Lilliane Moffat on the unscripted TV development researcher programme

For Lilliane Moffat, a ScreenSkills course became a perfect opportunity to take the first steps of a long-held ambition. She explained: “I’ve always wanted to work in TV, even as a kid, and loved watching behind the scenes videos of tv shows, movies, and those weird DVD extras where the actors and director talk over the whole film.” When she discovered the Unscripted TV Skills Fund’s development researcher programme, she knew it could play a vital part in her screen career.

The course, led by development executive and series producer, Perjit Aujla, focussed on the essential skills needed to work in development including idea creation, editing and software, and communication skills. Candidates were then offered placements with the development team of an unscripted production company to allow them to consolidate their skills, put their knowledge into practice and make vital industry connections.

These connections were crucial for Lilliane who was looking to find a network in a new country having moved to Manchester from Australia. The combination of online learning and practical experience also proved particularly useful. She said: “The programme absolutely helped me develop my skills. I had almost zero knowledge on what a development researcher was, and I came out feeling ready and excited to start working as one. I think it helped that I already had the technical skills of editing, filming, and adobe behind me, as my placement saw me making pitch decks on Canva and editing videos for pitches.”

Lilliane’s placement was with Northern Heart Films, a contributor to the Unscripted TV Skills Fund and based near her Manchester home. “Although I’m not new to working in the industry, my placement at Northern Heart was my first role since going corporate for a few years. The team was lovely and they trusted me enough to try new things, while still working closely with me on other ideas. I am really grateful to them for the experience as it was the perfect place for me.”

The course came at the perfect time for Lilliane, who spoke about how her dream career started to feel too remote to come true, saying: “Before I was accepted into the course, I had basically given up hope that I would ever work in the screen industries, and that my transferrable skills weren’t enough to stand out compared to other applicants. Now I have gone straight from doing my placement at Northern Heart to working on a five-week contract with the BBC!”

She feels confident that programmes like these are integral to supporting the industry’s current – and future – workforce. She said: “ScreenSkills programmes are so important because they look amazing on your CV, have industry trust and backing, and prioritise helping those who have the passion for the work but can’t get the opportunities. Not everyone can live in London and work the odd runner job for very little money, so it's hard to break into a new industry while also trying to stay afloat and paying rent.”

This particular course certainly helped Lilliane achieve what she was hoping for: “For the first time in a long time, I am hopeful that I will find something!”