discop link • #11

DISCOPRO 08THE ENTERTAINMENT MASTER CLASSCOMES TO DISCOPBy Bob JenkinsMost area of expertise has its special, academy. An institute whosegraduates have instant acceptance everywhere. One area of expertise thathas lacked such a venerable seat of learning has been the entertainmentindustry. Until now. Germany's Erich Pommer Institut has now launchedThe Entertainment Master Class - and it's coming to DISCOP.The Entertainment Master Class isa first of its kind, a school of excellencefor talented young professionalsin the field of entertainment. The firstcourse will run from May 2008through to February 2009, and willconsist of five modules, each five daysin duration, and each held in a differentcity.The Master Class is organised bythe Eric Pommer Institut, founded bythe famous German film producer,whose name it bears, and regardedas one of Europe's leading media thinktanks. The course is also run in associationwith a select group of partnersincluding Canada's CBC, BBC Worldwide,Nordisk, The Rose D'Or, Prosieben,Medienboard and C21 Media.Professor Klaus Klein of the EricPommer Institut says, "ideally we arelooking to recruit young professionalsaspiring to work in the internationalformat business," adding, "and it isvitally important that candidates havea real determination to succeed andexcellent spoken and written English."The Institut has put together animpressive 'Advisory Board', includinggiants of the entertainment industry,many of whom will be teaching thenmodules, such as Peter Bazalgette,CCO Endemol UK; Daniela Matri, seniorvice-president formats and production,ProSiebenSat.1; Paul Jackson,director of entertainment and comedy,ITV; Julie Bristow, executive director,factual entertainment CBC Canada;Gary Carter, president, creativenetworks and CCO, FMX Fremantle-Media and many more.CBC's Bristow says, "I think we areall agreed that the ideal candidate issomeone with good skills and someexperience, but not so set in theirways that they are only looking to ticka set of boxes. I think we are lookingfor someone with talent, and also withtheir finger on the pulse of what audiencesare looking for; someone intouch with the popular zeitgeist."ITV's Jackson agrees. "I think thecourse will best suit someone whoalready has some experience butprobably not yet at a managerial level,"he speculates, going on to suggest, "Ithink a majority will come from marketswhere the origination of formatsis not as well developed as it is in someother countries." Although he is quickto assert, "of course I am not rulingout Americans, Brits or Canadians."The timetable for those wishing toparticipate in the first course is tight.The deadline for applications is 17December 2007. All applicationsmust also be accompanied by a full CV.Of those applying some will be askedto supply a written statement of motivation,those selected to progress tothis stage will be notified no later than15 January, and the deadline forreturn of the statement will be 15February. Based on this, a furtherselection will be made, and those chosenwill be invited to take part in a telephoneinterview, which will be held inFebruary or early March and the finalselection will be announced 15March.Once the successful candidateshave been selected the course onwhich they will embark will be as follows.Module 1, covering sitcoms,sketch comedy and panel comedyshows will be held in Lucerne,Switzerland from 2 nd - 7 th May 2008.The second module, coveringgame show formats, will be held inToronto, Canada from 17 th - 22 nd June2008.The third, covering entertainment,variety and event show formatswill take place from 2 nd - 7 th September2008 in Berlin.The fourth in Danish capitalCopenhagen will cover factual entertainmentand reality show formats,from 3 rd - 7 th December 2008.And the fifth and final module willtake place in London 3 rd - 8 th February2009 and will cover format distribution,exploitation and new media.The cost of this course, includingdidactic material, hotel accommodationand full board is €15,000, but itshould be noted that travel costs arenot included.ITV's Paul Jackson sums up thecourse this way. "I think the coursecould well be seen as analogous toRobert Kee's writing course. Peopleused to tell Kee that you can't teachpeople to write, to which Kee wouldreply, I am not saying I will teach anyoneto be Beethoven, but I can showthem where the notes are on the keyboard.In the same way, there are elementsof the creative and businessprocess that do operate to welldefined rules and I do think that issomething we can usefully teach." }28 DISCOP LINK • #11 • NOVEMBER 07