Christmas Competition Winner: Jack Brelstaff

Congratulations to Jack Brelstaff, who won a unique Christmas present: a year's membership on findaTVexpert (details of competition here). He's doing a PhD in frontotemporal-dementia and is an expert in most areas of neuroscience. He's deeply passionate about his work and the implications of his research in the future. We're delighted to welcome him to the team of experts on findaTVexpert and help promote his knowledge to the TV industry.

TV Companies on the Hunt for Talent

I spent a lot of time last month discussing a wide range of experts with Channel 4, Steadfast TV, Fremantle Media, Princess Productions, Liberty Bell and a freelance development producer who's on the hunt for experts based in Scotland. And in the past few weeks more Heads of Development, Creative Directors, Casting Producers, Series Producers, Assistant Producers and Researchers from RDF, Lime Pictures, Daisybeck, Isis Media, Fever Media, Dragonfly TV, Two Four, Studio Lambert, the BBC and ITV have registered to search the site. Plus freelance journalists and a reporter from The Scotsman.

The industry's definitely on the hunt for talent. And the good news is that they're finding it on findaTVexpert. Here are some of the latest experts who've been booked for TV appearances, screentests and media interviews.

1. Lady Lesley C, Aristocratic Tamer: Horses, Cattle & Kids

2. Sian A, Lady Builder, Interior Designer & Landlord

3. Vena R, Kama Sutra, Tantric Sex and Romance Expert

4. Stephanie M, Nutritionist + Food Therapist

5. Anna G, Happy Working Parents = Productive Employees

6. Lexi P, Dating Guru and Matchmaker

7. Dr. Victoria G, Doctor of Counselling Psychology & Life-Coach

8. Madam Becky, Ex Madam, Author & Speaker on UK Prostitution

9. Susie P, Get happy, change your life & get on track fast

10. Simon W, Teacher + Youth, Familial & Social Issues

I don't want to blow my own trumpet but it's Christmas, so I will: findaTVexpert is a great service. And from a personal point of view, knowing that something I set up is helping experts achieve their goals is a great feeling.

Unique Christmas Present: A Year's Membership on findaTVexpert

Forget sweaters, socks, perfume or aftershave. What you REALLY want for Christmas is a present that can change your life: a year's membership on findaTVexpert.com, the online database of talent that more and more members of the TV industry turn to when they're looking for experts to comment on a subject or be part of a show.

So if you think you could be the next Hairy Biker, Kim or Aggie, Handy Andy, Jamie Oliver, David Attenborough, Jo Frost, Tanya Bryon, Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen, etc, here’s what you have to do for your chance to win a year’s free membership on findaTVexpert.com for Christmas.

Email the following to info at findatvexpert dot com by 6.00pm on Wednesday, 22 December 2010:
1. A paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great TV Expert.
2. A current photo and contact number (daytime & evening).
3. A copy of your CV (or similar) outlining your employment history and the training/qualifications that prove you’re an expert in your field of business.

Everyone with the skills, training and qualifications to prove they’re an expert in their field of business can enter the competition, from architects to zoologists and all the experts in between - handymen & historians; wildlife, survival & adventure experts; sportsmen, business men & tradesmen; dentists & designers; scientists, sociologists, etc – because you never know what the industry will be looking for next.

The competition opens on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 and closes at 6.00pm on Wednesday, 22 December 2010. Completed entries will go into a draw and one winner will be picked at random and announced here and on twitter on Christmas Day, Saturday, 25 December 2010.

Good Luck!

