Broadcast Magazine – 22 August 2019

broadcastnow.co.uk 23 August 2019 | Broadcast | 19

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

http://www.screen.scot

CASE STUDY: Three Rivers Media

Alan Clements

Founder and managing director

As a new independent company,

backed by blue-chip investors,

what key lessons have you learned

since launch?

First, it is all about the people. Recruit

the very best, which I think we have, and

broadcasters will want to work with you.

Second, size really does matter. Having

three fantastic backers – representing

creative, international and fi nancial

approval – means Two Rivers has the

resources to both grow quickly and offer

assurance to key executives who want to

come to us. In turn, that offers assurance

to broadcasters.

Third, timing is key. There has never

been a better moment to set up in the

nations and regions, given the editorial

needs of the BBC and Channel 4. This is

particularly true in Scotland, where the new

Screen Scotland is incredibly supportive,

refl ecting the Scottish Government’s

ambition to build the production centre.

There is an international demand

for UK content. How are you using

that to your advantage, while

attracting the best talent to deliver

captivating content?

International content is a huge part of our

plans, especially given our relationship

with our backer Kew Media, but our initial

focus will be on the UK, with an aim to

create IP that will travel internationally.

How will Two Rivers support the

Scottish Screen Sector?

Our aim is simple: to build an indie of

scale in Scotland. I’ve organised struc-

tures in all sorts of different ways over

the years but this time I’m absolutely

committed to having all the genre heads

and their development teams in Glasgow,

and to creating a truly Scottish indie. If we

create large-scale productions then jobs

and training in the Scottish media sector

will inevitably follow. It is a really exciting

time to be north of the border. The oppor-

tunity is there; now we have to take

advantage of it.

CASE STUDYCASE STUDYCASE STUDY: Three Rivers Media : Three Rivers Media

There are schemes to support talent. Screen

practitioners have the chance to upskill

through the Professional Development Fund,

while Screen Scotland provides skills devel-

opment opportunities to develop crew and

attract more diverse entrants to the industry.

Examples are the Outlander Trainee Scheme,

a trainee programme on Outlaw King, and a

shadowing scheme on Guilt.

“We’re mindful of the need to always be

looking to use every production opportunity

to grow our crew base, and the most standout

example has been with Outlander, the returning

series based at Ward Park Studios in Cumber-

nauld,” says Davis. “We worked with the

production and funded a training programme

over several series, creating opportunities for

120 new entrants.”

Davis notes a studio complex has been

earmarked for Edinburgh’s Leith area, which

will bolster infrastructure and allow for more

large-scale productions, further enhancing the

local ecosystem.

As a public organisation, Screen Scotland

is able to operate at higher levels, providing a

gateway for Scottish talent and producers to

the ivory towers of network TV commis-

sioning. “We’re forming stronger strategic

partnerships with broadcasters,” says Davis.

“That’s something that we’re pushing

forward with the BBC, which is very much

about bringing through talent and raising

ambition. Jointly, we can get more Scottish

content onto the network.”

Davis says this is necessary from grass-

roots talent development through to the

most ambitious projects, adding both

ScreenSkills and the BBC have committed

to production and development investment

to make Scotland a truly international hub

for returnable – and sellable – series.

The partnership extends to creating strate-

gies that can help individual companies.

“We’ll seek to have similar relationships

with Channel 4 and potentially other broad-

casters and platforms,” says Davis.

That dialogue will be bolstered by con-

crete investment. “The Channel 4 hub in

Glasgow is set to launch and there are the

Continued on page 20

We’re forming strategic partnerships

with broadcasters. That’s something

we’re pushing forward with the BBC,

which is very much about bringing

through talent and raising ambition

ISABEL DAVIS

Alan Clements: ‘recruiting

the best people is essential’

Outlaw King: Screen Scotland supported an

initiative bringing 35 trainees on board