Gerrit

Gerrit was my Dad.  I worked with him, I certainly listened to him.  The nation listened to him. Most people over the age of 35 know who he was as "To the Waters and the Wild" and "Amuigh Faoin Speir" were very prolific.  In 2 weeks on the Sunday the 15th of November at 2pm I am giving a talk in the Nature Room of the Pearse Museum in St Endas Park in Rathfarnham about him.  Gerrit loved nature, I love nature.  The room is full of nature.  I am a bit apprehensive.  I have given this talk before - the last time was on the anniversary of his death 2 years ago.  But then I knew what I was going to say, I was prepared.  I had video.  This time I'm not so sure. What do I want to say about him now.  But then I do have 2 weeks to get ready.  I miss him.  I miss his wit, his intellect and his singular point of view.  Most of all I miss the endless art.  The drawings, the paintings, the sketches and the cartoons.  I learned so much from him.  Hopefully I can do him some justice...

Proposal Writing

The key thing to proposal writing is to assume nothing, just because your audience (as in the commissioning editor) likes you doesn't mean they know anything about the subject that you have so intimately researched, studied, written reams of material about etc etc..

When you're trying to sell the idea on paper never assume they know as much as you - the key thing is this: "What's the hook?" - What do you want to tell in 1 to 2 pages that excites them, intrigues them and most of all makes them want to meet you so that you can sell your idea in person.   TV is a cruel world, commissioning editors love good ideas, they love to put their spin on them.  But remember this - what you think is interesting and riveting TV may actually bore them to death.  You have to be absolutely sure about your motives for making something be it financial or creative.  It's not just the commissioning editor who has to live with the idea for a year - you do too.

Pitching

Pitching is everything.  You can have the greatest proposal, the most wonderful script - but in the 30 seconds you have before you open your mouth you have to answer the following question: "Why is this such a great story and what can I bring to it?"  Then you open your mouth, you begin - you don't start with FADE IN, you sell them your idea and that you're the only person in the world to deliver it.

I'm going to be doing a lot of pitching in the next 6 weeks as this is the season for it.  The mantra I must practice, I must practice goes on in my head night and day..

Halloween

Having just spent a month working on a documentary about the Kennedy enigma I'm looking forward to spending some time this Halloween with my children before I start on a project about squirrels.  Grey squirrels, red squirrels - the war is on. Watch this space!