Success in the Lab

THE BBC has opened applications to its 2008 Innovations Lab, with Vision and Media playing a leading role in helping to encourage even more Northwest indies to get involved, and get a commission from the corporation.

The Innovation Labs are a series of creative workshops which last five days – and which culminate in indies being able to pitch directly to the broadcaster’s commissioners – who will then give an instant answer, and development money on the table.

As a lead sponsor of the Innovations Lab, Vision and Media held two open days in November, one in Manchester and one in Liverpool, to encourage Northwest participation in the 2008 Labs.

“The Labs are a very collaborative and creative experience for the BBC and the independent sector, and have produced some fantastic results in previous years, so we’re confident Northwest companies will rise to the challenge for 2008,” says Chris Moll, Production, Trade and Investment Director for Vision and Media, which works on behalf of the TV, film, radio and digital content industries.

At the Northwest workshops, indies heard how the 2008 Labs would operate differently from previous years.

“This year, when indies pitch their ideas to commissioners on the final day of the Lab, they’ll be told immediately if they’re being offered a commission. This could range from 'we'd love to talk to you some more – here’s £2.5k' all the way to 'go build it, how much will it cost us?'

“Within a week, milestones will be agreed, and within two weeks a purchase order will be issued. Indies will also be given a single point of contact at the BBC, so each project will be given individual attention,” explains Chris.

Up to ten projects from the Northwest will be selected to attend a five-day Lab in early 2008. “During that time indies will work with the broadcaster’s commissioners and other mentors to develop their idea and prepare a final pitch. On the last day of the Lab, the ideas are then pitched to the BBC commissioners for further development funding,” explains Chris.

“The Labs are an excellent way for the BBC to interact with indies at a much earlier stage in the creative process. They also help us to generate exciting ideas and relationships with the indie community, and ultimately result in a proto-type of an idea which might, ultimately, progress to a full commission.”

All ideas submitted to the Labs are IP neutral, which means ideas remain the intellectual property of the indie which submitted it.

For the 2007 Labs, over 500 initial ideas were submitted, 40 companies behind those ideas were invited to the Labs, resulting in 33 commissions or further development.

“Vision and Media have been involved in the Labs for the last two years, and it really is a fantastic way of getting creative ideas direct to the people who can make them happen,” adds Chris.

Applications are now being accepted until January 31 2008. Ideas selected to take part in the Labs will be announced in February, with the Lab held during the second and fourth weeks of April and March 2008.

In 2008, the Innovation Labs will centre around the following briefs: Vision, Mobile, Nations and Regions, Audience and Music, Journalism and Interactive TV.

At the BBC Labs website (http://open.bbc.co.uk/labs/2008_the_brief.php) commissioners from each area can be seen talking about the kind of ideas they’d like the Labs to develop.

For more information, and to download an application, go to http://open.bbc.co.uk/labs/2008_how_to_apply.php