Assignment1

1. Can you briefly define your job to me?
My title is vice president children's and family programming at shaftesbury films. I look for projects, workd with the creators then pitch them to broadcasters. Once a broadcaster is onboard we develop the show further with the writer/creator. I help organize the financing for the shows and then produce them when we've raised the financing. My job when producing is overseeing the show mainly from a creative stand point but working closely with the line producer who'se in charge of the budget and with the show creators. I'm the main contact for the broadcaster and see the show through from conception to scripting to shooting to editing and then delivery.

2. How did you get started in this business?
I was a nanny in paris after university and the father was a film distributor so that was my first exposure to the industry. My degree is in english lit and my first job was as a talent agent.

3. How do you tell someone over you (your boss) that you can't accomplish an assigned task?
That's a tricky one to answer in a vaccuum... I guess my approach is to always have some sort of plan. Our business is full of compromise so one person rarely gets exactly what they want so communication becomes key. People don't like to be surprised so its best to explain in advance what a solution and course of action is and then discuss it so everyone is involed in the revised plan.
To be specific I would tell the person why I couldn't do what they wanted and then work out a new gameplan.

4. . Do you have any advice for a media student who is just starting out?
That's tough too. I think the key is to just get out there. Meet people. Volunteer your time and work hard. Try different areas to see where you fit best. And have a sense of humour.

Toronto, Canada
Suzanne French
SFrench@shaftesbury.ca
Shaftesbury Films