Creative Futures: STV Studios + UofG alumni share insider insights and top tips on getting in and getting on in the TV industry
The School of Culture & Creative Arts hosted our first Creative Futures session on Wednesday, 9 October 2024, 5.30pm at the Andrew Stewart Cinema, Gilmorehill Halls.
We were joined in conversation with STV Studios Talent Manager, Gail Bon to hear how she started in the industry, find out about the opportunities and challenges of working in TV today, and get invaluable insider insights from someone who's actual job is to spot, develop and nurture up-and-coming talent - it could be you! Gail was joined by Jodie Leith, a recent UofG Film & TV Studies graduate, and now STV Studios Researcher. Jodie shared her top tips on how to apply the knowledge, skills and experience gained from a degree, whichever your subject area, in order to turbo-boost your Telly CV, both during your studies and immediately after graduation.
Dr Lisa Kelly and Dr Abi Jenkins from UofG Film & TV Studies facilitated the conversation.
Gail Bon
After graduating with a Joint Honours in Film and Television Studies and Politics from University of Glasgow, Gail got an early break into television joining Sports broadcaster Setanta Sports as a Junior Assistant Producer. After nearly two years she left to pursue her passion of working in entertainment television, bagging a Researcher role on a Children’s game show. She continued to work across editorial and then latterly production roles in a variety of genres from Quiz Shows to Lifestyle to Comedy. In the middle of it all, Gail dabbled in corporate fundraising in the arts sector too. Gail joined STV Studios as Talent Manager in early 2023 and she's passionate about nurturing new talent, creating a diverse freelance workforce, and developing and retaining the brilliant talent that exists within the freelance TV community.
Jodie Leith
Jodie Leith graduated with a Joint Honours in Film & Television Studies and English Literature at the University of Glasgow in 2022. Her career in the television industry began on a PACT production trainee scheme. Since then, Jodie has worked on a variety of both factual and drama productions at STV Studios, including prison drama, Screw (Channel 4), legal reality boxset, The Firm (BBC Scotland), and hit antiques format, The Yorkshire Auction House (Discovery+ / Really). Now working freelance as a Researcher in Factual Development at STV Studios, Jodie researches and develops concepts for potential new television series for streamers and broadcasters like Netflix, Disney+, BBC, Channel 4, and more.
Outwith television, Jodie maintains a passion for writing. During her time at university, Jodie was Culture Editor for The Glasgow Guardian, and was selected to receive the prestigious Jessica Yorke Scholarship. Her writing has been featured in The Skinny and From Glasgow to Mars.