Embracing industry change: Diversifying to future-proof your freelance career

This session is part of the Connect & Inspire strand which offers a variety of sessions, from in-person networking and online roundtables to in-depth case studies, designed to promote the sharing of knowledge and the building of relationships across Unscripted TV. 

In the past year, Film and TV freelancers have faced significant challenges, with the ripple effect of the pandemic and shifting consumer behaviours reshaping the telly landscape. However, amidst these challenges lies an opportunity for freelancers to diversify their skills and income streams, enhancing their ability to survive, and thrive, even with the telly downturn. This session empowers freelancers to reassess their skills, explore new avenues for financial stability, and position themselves for success in an evolving industry. It highlights how, by diversifying income streams, freelancers can make money and stay in the industry.

Who it's for

This is for freelancers in unscripted TV from researchers to producers.

The majority of the Unscripted Skills Fund (USF) online short course offering is for those at early career stage and above. As a result, we generally require applicants to have at least three credits (unless working in a traditionally uncredited role). If you strongly feel you would still benefit from the training, please email USF@screenskills.com so we can assess if an exception should be made.

We are committed to ensuring all our courses are accessible to everyone. This course is designed to be as interactive as possible. Please email the above address if you have any access requirements and we will be delighted to help, be that clarifying the form such interaction is likely to take or discussing reasonable adjustments.

What it covers

• Benefits of career diversification
• Assessing your skillset
• Exploration of alternative/adjacent industries
• Upskilling
• Effective self-promotion
• Networking in a new industry.

Trainers

Perjit Aujla is an executive producer and development executive who in her 15 year career, like many others in the industry, has navigated through various challenges, from economic downturns to global pandemics. She has worked at a senior level across development, production and the edit and has a track record of securing commissions for major broadcasters and making primetime factual content. Beyond this role, Perjit has carved out her a second career as a trainer. As well as last year being part of a nationwide upskilling initiative in development, her interests include leadership, resilience and strategies for establishing a clear vision for teams and companies.

Sophie Morgan is an experienced content creator, screenwriter and development consultant. With over twenty-years working as an award-winning head of development, creative director and commissioning editor, Sophie has worked in the UK and US to develop and exec produce hundreds of hours of TV content for all major channels across all genres including Britain’s Next Top Model, RuPaul’s Drag Race, London Ink and Jade.

Sophie now runs Pontariva Media, a development consultancy providing creative and strategic support to broadcasters, multi-platform content studios and production companies across the UK. She is first and foremost a creative problem-solver with a particular interest in ideation, branding and the maximisation of IP. Sophie also writes screenplays and is a ScreenSkills mentor for neurodiverse talent.

How to apply

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘apply for ticket’ and follow the instructions to apply for your place: you must login or register before you are able to complete your application.

Places on these free online courses are limited and applications are often highly competitive. To stand the best chance of securing a place, please be sure to consider the following:

• When asked to list your three most recent credits, please include the programme title and your job role.
• When asked what you hope to gain from the course, please be concise but ensure you cover the specific elements of the topic you would like to gain knowledge of and what gaps in your skillset you believe the course may address. A rewording of the course title or a general comment on career progression does not tell us much about how this course would benefit you.

If you are no longer able to attend, we ask you to please use the “decline ticket” function on the right hand side of the page so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.

This session is supported by the ScreenSkills Unscripted TV Skills Fund which invests in training for the unscripted workforce thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

This course would normally cost participants to attend, but thanks to this support, we are able to offer it to you for free. If you fail to attend, we reserve the right to request reimbursement of costs, unless your place can be taken by someone else.