Charlotte Montanaro - my first month on the Channel 4 Production Trainee Scheme
Last month, as part of the Channel 4 Production Training Scheme, I started at Wall to Wall Media. Based in their Bristol office, I have been working on the BAFTA-winning show Who Do You Think You Are? as a Trainee Researcher. The first month has been super busy and extremely exciting! Some of my jobs have included helping with expert searches, preparing key documents and fact-checkingscripts. All of this was particularly interesting, especially when I was asked to go to the London office for the week, travelling to various libraries throughout the city, digging through archives to find the relevant information that the researchers needed.
I have also had the opportunity to sit in on meetings with the series producers, directors, producers, assistant producers and researchers as they discuss the story that is unfolding and developing with the research that has been discovered. This has been something particularly exciting to watch as the creation of a narrative that is compelling and fascinating, being weaved together to construct a story for television is a key factor as to why I wanted to work in this industry in the first place. Understanding how these stories are developed and produced has been an invaluable process in gaining an insight into the world of TV which I would not have had had I not been on the Production Training Scheme.
I first noticed the Scheme as advertised on the Channel 4 website. I had previously been in an administrative position and was looking for a change. While I had always considered a career in television, it was not something I had pursued until leaving University and applying for this role. When I read the advertisement for this scheme, instantly, I knew that this was what I wanted to be doing and at once begun the application process. I’m so glad I did! Going away to Leeds for the week for our first training Bootcamp was, albeit slightly nerve-wracking, so much fun and highly informative. The first week of working at Wall to Wall was a lot easier due to everything I had learnt from both thinkBIGGER! and those who came and met with us from Channel 4.
I am really excited to continue working on Who Do You Think You Are? The team of people I am working with are smart, kind and helpful. They have already taught me so much about working in the industry and more! I can’t wait to see what else I get up in the next few months and I am looking forward to going back to Leeds at the end of the month with everyone for more training!