JESTING ABOUT 2



JESTING ABOUT 2

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is BBC North?

BBC North is one of the BBC’s most ambitious projects in our history and will create a new centre of excellence outside London for production, technology development, training and digital media. The move started in May 2011 and the project is on time and on budget.

The BBC is paid for by the whole of the UK and needs to better reflect the breadth and depth of our culture and be representative of all those who fund it. BBC North will help meet the commitment to our audiences to get as close to them as possible.

From our base at MediaCityUK and our regional offices in Leeds, Hull, Sheffield and Newcastle, BBC North will support locally produced, high quality content for every platform using the latest innovations in technology.

The move facilitates the creation of new partnerships with organisations including independent producers, cutting edge digital companies and universities across the North of England. BBC North will lead the way in training and developing talent, building on the rich mix of skills and experience already available in the North of England.

What is Jesting About 2?

Last year, comedy legend Bob Mortimer launched Jesting About, an initiative designed to find and develop the best new comedy talent in the North East.

We threw down the gauntlet to aspiring comedians, writers and performers to pitch ideas, scripts and sketches to a panel of BBC commissioners. Successful applicants won the chance to be supported by BBC comedy executives alongside talent including Bob Mortimer, Ross Noble and Ian La Frenais (Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Likely Lads and Porridge).

This year, we are running a second iteration of the scheme and our ambition is to expand the talent pool. A partnership between BBC North/BBC Comedy and Northern Film & Media, Jesting About 2 will run from December 2011 to March 2012. We will work with a selected group of applicants to help develop their ideas across Radio and TV.

If you are a comedy writer, stand-up or performer with great ideas we want to hear from you. We want to discover and develop new talent and put the best ideas in front of the Comedy Commissioners.

How do I apply?

Download the application form from bbc.co.uk/blog/comedy. Fill in the details of the strand you are applying for and send your attached sketch material clearly marked with your name and the sketch title on each page. Please email to jestingabout@bbc.co.uk before the closing deadline of noon, Monday 28th November 2011. If you have not heard within three weeks of the closing deadline please consider you have been unsuccessful.

Can I apply for more than one strand?

Yes, you can apply for each of the strands: Radio, TV sitcom and TV Comedy Entertainment. Please fill in a separate application form for each strand and send along with your attached ideas (.doc or PDF) marked clearly with the title of the sketch and your name on each sheet.

Can I apply for Jesting About 2 if I was part of Jesting About 1?

Yes, you can apply for Jesting About 2 if you were part of the first initiative. We were impressed with the standard of work created during Jesting About and would welcome applications from our first intake. All applications from past contributors and new applicants will be considered fairly under the same selection process.

Can I apply for Jesting About 2 if I am inexperienced and have no history of having my work published or performing?

We’re looking for applicants and ideas suitable for each platform and which showcase comedy skills and the creativity of applicants whilst having audience appeal. We are especially interested in those who are already involved in comedy. We’re also keen to work with new talent but we would like you to show us evidence, either of a history of performing, previously published work or a high level of talent. And of course, make it funny!!

What happens to my application?

The deadline for application is noon on Monday, 28th November, 2011. Each application will be read and considered. If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of this deadline, please consider that you have been unsuccessful in securing a place. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide feedback at application stage due to limited resources and volume of applicants for the initiative. The final decision will be made by a team of senior industry professionals.

What are the selection criteria?

There are three strands that form Jesting About 2; Radio, TV Sitcom and TV Comedy Entertainment. The selection panel for each will be led by the relevant BBC executive joined by at least two other BBC comedy experts. Criteria for selection will be based on the appropriateness of ideas submitted for each brief. We’re looking for applicants and ideas suitable for each platform and which showcase comedy skills and the creativity of applicants whilst having audience appeal. We are especially interested in those who are already involved in comedy. We’re also keen to work with new talent but we would like you to show us evidence, either of previously published work or a high level of talent. And of course, make it funny!!

Who will be mentoring the successful applicants?

A number of BBC Executive Producers, commissioners and departments will be involved in the ideas and talent development process.

 

Will the final Jesting About pitches be commissioned?

There is no guarantee that the ideas that come through this process will be commissioned beyond this stage. However we hope that long-term relationships will be forged and opportunities to win commissions will be established.

Rights:

Successful applicants will be paid a total fee of £200 per applicant. In consideration of this fee, the applicant agrees to grant the BBC an exclusive licence to use and edit the material (and any associated performances including those of the applicants (if applicable) submitted for JA2 until 31st December 2012 for the purposes of :

• Developing TV shows intended to be broadcast on the BBC.

