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  • WHAT WE DO

    We are successful Television Consultants and Trainers.

    We are also involved in the development of new projects for the screen as GRAND SCHEME PRODUCTIONS.

    We work with clients to devise formats, write pitches and package ideas for production. 

    We open doors. And we win commissions, helping clients win over £8,000,000 worth of TV business.

    We have trained hundreds of media students.

    Development clients include CPL Productions, Curve Media, Squire Media, Drum, Open Mike, Phil McIntyre Television, Aloof Hat Productions, Nippon Television, 1+1 Ukraine, PBJ Management, and Independent Talent.

     

    Training clients include the BBC Academy, PACT, The National Film & Television School, ScreenSkills, The Indie Training Fund and Guardian Masterclass.

     

    We have also recently organised conferences for the television industry.

      

     

    THE TEAM

    GRAHAM SMITH

    Graham has been an Executive Producer for the BBC and a Commissioning Executive for Channel 4 and Channel Five. He has also run his own successful independent production company.

     

    MARK ROBSON

    Mark Robson has been an Executive Producer and successful development executive for ITV, Endemol, Channel 4, CBBC, Channel Five, Discovery and Disney. He has also run an interactive, multi-platform gaming channel for Sky.

     

    TONY ORSTEN

    Tony was CEO of twofour54 in Abu Dhabi. He has launched and run Television channels around Europe for Viacom, Paramount Pictures, MTV and Comedy Central. Tony is a board member of the Media Zone Authority, Abu Dhabi.

    tony@grandscheme.tv

     

    GRAND SCHEME PRODUCTIONS

    Grand Scheme Media now has the potential to develop it's own slate of projects, thanks to our partnership with Media Executive CHARLIE CAMINADA. The new venture will work with creatives to deliver commercial projects to Independent Producers and Broadcasters. For further details contact tony@grandscheme.tv

     

  • CONSULTANCY

     

    MR. SLOANE for SKY ATLANTIC 

     

    WINNING BUSINESS

    Our extensive Commissioning and Production experience means we know how to win UK commissions. We understand the system, having been commissioners ouselves.

    We refine your sales strategy, saving you time and money.

    We prepare pitches and make sure they get to the right people.

    We connect clients to broadcasters and production companies.

    We find key talent and broker deals between you and a buyer.

     

    SCRIPT EDITING 

    We provide an independent, honest and extremely experienced script editing service for many clients.

    Let us help you get the most out of your work.

     

    FORMAT DEVELOPMENT

    We are experts in format development and storytelling.

    We make ideas stronger.

    We often work with development teams to supercharge their slate. 

     

    EXECUTIVE PRODUCTION

    We can be hired as executive producers on a part-time basis.

     

    HOW ARE WE PAID?

    We work with each client to agree a suitable and affordable fee for our services.

    We can be hired for a daily or weekly fee.

    Depending on the work involved we may ask for a small share of the IP in your project. This is negotiable.

    I'm afraid we cannot accept speculative work.

    Please note: we are not a production company. We help our clients make programmes!

     

  • TRAINING

    "Grand Scheme Media has created and run hugely popular training programmes, all of which have been unanimously applauded by those who attended. 

    Mark and Graham have fantastic industry contacts and a wealth of knowledge of their own which they generously share with participants. 

    Grand Scheme Media are not only brilliant at what they do, they are also a joy to work with."  

    SCREENSKILLS

     

    GRAND SCHEME MEDIA IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S MOST RESPECTED INDEPENDENT, REGIONALLY-FOCUSED TRAINING COMPANIES. OUR TEAM DELIVERS COURSES ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF SKILLS AND CREATIVE SUBJECTS, WORKING WITH THE BEST INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO DELIVER COST-EFFECTIVE, FIVE STAR TRAINING PROGRAMMES DESIGNED FOR OUR CLIENTS.

     

    OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

    All our training is designed to be accessible to all.

    We work tirelessly to make our training inclusive and are proud to have delivered courses across the United Kingdom for people from all backgrounds.

