Showrunners - Training Gaps Analysis - Cultural Human Resources ...

Showrunners Training Gap Analysis
with a triumvirate of co-creators who also produce, write and act. As a web product, there was
initially no broadcaster involved in the audience relationship. The creative team acted as
distributor. As such, they have a very high level of competency around alternative and future
distribution opportunities which could be instructive to all Showrunners.
THE SHOWRUNNER AND OTHER GENRES
The role of the Showrunner is usually associated with scripted drama and comedy series and the
interviews were structured with that in mind. However, one producer interviewed suggested that
there are similar needs in factual series production, and a lack of new entrants with the skills and
capacity to run these genres. Another Showrunner discussed her role on an animated series, where
the director interfaces between the writing department and the animators. In Québec, magazine
series often include a producer who carries out Showrunner’s responsibilities. Although beyond
the scope of this study, there are clearly parallel roles that exist in other genres.
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Deborah Carver and Benoit Dubois, January 2009