• Any live public performances that may be part of such development.  After this date the licence will automatically terminate   and all TV rights   will revert to the applicant unless any further agreement is entered into. Unsuccessful applicants will retain all rights in their submissions, and the BBC will not use their work without their subsequent approval. 

 

The BBC will have an exclusive option until 31 December 2012 to commission TV shows based upon the submitted material, subject to the negotiation of the applicable agreements in accordance with the BBC's customary terms and conditions.  

The BBC plan to broadcast the sketch show on its local radio network: BBC Tees and BBC Newcastle.  

All successful applicants will therefore also grant the BBC a licence to use and edit the material (and any associated performances including those of the applicants (if applicable) submitted for JA2 on standard BBC terms for the purposes of  producing and broadcasting radio programmes on BBC local radio (including online streaming and catch up) without any further payment being due.

 

Relationship with partners:

Northern Film & Media (NFM), the creative industry development agency for the North East, are the BBC's investment partner in Jesting About 2. If the BBC commissions a television show that is developed during Jesting About 2 (whether produced by the BBC or an independent producer), NFM will be entitled to an upfront fee of 1.5% of the production budget for all episodes of the show and also a 7.5% share of net receipts derived from commercial exploitation of the show.

Rules of Eligibility:

All applicants need to be over 18 years of age, on the 1st December 2011. This scheme is open to applicants across the UK but applicants must demonstrate a strong understanding of the North East; its people and culture and reflect that back in the ideas and approach offered.

The North East is defined as the following metropolitan and non- metropolitan counties: Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland Stockton, Tyne and Wear and Darlington.

Employee’s or relatives of the BBC and NFM are ineligible.

Can I apply for the JA2 if I am not from the North East?

This scheme is open to applicants across the UK. Applicants must demonstrate a strong understanding of the North East; its people and culture and reflect that back in the ideas/scripts offered.

Successful candidates will be paid a total fee of £200 towards travel, expenses and license to use sketches (for the radio strand).

Overall Timescale:

Applications will be accepted from Monday 31st October 2011.

The closing deadline is 12.00 noon on Monday 28th November 2011.

Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 9th December 2011 and must confirm availability to attend a series of Newcastle based workshops which are planned for the beginning of December through to February 2012.

They are planned for the following dates but these are provisional and subject to the availability of both commissioners and talent.

TV Sitcom:

Much of this strand will be done remotely via mentored support.

Wednesday 14th December 2011: An introduction to Jesting About 2

Thursday 19th January Delivery 2nd Draft of script

Thursday 1st March Delivery 3rd Draft of script

Monday 19th March Final Draft Delivery

March: Table read through TBC

Radio:

Wednesday 14th December 2011: An introduction to Jesting About 2

Wednesday 11th January 2012

Wednesday 25th January 2012

Wednesday 8th February 2012

Thursday 16th February 2012

Rehearsal and recording date TBC

TV Comedy Entertainment:

Wednesday 14th December 2011: An introduction to Jesting About 2

Thursday 12th January 2012

Thursday 26th January 2012

Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Wednesday 7th March 2012

Wednesday 14th March 2012

Thursday 15th March 2012

Rehearsal and recording date TBC

Successful applicants may be required to take part in a Jesting About showcase to take place in Newcastle during March 2012 where BBC executives and Commissioners will be part of a specially invited audience to showcase work created as a result of this initiative. Details of venues, dates and times will be announced in early 2012.

Application Rules:

• Please be explicit about which strand you intend to apply for: Radio, TV Sitcom, TV Comedy Entertainment.

• If you are applying for multiple strands please send in a separate entry for each strand along with a .doc or PDF (or link to video) laying out your ideas. An applicant should not submit more than 3 ideas to any strand.

• There are no set numbers of places for each strand, however we will apply strict criteria to the process and only the very best will be successful.

• Applicants will need to confirm that the idea(s) or submission(s) are entirely their own works and that they hold all rights in the idea(s) or submission(s).

• All information contained in applications submitted will be held by the BBC and NFM and will not be shared with other parties, unless prior approval has been agreed.

• For the avoidance of doubt, there is no guarantee that any idea or submission, even if selected, will be broadcast or used by the BBC.

• Applicants should declare any relevant information regarding criminal conviction(s) as part of their application, although this may not disqualify them from taking part.

• The decision of the BBC is final. The BBC has right to suspend or withdraw the initiative at any point, without notice.

Jesting About 2’s Producer is Helen Spencer who can be contacted at: helen.spencer1@bbc.co.uk

Jesting About 2, BBC Newcastle, Barrack Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE99 2NE.

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