    We are always interested with working with other organisations to ensure equal access to training. 

    All our courses are delivered in venues with disabled access and we are happy to design modules specifically for those who may not be able to attend our sessions in person.

     

    We organise training events, conferences, workshops and masterclasses for a range of prestige clients across the world. 

    We work with ScreenSkills, the Indie Training Fund, The National Film and Television School, The BBC Academy, Guardian Masterclass and PACT. 

     We also work with independent production companies, content agencies, brands, educational institutions and private clients to deliver incredibly popular and highly praised training. 

     If we can assist you with any form of Training, Mentoring, Lectures or Workshops, please contact: mark@grandscheme.tv.

     

    AN EXAMPLE OF OUR CURRENT TRAINING PROJECTS: ENQUIRE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND PRICES

     

    Understanding the Television Market, the Rules of Pitching, and Essential Business Basics for Producers

    GSM offers this two-day course for television professionals aiming to improve their knowledge of the essential workings of the UK broadcasters and International SVOD platforms.

    Key areas:

    Understanding the Market – Who is going to buy your programme ideas?

    We explain the different needs and approaches of the UK free-to-air channels, the UK pay-TV channels, and the UK and International streamers and cable channels.

    How do they differ? What is appropriate content for them? How to they fund programmes? How much can you expect them to pay?

    And...how do you pitch to them?

     

    Pitching – You may have developed some great programme ideas, but if you can’t successfully pitch them, you don’t have a business.

    We reveal effective pitching techniques, using the knowledge you have gained in “understanding the market” to ensure your pitch is absolutely bespoke for your target channel or streamer.

    We explore “How to solve the commissioner’s problem” and how to present your ideas in an irresistible fashion.

    We cover creating the perfect pitch document, producing effective sizzle reels and teasers, and the best ways to pitch in person.

     

    Essential Business Basics – How are you going to deliver your programme, once commissioned?

     The costs of production, the key roles in delivery, creating realistic budgets, understanding production fees (your profit), and how to “deficit fund” your project (attaching third party funding partners to ensure you have enough money to make your show) and Retaining IP (Intellectual Property), so that your project can deliver more income going forward.

     

     

     

  • NEWS

    GRAND SCHEME PRODUCTIONS INVESTING NOW

    Grand Scheme Productions has a development fund enabling the option of a small number of prestige properties, including books and film adaptations. Our slate currently includes contemporary thrillers, untold historical stories and wry, modern crime series.

    Thanks to our track record and experience in commissioning, we have a keen eye for commercial propositions and understand the needs of commissioners. We attach key talent, including writers, directors and cast, and then deliver our projects to producers. We are seeking the best possible creative partnerships to deliver our projects to the screen.

    All enquiries regarding our slate should be directed to tony@grandscheme.tv or graham@grandscheme.tv

     

    INTO 2023 WITH NEW SCREENSKILLS TRAINING

    Grand Scheme will be working with ScreenSkills trhoughout 2023 to deliver a series of courses, both online and live. We will soon be launching a MOVIE MAGIC BUDGETING AND SCHEDULING course for Children's TV. And our popular GET THE KNOWLEDGE course will return, providing insight into working with under 18s.

    Details and dates will be available through SCREENSKILLS OPPORTUNITIES.

     

    WORKING WITH KOREA - ONGOING

    SEPTEMBER 2022 - We are incredibly inspired by the creativity of Korean television, games and animation teams. As such, we will be introducing a number of UK buyers to brilliant talents from Korea at Brand Content Europe.

    https://www.brandlicensing.eu/en/home.html

     

    GRAND SCHEME CONTINUES TO TRAIN TALENT IN 2022

    JULY 2022 - We are proud of our training relationships with ScreenSkills, the National Film and Television School and many others. We are currently completing a Line Producer couse for HETV, thanks to ScreenSkills, and our GET THE KNOWLEDGE course on working with children will run throughout 2022 and 2023. For all training enquiries please contact mark@grandscheme.tv.

