Singapore – In recent years, Asian broadcasters have tended towards format and factual TV programmes, as Asian producers localise international favourites and create original content. To cater to the region’s rising trend, Reed Exhibitions, in conjunction with Reed MIDEM (organiser of MIPCOM & MIPTV), announced the return of MIPACADEMY, to be held on December 12, as part of the Asia TV Forum & Market (ATF) conference line-up.
Themed “Create Locally for the Global Markets”, the second run of MIPACADEMY will focus on guiding producers in the development of unscripted & scripted format and factual production, and impart “A to Z” tips on how to produce a successful format and factual content.
Format luminaries at MIPACADEMY
This year, MIPACADEMY attendees will get to learn directly from the experiences of international format experts, Alexis De Gemini, Founder & CEO, A2G Studio, USA, Tim Crescenti, President, Small World International Format Television, USA, May-yi Lee, Director, Factual Content Production, National Geographic Channels Asia, Taiwan and Park Joon-Hwa, Producer/Director, tvN, CJ E&M, South Korea in creating successful unscripted & scripted formats and factual content for Asia.
At Producers’ Workshop “Creating a Format Bible”, Alexis De Gemini will introduce attendees to the “how-to”s and requirements of an industry-standard format bible, which is increasingly important in the legal protection of franchises and formats. This session will feature popular Asian formats including The Voice, Top Chef, Dad, Where Are We Going? and Beauty Academy as illustrations, and attendees can also look forward to learning about how to structure a good idea into a TV show.
Commenting on his speaking engagement, Alexis De Gemini said, “MIPACADEMY provides a unique opportunity for Asian producers to make it big in the format world. The local producers should capitalise on their local culture to create something other international format creators would not. I look forward to sharing precise techniques to help attendees channel their creativity in developing original TV formats with a universal appeal.”
Tim Crescenti will speak on “How to Draft the Perfect Treatment”, which will guide attendees in acing a pitch with the perfect treatment, that is especially crucial when selling an Asian format to the Western world. Using his experience in founding and selling Japan’s Dragons’ Den (Shark Tank) and South Korea’s Grandpas Over Flowers to the world, Tim Crescenti will furnish attendees with tips on pitching and selling a format to help them score the deal of a lifetime.
At “Factual Content Showcase: Managing Content Development and Co-Poduction”, May-yi Lee will share on some of National Geographic Channels Asia’s best works, and delegates will gain insight into the channel’s in-house content development experiences and challenges faced when working with the different regional production companies.
Additionally, renowned producer and director of South Korea’s first and longest-running drama series Ugly Young-Ae, Park Joon-Hwa, will share on “How to Create Successful Scripted Formats/Dramas?”. Attendees will hear about highly rated CJ E&M original Let’s Eat – the pre-production process, challenges faced during production and post-production fan communication – from Park Joon-Hwa’s perspective as creator, producer and director. This case study will also provide insight into idea conceptualisation, branding merchandising sponsorship and the use of social media in content extension.
More speakers will be announced at a later date.
Introducing one-to-one sessions for Asian producers
Another MIPACADEMY highlight that attendees can look forward to is the closed-door one-to-one format sessions, where shortlisted candidates will get to discuss their format bibles with Alexis De Gemini or learn tips on perfecting their treatments with Tim Crescenti. These exclusive meetings will give producers the rare opportunity to table their format ideas in front of these industry bigwigs, whose invaluable feedback will be key in helping these projects take flight.
Sharing his thoughts on the closed-door sessions, Tim Crescenti said, “The world has become a level playing field, and it has become even more competitive to get your show ideas presented and packaged to entice buyers. With these one-to-one sessions, I believe producers attending will learn the inside secret to what it takes to sell a local idea, format or concept into the global marketplace. I look forward to sharing my experience as a global supplier who has taken undiscovered gems from Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and made them global blockbusters.”
Of the refreshed MIPACADEMY line-up, Yeow Hui Leng, Senior Project Director of Asia TV Forum & Market and ScreenSingapore, shared, “ATF aims to promote exchange among television industry professionals from different regions. As Asia continues to rise in importance, ATF’s role of bringing the global TV industry closer to the region, and vice versa, becomes more important. The inaugural MIPACADEMY was well-received, and gave 182 attendees the opportunity to learn about the elements necessary for popular Asian formats and factual content. Riding on that success, this year’s line-up will bring practical aspects of format and factual production to the fore, and MIPACADEMY delegates will certainly benefit from the knowledge and experience of the various industry powerhouses sharing at these sessions.”
Format producers interested in being part of the closed-door one-to-one format session taking place on December 12 can visit http://www.asiatvforum.com/MIPACADEMY for more information. Registration is accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. ATF will contact shortlisted candidates to arrange for closed-door one-to-one meetings during ATF 2014.
ATF will take place as part of the Singapore Media Festival taking place from December 4 – 14.
