BAI fosters Irish skills in quality TV drama

Big Stories on the Small Screen is a new initiative, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Screen Training Ireland, focused on developing Irish skills in quality long-form screen drama.

Big Stories will support Irish-resident screenwriters, producers and directors who want to develop the essential skills necessary to craft a successful drama series for the international market. The BAI is supporting this initiative through its Sectoral Learning and Development Fund.

It brings together some of the most eminent screen storytellers from across the world to work with Irish screen professionals. The initiative fosters the creative collaboration essential to developing successful long-form drama; participants learn skills in collaborative storytelling alongside skills in story analysis and script development.

Big Stories comprises two distinct modules and spans a twelve month period.

• The first module involves a major one-day conference in Dublin on the subject of Successful Drama Series.

• The second module begins with a five-day project-based workshop in May/June 2016, with a follow-up pitching session in November 2016.

• Ten selected projects will be hothoused in a writers’ room format event led by international professionals David Isaacs (Mad Men, Frazier, The Simpsons) and Tom Abrams (Oscar-nominee, Professor of Screenwriting at USC).

• Subsequent to the workshop, participants continue to develop their projects in consultation with their tutors and collaborators via a secure online portal. In November 2016, participants pitch their packaged long-form drama to invited Irish TV genre heads, production companies and digital distributors.

Applications to attend Module Two will be accepted from 30 November 2015 via the Screen Training Ireland website. Irish-resident Screenwriters, Creative Producers and Directors are invited to apply to Big Stories on the Small Screen. Teams or individuals may apply.

Further information

Source: BAI Website