A host of senior TV executives are offering one-to-one career chats with freelancers over the Christmas period to help them get through the “black hole” of the festive season.
Launched by UKTV factual commissioning editor Emile Nawagamuwa [main picture]– who spent 20 years as a freelancer – the initiative aims to offer personal career conversations to freelancers without work in December and January.
Speaking to Broadcast, Nawagamuwa said: “I know the pain of the black hole between December and January if you don’t have a job and you know you are unlikely to get a response.
“I want to break the silence of those two months, which can be really hard to deal with emotionally when you are surrounding by festivity and cheer.”
“I hope this opens up a wider conversation about the pressures around Christmas, and if this can be a little outlet for people who are feeling anxious or lonely, it will be worthwhile.”
Nawagamuwa's initiative has attracted names such as outgoing BBC interim unscripted director - and now Netflix director of unscripted - Syeda Irtizaali, Blast chief creative officer Danny Horan, Curious Films chief executive Dov Freedman, Honey Bee managing director Ed Taylor and Natasha Bondy, executive producer of Mr Bates vs the Post Office.
Also on board are The Development Network founder Jon Willers, consultant Nicky Gray, Snacky Dan Digital founder Danni Davis, and Pontariva Media creative director Sophie Morgan.
Candidates will be paired with one of these industry leaders involved based on why they want to talk and what they want to achieve and the talks will take place over Zoom.
Dates confirmed include 12th December (Horan), 18th December (Davis) 18th and 19th December (Willers), 23rd December (Irtizaali, Freedman)
“There are no boundaries to entry but the conversations must have a purpose,” said Nawagamuwa.
“We want to have constructive personal conversations without the demands of a development pitch scenario. The idea is to give people freedom to come up with own agenda, to bounce ideas and to come out with a sense of clarity. Both sides should find it rewarding.”
Nawagamuwa is fielding some requests via DMs to his LinkedIn page and sharing some execs' requests for direct DMs.
While places are in the main based on need rather than 'first come, first served', slots are filling up fast.
