Lights, Camera, Format

Chair

Jessica Fox
TV/Film director, author and story consultant | XpoNorth film sector specialist

Jessica Fox is a tv/film director, author and story consultant. She created/starred in the Youtube series “My Famous Dead Boyfriend”, directed commercials for PictoProductions and her short “Bluebeard” featured internationally at festivals. Her memoir, “Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets” was ‘romantic memoir of the year’ (Daily Mail) and is in development with Endeavor Content. Most recently she wrapped on her first feature film, “Stella” set in 1937 Scotland and co-founded Innerwell Media. Off set, Jessica created The Open Book, Airbnb’s most popular destination, and is a storytelling consultant for science organizations like NASA. Jessica is proud to be XpoNorth's film sector specialist.

Speakers

Hayley Babcock
Owner, HBMC (Hayley Babcock Media Consulting)

Hayley Babcock is a highly respected, entrepreneurial television executive recognised for her exceptional mix of creative and business skills and her global network of contacts. Babcock has an extensive background in unscripted development, production, acquisitions, formats and management. She has built her career developing, producing and acquiring programming, building new divisions in existing organizations and overseeing multiple global franchises. She is valued for her exceptional skill in bringing diverse groups together to work as a cohesive team and her ability to facilitate successful collaboration.


Recently Hayley relaunched HBMC, Hayley Babcock Media Consulting, where she currently supports a variety of clients from the UK, Canada, Belgium and the US – working with them on everything from their unscripted format development slates to scripted format sales to planning international strategy to original co-development. HBMC had been dormant since one of Babcock’s previous clients, A+E Networks, brought her on full time as Head of Formats, International Programming and Production.

At A+E Hayley was responsible for all creative and production aspects of the international format business including co-development of new content for international distribution. She also identified formats from the A+E group of channels for the global marketplace and partnered with independent producers, co-developing new format concepts, helping to launch those shows in their originating territories, then bringing that IP into the A+E content sales catalogue. Hayley partnered with A+E sales, marketing, publicity, business affairs, finance and research teams to drive the 360-degree business. She was also tasked with expanding international factual co-productions, sourcing projects from US and international producers for investment in and distribution by A+E.

Hayley began her career as producer for K-ABC Talk Radio in Los Angeles. She then moved to TV as an associate producer for K-ABC Television’s daily morning show. After beginning her career in the US, she was recruited by RTL Television Germany to executive produce that country’s first, daily live morning talk show. Babcock spent the next seven years developing and producing programming in Germany. She went on to create and lead the entertainment department at one of Germany’s largest regional broadcasters in Berlin. Babcock moved from that role to become Head of Development and Executive Producer at Fremantle Media’s German production arm.

Ms. Babcock’s success at Fremantle in Germany led to an executive position at CBS International (now ViacomCBS) in Los Angeles. A few years later she was recruited by 20th Century Fox to launch their format production division, Fox World. Hayley eventually went to Sony Pictures Entertainment where she not only ran their unscripted international productions, but also co-directed strategic creative development across Sony’s global group of production companies. In her roles at these US studios, Babcock oversaw the international rollout, adaptation and productions of iconic formats such as Shark Tank (aka Dragons’ Den); Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, Temptation Island; Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy to name a few.

When Sony’s international production division relocated headquarters to Europe, Babcock left the studio to remain in the US and that is when she launched HBMC. At that time, she worked with clients such as Shine International, where she took on the role of Head of North American Acquisitions. Babcock also worked with clients such as 2026, DRG, Whalerock Industries and A+E International, which ultimately brought her on board as a fulltime executive.

Hayley Babcock sits on the board of FRAPA (the Format Recognition and Protection Association), is a member of the advisory boards for both Real Screen Live 2021 and The David Lyle Foundation and is a member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences. Hayley was named one of 2020’s Top Women in Media by the trade publication Cynopsis and is a founding member of the Los Angeles chapter of Chief, a private network focused on connecting and supporting women leaders. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). She is fluent in German and conversational in French.

Richard Tulk-Hart
CEO, Buccaneer Media

CEO, Buccaneer Media

Joining Buccaneer as co-CEO in January 2020, previously, Richard was Managing Director of International Distribution, Formats and Co-Productions at A+E Networks. Prior to A+E Networks, Richard held senior industry leadership roles with Miramax, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of International, and Fremantle where he was Vice President of Sales for EMEA. Richard also held the role of Vice President of Sales and Distribution at IMG Media.

Buccaneer produce ITV/Netflix hit series MARCELLA. A French adaptation, REBECCA, is currently in production. Buccaneer have just finished shooting WHITSTABLE PEARL for Acorn starring Kerry Godliman and Howard Charles. Buccaneer are currently in production on Irvine Welsh’s CRIME for Britbox starring Dougray Scott, dystopian thriller IN MEMORIAM with HBO Max and Participant Media, and have other projects in development with Netflix, Viacom and NRK.

Tony Wood
CEO, Buccaneer Media

CEO, Buccaneer Media

Tony Wood is one of the UK’s leading television professionals, responsible for more than 5000 hours of programmes and his work has won more than 100 awards. Tony has produced Coronation Street and executive produced Hollyoaks. He co-created the ground-breaking reality drama series The Only Way is Essex - the most talked about show in Britain.

Tony was the driving force behind Nickelodeon’s global children’s phenomenon House of Anubis and he co-developed and executive produced Channel 4’s multi-award winning comedy success, Fresh Meat, written by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, the creator of Succession.

Since 2013, Tony has run the creative behind the prodco Buccaneer. Best known as the home of Hans Rosenfeldt’s Emmy-winning Marcella, Buccaneer is currently engaged with Acorn’s Whitstable Pearl, Irvine Welsh’s Crime for Britbox, HBO Max’s In Memoriam and the UK’s no 1 True Crime podcast, Murder In House 2.

Lola Bubbosh
Development Producer, BBC Studios

Lola is currently a Development Producer at BBC Studios, where she looks for and develops new IP. Previously Lola was development exec at Miramax Films and the Walt Disney Studio.