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MIDPOINT Cold Open 2020

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Another of MIDPOINT's TV content dedicated sidebar programs, MIDPOINT Cold Open is designed to train the skills of independent producers interested in shifting from feature films to television content. 

Organizational information

The one-off event is set up within the diverse industry program of When East Meets West, and consists of lectures, group sessions and individual consultations. The program runs in the English language.

Dates and venues

January 19 - 22, 2020
in collaboration with WEMW / Trieste, Italy

Who is it for?

producers

Eligible countries

  • Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Portugal, Republic of Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine
  • WEMW 2020 focus countries: Austria, Germany, Switzerland
  • Italy

Contact person

Katarina Tomkova
Program Coordinator
katarina.tomkova@midpoint-institute.eu

"The diversity of background and experience of the tutors created the right balance for the students – it enriched them with practical knowledge of various areas of high-end scripted TV drama creation."

Natalia Libet
Producer, Cold Open 2020 alumna

Participants

Tutors

Gabor Krigler
Hungary  
Gabor’s career began in the writing staff of a daily serial at Grundy UFA in 1999. He became Creative Executive at the ...
Complete bio
Steve Matthews
United Kingdom  
Steve was Consulting Producer on all three series of Neil Jordan’s series The Borgias for Showtime Networks, and ...
Complete bio
Nebojsa Taraba
Croatia  
Nebojša Taraba, producer & partner, production company DRUGI PLAN, ZAGREB (CROATIA). Drugi plan is a leading ...
Complete bio
Meinholf Zurhorst
 
After studying history of art, film and television and anthropology work as a film critic and author of almost 20 books ...
Complete bio

Methodology

Offering practical knowledge connected to the producing and financing of television series in Europe, the program will familiarize its participants with the current landscape, genre and slot preferences within different territories, will compare the narrative and concept structures of feature films and scripted series as well as supply hands-on skills of production planning and financing of drama content.

The program targets independent producers, with a background in feature film producing, aspiring to shift to high quality television content. The program’s graduates will acquire knowledge and skills connected to the processes of producing and financing TV series, and will get acquainted with European television industry landscape.

The program is participant-based, with each producer required to select 1 - 3 series ideas to serve as a base for the purpose of training.

Lectures

  • Lectures
    Lectures
    How to Switch from Sprint to Marathon
    Nebojsa Taraba
    January 21, 2020 | Savoia Excelsior Palace / Trieste, Italy

    Main goal of this lecture is to put a light on key differences between production and distribution processes of film and tv series. For the most of producers it means completely new role, especially in creative process. We will try to understand new project hierarchy and how to avoid turning life in "love triangle" producer-writer-director into the hell. We will try to identify sources of "soft money" and how to get it on different stages of project - pre-production, production and postproduction. In order to properly approach client and find the best home for our projects we will try to understand main differences between broadcasters and programme needs of networks (terrestrial, linear) and cable (streaming). We will try to understand main differences between theatrical and TV distribution, how to find good distributor, on what stage of the project, what could be the role of distributor in development process and how to find distributor who will be capable to set up successful business and co-production model. What is the meaning of second window in TV series distribution and how important is that for producer.

    The Idea to Spawn a Thousand Stories (And How to Run With It)
    Gabor Krigler
    January 20, 2020 | Savoia Excelsior Palace / Trieste, Italy

    When you embark on a feature film project, you need to have one great story. When you want to set up a TV series, what you must have is one great premise. If you and the writers you work with play your cards right, this premise will give birth to several great stories over multiple episodes and, hopefully, seasons. It needs careful planning, organization and management to run with your premise. We will take a look at how to begin this process.

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