Irish indie launches format school

Irish indie Screentime ShinAwiL, which is behind the local versions of The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den, is launching a new training initiative with some big name TV execs to boost format production.

Makers.TV is being launched by the Dublin-based prodco as well as Irish Dragon’s Den star Sean O’Sullivan and the School of Media at the Dublin Institute of Technology.

The programme will feature lectures and lessons from leading format figures including new FremantleMedia International CEO Jen Richter, Warner Bros’ senior VP creative of format development and sales Andy Zein, and Jody Smith, multiplatform commissioning editor for entertainment at the UK’s Channel 4.

Training and mentoring will be provided across a wide range of skills including scripting, pitching, casting, creating format bibles and marketing formats globally.

Distributors and broadcasters from across the world will attend a demo and sales day at the end of the five week course.

O’Sullivan’s SOS Ventures has previously run technology accelerator programmes to great success and is hoping to replicate that model in television.

The first sessions start on June 9 and the deadline for applicants is May 9.