Terms and conditions apply:
1. The competition opens on Wednesday, 1 December 2010 and closes at 6.00pm on Wednesday, 22 December 2010. Entries received after that time will not be considered.
2. To be eligible you must be an expert in your field of business with the skills, training and qualifications to prove it; over 18 and a UK resident. And you must not have any previous criminal convictions.
3. Proof of age and eligibility may be required.
4. By entering this competition you agree to comply with these terms and conditions and you agree that your entry may published in all media, adapted, in whole or in part at the Promoter’s sole discretion.
5. All eligible entries must be received via email and contain a paragraph of no more than 100 words explaining who you are, what you do and why you’d be a great TV Expert; a current photo & contact number and a CV (or similar) outlining your employment history and the training/qualifications that prove you’re an expert in your field of business.
6. All eligible entries will be entered into a draw on the 22nd of December 2010 after the closing time. One winner will be picked at random and announced here - and on twitter - on the 25th of December 2010.
7. findaTVexpert bears no responsibility for entries which don’t make it into the draw because they’ve been blocked or identified as junk email, spam, etc.
8. findaTVexpert will not acknowledge receipt of any entry that is sent in.
9. Entries that fail to meet the eligibility criteria or otherwise fail to meet these terms and conditions will not be entered into the draw.
10. The prize is a year’s free membership on findaTVexpert.com, which gives experts the chance to create a searchable Profile & CV and be promoted to the TV industry.
11. The winner will have until the 31st of January 2011 to register their details on www.findaTVexpert.com. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize and findaTVexpert reserves the right to award the prize to the next eligible entry picked at random.
12. There is no alternative prize or cash equivalent and the prize is non-changeable and non-transferable.
13. The winner may be required to participate in publicity relating to the competition.

findaTVexpert teams up with Mentorn Media on a Hunt for Talent across the UK

findaTVexpert.com announces it has teamed up with Mentorn Media and is going on the hunt for new TV talent across the UK in 2011

15 November, 2010 findaTVexpert.com, the online database of experts created by series producer Claire Richmond in 2008, announces it has teamed up with Mentorn Media, one of the UK's longest established independent television production companies, to host a series of ‘Could You be a TV Expert?’ seminars across the UK in a ground breaking hunt for new TV talent in 2011.

Experts who think they’ve got the x-pert factor and want to be considered for TV programmes but don’t know how to promote themselves to the industry, will be able to attend a ‘Could You be a TV expert?’ seminar in Manchester (10/03/11), Bristol (07/04/10), Glasgow (12/05/11), Cardiff (09/06/11) Birmingham (7/07/11) and London (08/09/11).

Each seminar will be presented by findaTVexpert’s Claire Richmond, series producer of some of TV’s most popular shows, including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Don’t Get Done Get Dom and Ready Steady Cook, and Mentorn Media’s Head of On-Screen Talent, Sonia Beldom.

“I’m thrilled Mentorn Media is joining me on my hunt for talent across the UK. The aim of findaTVexpert is to bridge the gap between the professionals and the programme makers – and having Mentorn Media’s support is terrific," says Richmond.

Beldom adds, “Great experts are crucial to the success of factual programmes because they bring passion and credibility to a series. They also bring new ideas to the table and access to people, places and projects that have the potential to inspire viewers, attract new audiences and set new trends. At Mentorn Media we are committed to making ground breaking factual television and we’re also committed to finding and nurturing the new experts who will help us achieve that. So we’re delighted to be supporting findaTVexpert.com in their hunt for talent."

TV Tips: What to Wear/What Not to Wear on TV

If you're working on your 10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert (read them here), at some point you'll be booked for a screentest (read tips here) or a straightforward, on-the-couch interview.

If it's the latter, the first thing you need to do is prepare - ie is the interview live or pre-recorded; how long is it; what's the angle; what's the 'tone' of the show; who are the viewers; what are the key messages you want to get across; what examples are you going to use to bring the interview to life and get your messages across in a way that's succinct & relevant to the viewers; etc.

