Alternative Approaches: Discussing New Options for The Screen Sector
'To drive discovery, engagement, and monetisation of their intellectual property and services, media and entertainment companies may need holistic strategies that operate across TV and film, social media and user generated content and interactive gaming'.
Deloitte Digital and Media Trends 2024
This session provides an opportunity to discuss the group's deliberations and the report's content, covering topics such as boosting confidence among new entrants, collaborating with brands, utilising new platforms and exploring alternative finance options. While the report does not critique the work of other organisations and acknowledges that not all recommendations can be implemented by HIE and XpoNorth Digital, it does highlight exciting approaches, sparks fresh conversations, and encourages new areas of collaboration.
Most small production companies in the screen sector are currently feeling the strain of the challenging commissioning and financial landscape. In response, HIE and XpoNorth Digital brought together a cross-sector 'visioning' group to explore alternative ways of working and identify the support needed for businesses to continue telling their stories and bring them to market in innovative new ways. The group's findings are detailed in a comprehensive report available for download at:
https://xponorth.co.uk/assets/Resourc...
Participants:
Domhnall Caimbeul, CEO, MG Alba: Domhnall joined MG Alba in 2006 and was instrumental in the establishment of the partnership that launched the Gaelic TV channel BBC ALBA. He also chairs the joint management board of BBC ALBA and has previously been Chair of the Celtic Media Festival.
Tim Wright, co-founder Twintangibles and XpoNorth Digital Specialist advisor: A leading thinker and practitioner on crowdfunding, Tim co-founded Twintangibles, a Scottish based management consultancy that helps organisations create value through accessing the crowd economy. Tim has provided expert insight to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development), European Commission and the Scottish Government and is author of The Scottish Crowdfunding Report. Previously Tim has worked for Egon Zehnder International and McKinsey & Co and several other highly respected organisations.
Jessica Fox, director, author, co-founder of Innerwell Media, specialist advisor for XpoNorth Digital: Jessica has over 15 years of directing experience with credits that span award-winning film, theatre, and TV. Her memoir, Three Things You Need to Know About Rockets was Waterstone's Book of the Month and is in development with Endeavor Content. Innerwell Media’s film, Stella, a period-drama feature set in Galloway, Scotland won Best Drama at Tel Aviv International (2023) and Best First-Time Filmmaker at Montreal Independent Film Festival (2022). She also consults for science organisations and start-up companies in the UK/US looking at storytelling, creativity, and communication (nerd-whispering). She was resident storyteller at NASA. Her current book, "Once Upon a BioFuture", a collaboration with Edinburgh University's Synthetic Biology Lab is now out.
Iain Hamilton, Head of Creative Industries, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). HIE is the economic and community development agency for the north and west of Scotland. Iain's role is to develop and deliver support to creative businesses and entrepreneurs in the region. He established HIE’s specialist support programme for the sector. This approach has given the agency a much deeper reach into the sector and provides network and market access, mentoring, advice, training and direct work opportunities. The programme is very much focussed on bringing people with different backgrounds together to develop new ideas and ways of working. Prior to working for HIE, Iain was Creative Industries Co-ordinator for HI Arts Ltd, and has worked as a musician and as a copywriter. He has also acted as an advisor on national and international creative projects.