Development Assistant, Film4

Development Assistant, Film4 at Channel 4

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION

Film4 Productions is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking, both new and established. Since its inception in 1982 Film4’s films have won a collective 43 Oscars® and 97 BAFTAs. Film4’s recent films include Oscar®, BAFTA and Venice Golden Lion winning Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos); Oscar®, BAFTA and Cannes Grand Prix winning The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer); Savanah Leaf’s BAFTA winning Earth Mama; Molly Manning Walker’s Un Certain Regard winning How to Have Sex; and Andrew Haigh’s BIFA winning All of Us Strangers. Recent releases include global box office hits We Live in Time (John Crowley) and Wicked Little Letters (Thea Sharrock), as well as Rose Glass’ Love Lies Bleeding, Karan Kandhari’s Sister Midnight, Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, and Rebecca Lenkiewicz’ Hot Milk.

Upcoming films include Thea Gajic’s Surviving Earth; Mark Jenkin’s Rose of Nevada; Philippa Lowthorpe’s H is for Hawk; Kaouther Ben Hania’ The Voice of Hind Rajab; Ashley Walters’ Animol; Molly Manners’ Extra Geography; Olive Nwosu’s Lady and Ben Wheatley’s Bulk. Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most ground-breaking and successful UK films including Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite; Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Lenny Abrahamson’s Room; Asif Kapadia’s Amy; Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave; Andrea Arnold’s American Honey; Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire; Sarah Gavron’s Rocks; Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War; Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here; Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch; Chris Morris’ Four Lions; Shane Meadows’ This is England; and Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin.

JOB PURPOSE

Film4 is seeking a highly organised Development Assistant to provide a high level of assistance and support to the Creative team and administrative support to both Senior Commissioning Executives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for diary management of two Senior Commissioning Executives - including scheduling meetings, booking meeting rooms and organising travel arrangements.
• Responsible for office admin as required, including processing expenses, booking taxis, travel and accommodation and theatre tickets and ordering DVDs/books.
• Establish and own an end-to-end system for logging and tracking submissions, responses, and procedures that is time-efficient for the Creative team and the reader pool. Maintain balance of the team’s workload and deal directly with matters that need not be an immediate priority for the team (e.g. unsolicited submissions) on their behalf.
• Ensure prompt response time to submissions and communicate to the wider UK film industry about the status of submission decisions at any given time.
• Manage the development slate in conjunction with the Creative Team, ensuring new writer, director, production status information is kept up to date.
• Compile the development agenda for weekly editorial meetings, write up meeting minutes, and generate action points.
• Update the Film4 tracker as new development drafts are delivered, maintain development records and file project forms for all new development projects.
• Facilitate arrangements for numerous film festivals throughout the year. Research and compile information via external connections (e.g. sales agents, talent agents, programmers, other production execs) on what films or talent we should be seeing or meeting.
• Work closely to support the creative executives including keeping talent lists up to date.
• Coordinate Film4 talent dinners as needed – including sending out invitations, booking venues and organising cards & gifts.
• Proactively and independently liaise with other Film4 departments on behalf of the Development team, including Production, Business Affairs and Systems Support, as new projects come onto the slate.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Film4 requires a highly organised individual who has exceptional attention to detail and time management skills.
• Previous experience of high-level administration (ideally including diary management) is a must as you will be managing a busy slate.
• Proven project management skills with a demonstrated ability with creating systems to track or manage projects as you will be handling a large level of submissions.
• The role requires an independent thinker who is proactive and looks for solutions to challenges.
• You will be the contact point for the development team for external enquiries so a patient disposition and strong communication skills are necessary.
• Sound editorial judgement and a keen understanding of Film4’s aims and ambitions editorially.
• Knowledge of film talent/theatre talent desirable.
• An interest in and passion for films

Key skills/competency

• Administration
• Diary Management
• Project Tracking
• Communication Skills
• Time Management
• Organizational Skills
• Editorial Judgement
• Film Industry Knowledge
• Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Liaison