researcher Trainee via the PACT Diversity Scheme and has gained invaluable insight and hands on experience in the Development and Production processes within her role.

Prior to joining Storyboard, Anna worked for Blazing Griffin Post Production as Facility Runner, and studied BA (Hons) Photography at Edinburgh College of Art, and MSc Digital Campaigning and Content Creation at Queen Margaret University. Anna has used many of these transferable skills both on productions and in her spare time, where she films and edits comedy sets for a variety of Glasgow based comedians and develops and produces podcasts and documentaries.

 

Sarah founded Raise the Roof with Jane Muirhead, Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer in 2010. As Creative Director, her dream was to create somewhere people really wanted to work, somewhere that creates great content and that is known for the highest quality production values, whatever the budget or volume. 

As one of the company’s creative leads, Sarah works directly with development and has close relationships with commissioners. Sarah has executive produced a host of titles including Sunshine Escapes with Amanda Lamb, Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas, Fill Your House for Free, Handmade Britain, Vacation Vacation Vacation and Empty Homes Giveaway.

 

Andrew helps lead the creative vision for RTRP. He executive produces many of RTR’s series including the Bafta Scotland winning A Country Life for Half the Price (C5), RTS Scotland winning series Fill Your House for Free (C4) and Holiday of My Lifetime (BBC One); as well as Love it or List it. He also exec produced My Mortgage Free Home and Quick Little Builds for Discovery+.

Before RTRP, Andrew spent 6 years at C4, latterly as Deputy Head of Features. He commissioned hundreds of primetime hours including the award-winning documentaries Hugh’s Fish Fight and Bank of Dave, and returners like Amazing Spaces and Embarrassing Bodies Live.

 

Linsay joined RTR in 2012.  Her biggest commission to date is the 80x60min episodes of Holiday Homes in the Sun for (C5), her smallest but just as important, is the 1x60min Phil Spencer: Find Me a Home (C4).

 She has created singles and series for C4, C5, BBC, BBC Scotland, and Discovery+, such as Escape to the Farm with Kate Humble, Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas (C4 Daytime), Billionaire Blooms (C4), Phil Spencer’s Great British Dog Walks (C4) and My Mortgage Free Home (Discovery) amongst others. Prior to RTR Linsay worked at Finestripe, the BBC and Octopus TV.

 

Robert started working in TV in 2013 having previously worked in retail and as a part-time Stand-up comedian and Comedy writer. After stints working for the BBC, he got his first experience of development working as an archive researcher at Objective Scotland on shows such as Now You See It and It Was Alright in the 70s.

In 2016, Robert joined RTRP as a Development Researcher where he created and developed programmes including the wrestling documentary, BBC Our Lives: Fight Like a Girl and competitive baking format, BBC’s Flour Power as well as Billionaire Blooms for C4, Sunshine Getaways with Amanda Lamb and Kate Humble’s A Country Life for Half the Price both C5.