     

    GRAND SCHEME EXPANDS DEVELOPMENT ARM!

    Former Paramount Pictures and HIT Entertainment senior execs Tony Orsten and Charlie Caminada are teaming up to discover, develop and deliver commercial narrative content for television and film through their new company, Grand Scheme Productions

     Working with Graham and Mark of Grand Scheme Media, the new company is offering a powerful slate of market ready ideas for producers, both in the UK and abroad.

    Tony Orsten will chair the new company: "We've established Grand Scheme Productions to pitch amazing projects to companies and channels looking for the right ideas at the right time", says Orsten. "We're not intending to produce ourselves but will be investing in writers with a vision and ideas we know from experience will work for viewers".

    New to the Grand Scheme team is Charlie Caminada who has had a highly successful career in media for over 40 years, holding senior executive positions in the UK, United States and Australia, creating some of the biggest global content brands in the world. He has been involved in companies that have delivered over US$1.4bn of value to shareholders from start-up positions in both in plc and private companies. “I'm thrilled to be joining up with an incredible team in GSP with such formidable experience in our industry to create world class content for an immensely changed global marketplace, and with so much opportunity”.

    Orsten and Caminada will oversee the slate of projects being developed by Smith and Robson. Smith has been a commissioner at Channels 4 and 5 in the UK, while Robson has worked at exec level developing content for many major UK networks. "We've been helping indies for many years by packaging projects for broadcasters", says Smith. "Working on our own projects with the guidance of two such fantastic media execs is really exciting for us." Mark Robson adds: "We love to collaborate with production companies and feel the time is right for us to step up our investment in development to nurture a range of projects that we can bring to market."

     GSP's first offering is a project close to Charlie Caminada's heart. "I am related to 'The Real Sherlock Holmes'! Jerome Caminada was a legendary Manchester detective who virtually created modern police methods. We have developed an incredible drama series based on his life."

     

    2021...NEW ONLINE TRAINING

    We are continuing to develop a range of courses that will be delivered via ZOOM. The latest sessions planned are as follows:

    CONFESSIONS OF A COMMISSIONER

    "I learnt more about television in the first two weeks as a commissioner than in ten years working for indies." We reveal everything we know about commissioning and take a look at the current system. https://bit.ly/2SINmHD

    INTRODUCTION TO COMEDY

    This course provides the inspiration and insight you need to create saleable comedy for the TV and Content business. https://bit.ly/30Vr1uX

    NO CHILDREN WERE HARMED...

    Managing children on set or in studio: an essential guide with the UK's number one expert: https://bit.ly/3iR0Dsj

    CHILDREN IN TV

    New online training from expert ARLENE DE CRUZ who provides an updated overview of children’s working regulations and the key role played by chaperones in television production. https://bit.ly/2SKY2FJ

    DEVELOPMENT AND PITCHING SKILLS FOR TV

    Zoom version of our ever popular guide to thinking up and writing pitches for strong TV ideas. https://bit.ly/34P7cGM

     

    2020 GET THE KNOWLEDGE - NEW DATES FOR MARCH

    Our five star rated insight into the best practice when working on set or in studio with children is back on the road with our amazing trainer ALISON CRESSWELL. Book your low cost place on our sessions in GLASGOW, BELFAST, LONDON and BRISTOL HERE

    TBI MASTERCLASS GREAT SUCCESS

    We were delighted to help produce the second TBI Masterclass starring ANDY HARRIES from Left Bank Pictures. A fascinating insight into the television drama business from one of the industry's leading players.

     

    FIRST AD MASTERCLASS FOR HETV

    Oou FIRST AD MASTERCLASSES with Richard Lingard have been touring the UK and each date has sold out. Details of all our coursrs can be found on EVENTBRITE.

    DLT CREATIVE PARTNERSHIP

    We have spent a very happy year working with one of the UK's leading producers of scripted and non-scripted entertainment and comedy, DLT ENTERTAINMENT. We were hired to help develop new programme ideas for the maret, keep in touch with commissionng needs and advise the DLT team where needed.

