Why you should apply for my job on Screenshot
Our outgoing researcher and production coordinator Heather Dempsey explains her role in the Screenshot team and why you might want to follow in her footsteps.
I’ve been working with the Screenshot team as Researcher and Production Coordinator since the programme was first commissioned in July 2021, and after two brilliant series I’ll soon be starting a permanent full-time position in a similar role elsewhere. So, the good ship Screenshot is looking for a new deck hand to help plot a course through cinema and television history. Here’s why I think you should have a crack at it, and what you’ll be up to if you do.
The team
You’ll be working closely with a small and supportive production team, who you can read more about on our Meet the team page. Your closest working relationships will be with Nick Freand Jones and Jane Long, our Executive Producer and Lead Producer. Between them they have years of programme making experience. Throughout my time on the show, they’ve offered formative insight and guidance that I will carry with me in my next role and beyond.
In addition to this, about half the episodes in each series will be led by external producers, who you’ll work with on their shows. Different producers have different processes and approaches, so this will mostly involve communicating with them to find out how they do things and what they might need help with - whether that’s giving notes on draft edits, help with transcription, fact checking or researching film clips.
Presenters Ellen and Mark are of course central to the content and development of each show, so you’ll be working closely with them too. They’re full of great advice - and they’re even more fun to hang out with in real life than on the radio. Plus you might get personalised movie recommendations from two of the UK’s leading film critics: obvious bonus!
Supported by this team, you’ll have the opportunity to develop really useful skills in areas such as…
Research
To grow from an initial idea to a finished programme, each of Screenshot’s shows needs research and development. You’ll help with this by researching and suggesting interesting guests, topics and films to explore for programmes. You might also write notes and briefing sheets on these to help guide our presenters in interviews and producers in scripting. This will involve watching and thinking critically about great movies and TV from all sorts of genres and countries - and yes, that really counts as work.
Our collaborative team is always open to editorial contributions, whether ideas for whole programme themes, interesting angles or individual guests who might bring a new perspective to the topic of discussion. So, come full of these and get excited to hear the films and TV you love get some Radio 4 airtime.
Organisation and diary management
As a lynchpin for the team, you’ll gather and coordinate everyone’s availability and will be responsible for much of the studio booking or online recording set-up. As well as honing your organisational skills, this will help you develop great relationships with your colleagues and contributors. It also enables you to build a strong network of contacts in film, TV and audio production.
Production assistance
You’ll have the opportunity to sit in on and help out with recording sessions, both online and in the studio. Though no technical production skills are required, you will be able and encouraged to pick these up along the way.
You'll have the chance to develop your editing skills through cutting video and audio for use in shows and promotional material. You’ll also collaborate with the BBC social media team to make digital assets like this one, choosing tweetable moments to be made into social media videos promoting the programme. These are all great skills, useful and applicable to any audio production or digital role. You’ll see the full process of creating a radio series from start to finish, from the big ideas to the ever-essential paperwork.
There’s so much more exciting stuff you’ll be doing and learning about that I haven’t had the chance to mention here, but I think the biggest takeaway is this: the best thing about Screenshot is working with a wonderful group of film and radio geeks, where no ideas are off the table.
Good luck!
To find out more about the role and to apply please look at our Work with us page.