Having done your preparation, the next question is: what to wear - and what not to wear? And here are some tips:

1. Do some research. If the show is a live, daily show, watch it and look at what the presenters and guests are wearing. Is it formal or informal? Smart or smart/casual? What looks good and what doesn't. What colours clash with the set, etc?
2. Avoid checks, stripes and small patterns because they strobe.
3. Avoid black (very few people look good in it).
4. Wear block colours.
5. If you're filming in a studio, wear fabrics that don't make you sweat (it gets VERY hot under studio lights).
6. Remember that a microphone will be attached to your top - and that the battery pack and wire will be fed down your back and attached to your trousers, skirt waist, etc. So good necklines and easy access clothes are important.
7. Because of the above, steer clear of polo necks.
8. Avoid jewellery that will rustle up against the microphone that's attached to the neckline of the top you're wearing. You don't want your interview to be cut short because the sound is awful.
9. Wear clothes/necklines that flatter your shape.
10. Cameras really do add pounds so avoid thick, bulky fabrics.

And to complete the 'look', sit up straight, relax your shoulders and smile!

TV Screentest Tips

A successful TV series need great talent and a great format. So screentests are crucial to the process. Make yours a good one and chances are you'll get through to the next stage of the development process. Here are a few tips that will help.

1. Look like your photo. That's the person they're expecting to see.
2. As you're going to be filmed, wear colours & clothes that flatter you and make you stand out.
3. Prepare! Define your USP and understand the market. (Read Steps 1 & 2 of my '10 Steps to Becoming a TV Expert). The production company might not know exactly what they're looking for. So make sure you give them a clear idea of what you do and how you do it. Remember, they'll be thinking from a TV point of view. How will what you do look on TV? Think of examples of people you've worked with & things you've done. Paint the picture & get across your passion.
4. If they like you, your half hour chat will probably get edited down to a one minute taster tape which they'll show to the commissioner. So have a few one-liners/key points up your sleeve. And remember to pause at the end of each one so the editor can cut it in.
5. Increase your energy by 50-100%. Get across your passion. Really switch it on. And engage your body: lean forward, use your hands and SMILE! Remember that in any screentest you'll be up against many other experts like you. And once the 'expertise' box is ticked, it's all down to personality.
6. There's a huge difference between coming across as passionate and coming across as desperate. Make sure you're the former!
7. Practice. Digital cameras and mobile phones all have filming options. Get a friend to ask you a few questions about what you do and see what you look like on camera.
Good luck.

Could you be a TV expert? That's what the industry wants to know.

The TV industry is always on the hunt for experts, ideas and the next 'big thing'. That's why more and more members of the industry are registering on find a TV expert and getting experts in for a chat or screentest. Here are some of the most recent experts who have had that phone call.

1. Kim I, Leading Fitness & Mental Strength Expert

2. Sean B, Confidence Coach

3. Maria M, Motoring Journalist & Publishing Expert

4. Rasheed O, Lifestyle Coach - Motivational Speaker

5. Domonique B, Successpert: Getting the most out of your Life

6. Steve T, Personal presentation & non-verbal communication

7. Jane W, Life Change Expert

8. Jessica R, Performance Expert & Transformational Coach

9. Richard R, Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist and Charisma Coach

10. Andrew W, Fatherhood and Modern Parenting

11. Alison B, Getting a job: interviewing technique, CV, etc

12. Susie P, Get happy, change your life & get on track fast

13. David Y, The Power of Language: How Words Change Lives

14. Amana W, Coach: find your personal X factor and stand out!

15. Alex B, Master Brewer, Beer Sommelier & Flavour Expert

16. Jennifer E, Chocolate Historian & Guide + Food Developer

17. Dr Gemma N, Medical Doctor - GP in West London

18. Dr James L, Scientist: Biological + Natural History

19. Sarah M, Dog Trainer, Dog Behaviourist, Gundog Trainer

20. Rebecca P, Hair & Beauty Salon Makeovers and Internet Mktg

21. Debbie C, Behaviourist: Pets, Livestock, Child/pet safety

22. Dr Victoria G, Doctor of Counselling Psychology & Life-Coach.

Good luck to all of them!

Do you have what it takes to be a TV expert? Do you want to promote your passion and expertise to Heads of Development and Heads of Talent? Then do what other experts have done and join www.findaTVexpert.com!