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

Showrunners Training Gap Analysis
skills with creative content is a rare educational offering. It is understandably not part of the entry
level curriculum.
Women in Film Toronto (WIFT-T) has developed excellent courses in partnership with
educational institutions and individuals (e.g. WIFT-T Schulich Media Leadership Program and
WIFT-T Business Management for Media Professionals Program in partnership with Humber
School of Media Studies and Information Technology). However, these programs principally aim
to upgrade management skills in the production executive, rather than on-set leadership and
management.
The WGA West program has demonstrated that managerial skills can be effectively delivered offset
in a professional development program. With a similar approach, the proposed CFC CTV
Showrunner Studio is very welcome and could help greatly in closing the gap in training writers
and Showrunners in managerial skills.
Training Gap 4: There is a significant lack of opportunity available for emerging
Showrunners to acquire the complex managerial and leadership competencies that they need.
Recommendations:
4.1 Adapt the curriculum developed by WGA West for training Showrunners in managerial
and leadership skills, as in the proposed CTV CFC Showrunner Studio program.
4.2 Partner with business schools across Canada to develop curriculum that is appropriate
and accessible to creative talent such as Showrunners.
Scheduling and budgeting
The details around ensuring that production is on time and on budget are essentially project
management functions that are the primary responsibility of the line producer. At the entry level,
many trainers responded that these competencies were supported or were a strength of their
programs. As writers gain experience in the writing room, they are doubtless very aware of how
schedule and budget impact on the content and delivery of scripts. At the level of the
Showrunner’s role, responsibilities for schedule and budget involve all creative departments.
Although much of this knowledge is acquired in the give-and-take of negotiating the realization
of the creative, there is room for formal instruction.
Training Gap 5: Inexperienced Showrunners need more access to training in the principles
and tools of budget and schedule management.
Recommendation:
5.1 Consider adapting typical project management course content and to make it available to
Showrunners and producers.
New technologies in distribution and exploitation
The Showrunner Chart of Competencies refers to the Internet in the context of distribution and
exploitation. As stated, multiple platform opportunities require consideration throughout the
development and production process. Only 10 of the 25 entry level training programs reported
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Deborah Carver and Benoit Dubois, January 2009