We’ve joined forces with Hat Trick Productions to help them reach out to burgeoning comedy producers, with a 12 month contract on offer as well as the opportunity for a wider pool of producers to build a strong freelance relationship with the company.
If you’re an aspiring comedy producer and would like to work for one of the biggest independent comedy production companies in the UK, have a look for more details below on what they’re looking for and how to apply.
A Call Out for Emerging Scripted Comedy Producers
Hat Trick’s scripted department makes a wide range of programmes, from half hour sit com, to hidden camera prank shows, sketch shows, and longer form comedy and dramas.
They want to reach out to a broader range of emerging comedy producers, who are keen to further their career in scripted comedy.
They’ll be meeting with a shortlist of around 10 producers, who will get the chance to meet with the team at Hat Trick, ask them about what sort of projects they’re interested in as well as pitch an original project of their own to Hat Trick MD Jimmy Mulville.
Hat Trick will offer one of the shortlisted producers a 12 month contract as a Junior Producer at the Hat Trick offices in Camden. (You can find more info on the job role below!)
They also want to keep in touch with all the shortlisted producers, with the aim that they will potentially work with them in the future on a freelance basis.
Who are Hat Trick?
Hat Trick is one of the largest ‘true’ independent Production Companies left in the Media Production industry. Their hits are many and varied and include Father Ted, Whose Line Is it Anyway, Outnumbered, Episodes, Room 101, Dinner Date, Derry Girls and Have I Got News For You.
In the last year Hat Trick Productions has made Series 2 of Derry Girls for Channel 4 and Series 2 of Flack for UKTV. Over the next 12 months, together with their returning series, they have a new 3-part drama commissioned, together with a new 6-part comedy drama written by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin called Kate and Kojo, for ITV.
Hat Trick has a Group structure which includes; a new scripted venture with Jed Mercurio (HTM) which will go into production with several new series in 2020; two factual production companies Plum Pictures and Emporium Productions; and a music entertainment producer Livewire Pictures.
Recognising the diversity of audience and the changing landscape of platforms and content providers, they want Hat Trick employees to reflect those audiences and create an environment that truly champions new voices.
What’s the process?
- Apply through the TCN website
Applications will be open from 16 October to 05 November 2019.
We’d like you to fill out a short application form, that will ask why you’d like to apply for the role, and upload your CV. Click on the button at the bottom of this post to access the form.
Have a read of the sort of experience we’re looking for below under Who Can Apply?
- Workshop Day at Hat Trick
Up to 10 shortlisted candidates will be chosen by Hat Trick (in collaboration with the TCN) to attend a workshop day (date TBC) at the Hat Trick offices in Camden. The shortlisted candidates will be asked to come up with an idea for a show that they’d like to pitch on the day.
They’ll be several different elements to the day, including a chance to ask the Hat Trick team how they like to work and what sort of projects they’re interested in, as well as a pitching session where you get to pitch your original idea.
The aim of this day is to give you and Hat Trick a chance to get to know each other and start to build an ongoing professional relationship.
- Interviews and Offer
Following the workshop day, some candidates will be selected by Hat Trick to interview for the Junior Producer role. This will be arranged directly with you for a convenient time. One candidate will be offered the role of Junior Producer with a 12-month contract, to start as soon as possible! The role will be located at the Hat Trick offices in Camden, and the salary will vary depending on experience.
- Career Development
Following the process, we want to support all the shortlisted comedy producers to keep in touch with TCN and Hat Trick and create an open door for you to pitch ideas, as well as being added to the TCN Talent Pool who will look for other comedy producer roles for all the candidates.
Who can apply?
Please do read the below criteria and ONLY apply if it describes your background; if you’re inexperienced we know how tempting it is to whack in an application on the off chance but we’ll genuinely only shortlist candidates who can demonstrate how they meet our requirements.
- Demonstrated experience of working professionally in production – ideally some scripted comedy credits but we’re also interested in those who have been involved with making comedy entertainment content or comedy for other platforms e.g. online and radio or theatre / live entertainment (Comedy / Drama)
- Some understanding of the mechanics of script editing but importantly with an eye for original ideas and how writers / stories may be appropriate for different audiences and platforms.
- Some technical skills would be useful not essential – knowledge of camera and editing practice (ideally hands on experience of producing content)
- Knowledge of the content market, different broadcasters, platforms and programme styles
- Good contacts and relationships across the comedy world with writers and talent
- Confidence and tenacity to pursue talent, overcome obstacles, and pitch ideas to senior colleagues
- Able to work with emerging talent – quick at building rapport and confidence with writers and performing talent
- An ambitious outlook but with an ability to support others in the team
- Flexibility to work (and network) in evenings and weekends
What will the role involve?
This is a new role in the Hat Trick Scripted department. They’re looking for an individual who, having already had relevant experience is ambitious to build their career as a Producer of programming in the comedy field.
This role will be to support existing development and commissioned projects within the team. Initially this will include script editing, development producer support on delegated projects and working with the team on commissioner initiatives. Through the year this will probably extend to hands on responsibilities in production.
Alongside the above the individual will also have a focused output for their own initiatives and an entrepreneurial spirit. They will be responsible for identifying emerging talent on the circuit (writers and performers) and crucially assessing if and where there could be a fit with Hat Trick activities.
During the 12-month period we would like to see this role doing the following:
- Submitting an agreed project into BBC3 and C4/E4
- Producer a pilot or funded development for a broadcaster
Submissions are open from Wed 16 October – Tuesday 05 November.