     

    BBC NORTHERN IRELAND WRITERS ROOM

    We were asked to deliver two sessions with writers in Belfast on developing comedy for the screen. It was a pleasure to be asked by the BBC to return to the city and meet some amazing talents.

     

    BELFAST MEDIA FESTIVAL

    While in Befast we also produced and delivered two sessions as sponsors of the annual media event. The session on DERRY GIRLS was a sellout!

     

    CREATIVE CITIES, CARDIFF

     

    We were involved in designing sessions, booking guests and helping deliver this prestigious event in April 2019.

     

    KOREAN GLOBAL FORMAT WORKSHOP

    We were delighted to help deliver a workshop on Formats, International Sales Strategy and Finding Success in the international television market in Seoul, March 2019. In collaboration with KOCCA, the Korean Creative Content Agency, we organised special guest speakers and delivered six sessions across two days.

     

    GET THE KNOWLEDGE 2019

    We were recommissioned to deliver five regional training courses aimed at encouraging new talents into the Children's Television production sector. We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver cost effective, regionally focused training across a range of subjects. We can access key talent to deliver detailed insight into a broad range of creative and technical skills.

     

    PACT EXPORT ACCELERATOR WORKSHOPS 2019

    We were asked to help find talent and organise sessions for a series of PACT workshops across the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the DTI.

     

    PRIMED & READY: KEY TRAINING FOR SOUND AND CAMERA

    We have succesfully delivered our commissioned training for the Children's TV Levy Council, managed by CREATVE SKILLSET! Designed for crew who want to work on Children's TV productions, the course covered health and safety, best practice on set and the importance of chaperoning. 

     

    WRITER'S CAMP – SHANGHAI, CHINA  

    We have concluded our search for leaders for a prestigious course to help writers in China develop high quality drama and movie scripts for the international market.

     

    CHILDREN'S TELEVISION TRAINING

    Thanks to investment from The Children's TV Levy Fund managed by Creative Skillset, we were delighted to stage new training courses for people who want to work in the sector. This training is part of a nationwide search to find more creative and techynical talent to work in Children's Television. 

     
      

    GRAND SCHEME CREATE FORMAT CONFERENCE!

     

     

    In 2017 we were asked to produce and deliver a new, one day conference on the art of creating television formats. The  event took place on THURDSAY NOVEMBER 30th at The Royal Festival Hall. FORMAT 24-17 featured key speeches and presentations by Commissioners, Executives and Format Creators.

     
     

    2017 - INSURRECTION TEAMS WITH GRAND SCHEME!

    LA-based production outfit Insurrection Media linked up wit Grand Scheme Media to develop and produce dramas for European networks and streamers.

    We assisted Insurrection’s development efforts on retainer for six months. 

     

    2017 & 2016 IRISH COMEDY WRITING EVENT

     

    First run in 2016 with thanks to CREATIVE SKILLSET, and reimagined for 2017 in collaboration with the BBC Academy's Digital Cities initiative,  THE BELFAST COMEDY WRITING EVENT culminated with a live read of original comedy scripts at the BELFAST MEDIA FESTIVAL. We were also delighted to present our Writing Comedy For Screen session in collaboration with BBCWritersroom.

     

     2017 - ALAN DAVIES - MADE IT TO SERIES FIVE!!

    ALAN DAVIES COMEDY CHAT SHOW DAVE

    The 5th series of the show Grand Scheme Media helped devise for the DAVE channel, and which is produced by clients PHIL McINTYRE TELEVISION, began broadcasting in February 2017.

     

     

     CLEMENT & LA FRENAIS THREE HOUR DOC SERIES

    CLEMENT AND LA FRENAIS – PORRIDGE: THE INSIDE STORY

    We packaged and pitched this idea in collaboration with key clients. These Entertainment Documentary specials for GOLD were incredibly well received. Produced by LINDSAY JEX for PHIL McINTYRE TELEVISION and SERIOUS COMEDY.

