BEBO, BBC And Ch4 Multi-platform Experts Deliver Final Cyfle Workshops

Writers of the six-week, on-line drama series, Break Free, will spend their fifth and final workshop sessions in the company of leading experts from Bebo, Channel 4 and BBC.
Amongst the names included on the hot-list of speakers is Bebo's Head of Original Productions, Kelly Sweeney. Kelly will be providing the six freelancers with a unique insight into identifying and commissioning new shows for the world's leading media network.
Iain Tweedale, Editor of BBC Wales Interactive will also be sharing his expertise during the sessions. Iain plays an integral role within the BBC's leading network multiplatform drama production centre in Cardiff. The team is responsible for the innovative interactive elements of Doctor Who, Torchwood, Ashes to Ashes, Merlin and the Sarah Jane Adventures.
Channel 4's Head of Cross-Platform Commissioning Louise Brown, who is responsible for increasing the impact and engagement of Channel 4's broadcast programmes online, will also be taking part on July 24 at the Cyfle Cardiff Training Centre.
The weekend is the last of five weekend sessions during the six month, part time scheme, which are interspersed with online mentoring and collaborative projects. And this final session will see all six writers deliver presentations of the projects they developed during the scheme to the BEBO, Channel 4 and BBC experts.
The presentations will include filmed clips, graphics and mock WebPages. Break Free co-writer Bethan Marlow, bursary winner of 24 Degrees scheme BBC/Royal Court, is excited at the prospect of looking back at the whole project: "Creating Break Free has been both an experience and a challenge. Understanding the digital world can cause headaches, but when you see the light at the end of the tunnel it is certainly worth it!
"The industry guest speakers we have had so far have been second to none. It will be interesting to go back to look at our original ideas during the last session, especially now that we have, and can demonstrate, a better understanding of creating multi-platform content."
An interesting development during the previous workshop sessions in April was the remote video-seminar delivered between Wales and the USA by critically acclaimed award-winning writer/director Lance Weller. Recognised as a pioneer because of the way he makes and distributes his work, Wired magazine named Lance as 'One of the twenty-five people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood!'
Rhiannon Cousins, a freelance writer on the scheme and winner of S4's 20th Anniversary script competition, explained: "The conference call with Lance Weller was just excellent. He is top of his field in the USA and having him spend an hour and a half of his time speaking to us was very exciting and informative. The fact that this call was made possible also shows just how good a course this is and is a credit to Rhys, Gruff and Cyfle itself."
The six-month, part-time training project is designed specifically for freelance writers in Wales and is run by Cyfle in collaboration with Glass Shot. It is the first of its kind in Wales and consists of 13 episodes, 15 character monologues and comprehensive multiplatform social community options.
The series is broadcast on the following channels:

• BlipTV: www.breakfree2009.co.uk
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/breakfree2009

It is also the first Welsh Online Drama series to be available as an iTunes Podcast. The scheme is supported by Skillset TV Freelance Fund and DCELLS.
(KMcA/BMcC)