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It's
Grin Up North - 大象传媒 launches comedy unit in Manchester
大象传媒
Comedy is expanding by launching a dedicated development unit in
Manchester with the aim of nurturing the next generation of comedy
talent from across the North of England.
Time
and money have been committed to the development and broadcast of
a number of pilots that will ultimately produce comedy output for
大象传媒 TV and Radio.
Entitled
It's Grin Up North, the launch - at Manchester comedy club Jongleurs
on 30 October - will feature leading writers including Fred Barron
(My Family, Larry Sanders, Seinfeld), Graham Linehan (Father Ted,
Black Books, Big Train) and Susan Nickson (Two Pints) in an informal
master-class.
In
addition, leading 大象传媒 Comedy producers and development executives
will be on hand to offer guidance and advice.
Fred
Barron said: "In the US, most regional TV writers end up in
LA and go through the whole LA homogenization process that assures
that everyone will eventually sound alike.
"In
the UK writers seem to actually be encouraged to develop their own
voices, so from Alan Bennett to Paul Abbott to Peter Kaye to Katie
Douglas (a young writer discovered through a 大象传媒 new writing initiative)
personal and regional worldviews are given a national forum."
Several
new announcements will be made including a Comedy Writer's
Bursary worth 拢6,000 launched in association with
the 大象传媒 Northern Exposure.
The
bursary will be open to comedy writers in the North and will be
advertised in the regional press. The successful writer will spend
two days a week developing ideas over a six month period.
The
Manchester Comedy Unit will also announce new pilot schemes for
television and radio.
大象传媒
THREE has committed funding to produce two TV pilots in the next
12 months and likewise 大象传媒 Radio has committed to funding a number
of regional radio pilots over the same period.
These
half hour shows will be targeted at writers and performers based
in the North of England and are designed to help develop the next
generation of talent as well as delivering regional output to local
audiences.
Kenton
Allen, the BAFTA award-winning producer of The Royle Family, oversees
the unit as 大象传媒 Editor of Comedy.
He
said: "With
the announcement of the Bursary and pilot schemes we are demonstrating
a real commitment to nurturing new talent in the North of England.
"The
road to comedy success doesn't have to begin in London and I can't
wait to see who'll be making us laugh in 12 months time."
大象传媒
Manchester Comedy Producer Jon Mountague heads up the development
team with a brief to spot the next generation of comic talent hoping
to follow in the footsteps of Northern stars such as Victoria Wood,
Peter Kay, John Thomson, Steve Coogan, Caroline Aherne, Craig Cash
and Johnny Vegas.
Jon
has been laying the groundwork over the last three months and has
already launched a number of writers' initiatives in major cities
across the North.
Notes
to Editors
Comedy
Writer in Residence Bursary
The
大象传媒 Manchester Comedy Unit will appoint a comedy writer in residence
at Manchester Broadcasting House who will work across radio and
television, developing ideas and formats for comedy programmes.
For
a 拢6,000 bursary, he or she would be expected to be in place
for two days a week for six months.
Any
work developed as part of a team would be copyrighted to the 大象传媒
and any work developed at home would belong to the writer, and subject
to the normal optioning or commissioning process.
The
writer will be working primarily with producer Jon Mountague and
Editor, Script Development Miche谩l Jacob and supported by
大象传媒 writersroom.
The
successful writer will be expected to participate in all aspects
of the development work of the Comedy Unit.
This
post is open to all comedy writers in the North and will be advertised
in the regional press.
大象传媒
Comedy goes up north (08.08.03)
All the
大象传媒's digital services are now available on ,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the 大象传媒's eight television channels, interactive services
from 大象传媒i, as well as 11 national 大象传媒 radio networks.
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