    Find out more...

     

     

    TV DEVELOPMENT COURSE - STUDENTS ALL FOUND WORK!

    NFTS ENTERTAINMENT DEVELOPMENT COURSE

    Grand Scheme ran a three month, part-time course for BBC ACADEMY and THE NATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION SCHOOL. All students went on to achieve professional work in Development.

    Find out more...

     

    WORKING WITH ANDY SERKIS!

    IMAGINARIUM

    We were delighted to spend three months assisting on developing formats for THE IMAGINARIUM'S television division. Programme ideas revolved around utlising their state of the art performance capture technology.

     

      

    GRAND SCHEME SECURE JAPANESE CONTRACT

    NIPPON TELEVISION NETWORK

    Calling on our expertise in international formats, we were honoured to work closely with this major Japanese broadcaster to create and sell new formats.

     

    UKRAINE 1+1 CALLS ON GRAND SCHEMERS

    We were also involved in providing intel and advice to this key Ukrainian broadcaster.

     

     

    GSM HELP USP CONTENT WIN BBC THREE COMMISSION

    Tim Lovejoy

    We devised a number of projects for USP CONTENT. This included the BBC THREE commission "Tim Lovejoy's How To Be England Manager".

     

    DEVELOPMENT ASSIST FOR SILVER BULLET PRODUCTIONS

    SILVER BULLET PRODUCTIONS

    We worked on development projects for TV with digital music content providers, Silver Bullet.

     

     

     GSM HELP CPL AND SKY CREATE PANEL SHOW WALL OF FAME

    WALL OF FAME

    While working with CPL PRODUCTIONS' Development Unit, we co-devised this David Walliams SKY ONE comedy panel game series. 

     

     

    CLIENT SUPPORT FOR PBJ/JBJ MANAGEMENT

    PBJ/JBJ MANAGEMENT

    PBJ is one of a number of key talent management and agency groups that we have worked with. We specialise in working with their talent on ideas, advising them how to shape them for broadcasters and helping with pitch writing and brainstorming. 

     

     

     

    NATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION SCHOOL

    NATIONAL FILM & TELEVISION SCHOOL

    We run successful Development training initiative for the NFTS and work in the department as industry experts, mentors, and tutors.

  • CLIENTS

    I find Grand Scheme to be not only lovely people to work with but inspiring, refreshing and totally unique in their proposition to the TV industry .

    DANNY FENTON ZIGZAG Productions

    Graham and Mark are an intrinsic element in developing the USP Content offering. The creativity and contacts they offer has proved to be an excellent ontap resource for us.

    ROB JONES USP Content

    Grand Scheme media are a great team. They get Entertainment in all its forms and, for a company like ours, they’ve been very useful in formatting and shaping our ideas.

    ROY ACKERMAN FRESH ONE Productions

    • Argonon
    • Atomized
    • Audio Boo
    • CPL
    • DAA
    • DML
    • First Artist Management
    • Fast Train
    • Fosters
    • Fresh One
    • The Imaginarium
    • Independent
    • Indie TV
    • ITN
    • Jongleurs
    • NFTS
    • Nippon TV
    • Nutopia
    • PBJ JBJ
    • Reef
    • Sassy
    • Serious Comedy
    • Square Peg
    • Urban Rajah
    • USP
    • World Wide Pictures
    • Zig Zag
  • CONTACT US

    PLEASE REACH US BY EMAIL:

    PACKAGING AND BUSINESS CONSULTANCY:

    GRAHAM SMITH graham@grandscheme.tv

    TRAINING:

    MARK ROBSON mark@grandscheme.tv

We are successful Television Development Consultants for hire.

And we have our own company packaging ideas for the screen.

We are Trainers, delivering highly praised international courses.

We work with companies and individuals to sell formats, scripts and ideas to buyers. 

 

We design fantastic skills courses for television.

 

We deliver conferences, presentations and workshops across the world.

 

For Contact Details follow WHAT WE DO.

 

 

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