DL153 - Certificate Creative Development
for Unscripted TV

Note: This course is no longer accepting applications for 2024/25. To register your interest in the next intake, please email cfa@iadt.ie

Creative Development for Unscripted TV is designed to guide producers through each important phase of the creative development process for TV, from creative ideation techniques, through market-matched concept development, generating funding applications, learning to read industry trends, understanding the commissioning and funding landscape and players, designing effective pitch decks through to building confidence in short form pitching.

Creative Development for Unscripted TV is developed/delivered by IADT in conjunction with CCIS (Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet) and Colin Pauser-Cowman (experienced executive and development producer and industry trainer), with lecturing support from key industry experts in development, funding and commissioning.

This course is offered in collaboration with Creative Futures Academy (CFA).

What will I study?

Developing ideas and pitching them successfully is the life blood of unscripted TV. On this programme, you will learn how to apply a variety of creative development skills to a factual television series project in any medium as part of a development process.

Modern day media professionals need to develop a network of production professionals whom they can draw upon to contribute to a development process. This course will help you do just that.

The giving and taking of ‘production notes’ is a process over which the learner must have a complete command.

Finally, you will able to articulate and describe a creative project in a short time frame as part of a professional pitch. Before you can engage with the business & finance sides of any production, they must first ensure that their project is ready creatively for production.

You will also have a practical production planning session to ensure the production model you are developing is costed, feasible and ready to go into pre-production.

Taught elements of this module will enable the student produce a substantial project proposal. Each learner is required to evaluate a personal and professional strategy for the development of any work in the context of the screen industries.

The following is an indicative syllabus for this module:

• Project Briefing, Course Introduction and Project Analysis. The Commissioning Landscape – Importance of Paper Pitch – Editorial Road Map
• Genre and Channel Matching
• Creative Research & ideation (Ideation Techniques)
• Development process – The Development Engine Room
• Format Points and Story Beats
• Breaking Down a Proposal
• Set Assessment 1 – Individual – GFX and Layout
• Pitching & Proof of Concept
• Set Assessment 2 – Group (How to pitch a studio show)
• Review Pitches – (SP/SPD Master Session 1)
• Group Pitch (With Commissioning Editor)
• Master Session – Review Individual Assessments

How will I be assessed?

Project-Based Learning

This course is made up of Continuous Assessment – CA – (60%) supported by a terminal Project (40%).

Indicative assignments for CA are as follows:

• Element 1: Individual (Work Book / Journal) – An analysis of 1 contemporary factual genre– 30%
• Element 2: Group (5 groups of 3) – Develop and Pitch a multi-camera studio show concept- 30%
• Terminal Project: Individual – Develop and Pitch a multi-episodic Factual TV Series concept 40%

Dates + Times

• Saturday 2nd November 10.30am – 3.30pm on campus
• Tuesdays 6.30pm – 8.30pm online: 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th November
• Saturday 30th November 10.30am – 3.30pm on campus
• Tuesdays 6.30pm – 8.30pm online: 3rd & 10th December; 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th January;  4th, 11th & 18th February
• Saturday 1st March – Final assessment

Entry Requirements

This course is suitable for students who have an undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree level. Experience of the media industries is an additional advantage.

Applicants without a Level 8 qualification may be considered provided they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence which can be verified through the RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) process.

Mode of Delivery

The course will be delivered weekly online with two in person Saturday classes.

Fees + Scholarships

Course Coordinator

Colin Pauser-Cowman Executive & Development Producer / Industry Consultant & Skills Trainer.

Colin Pauser-Cowman is a seasoned executive producer, industry consultant, skills trainer and head of development for TV and Film sector both domestically and internationally. With over 30 years of experience in senior producer / executive roles for many of Ireland’s leading independent production companies delivering hundreds of hours of factual, entertainment and scripted TV. He was commissioning lead and head of development for Virgin Media TV and is currently working with Tourism Ireland’s International Programming Ireland Fund, having previously managed multiple funding, development and commissioning processes.

Colin is a passionate industry educator and skills developer, with over 10 years’ experience developing and delivering TV and film modules for IADT, Griffith College, MTU and TUD, while rolling out multiple professional upskill courses through Screen Ireland, Gréasán na Meán Skillnet and Screen Producers Ireland.

For 13 years Colin was managing director of Paradise Pictures a successful TV, events and digital content production company, delivering hours of entertainment and factual content to RTÉ, TV3 (VMTV), international channels and digital content to many of Ireland’s leading brands. Prior to establishing Paradise Pictures, he was an assistant director working across a host of international films and television dramas.