that you're sitting comfortably on your sofa at home,
flicking at the channels with your TV zapper, and
to your wonderment and delight, just starting is ...
THE GREAT BRITISH JEWELLERY
MAKE OFF!
This is an 8 week series, with each programme
highlighting a jewellery technique, such as:
Polymer Clay, Beadwork, Resin, Soutache, Silversmithing,
Lampworking, Silver Metal Clay, Wire (yes, WIRE work!!!).
Without giving too much away, you will be able to follow
10 budding artist jewellers 'having a go' at each medium and
technique. You will glimpse and learn about the provenance of
each process and style, you will get to see top UK jeweller's
at work, being filmed in their studios... and inevitably, as is the
format for most of our current reality TV shows, there will be a
winner, who is able to show the judges that they have an all
round technical ability and a supreme design flair!
Myself and Jessica Rose (the founder of the London
Jewellery School) are just itching to get this amazing
series off the ground, however, there are many, many
obstacles! We've had the Great Painting Challenge, I
believe there has also been a Gardening and Interior
Design series too? Obviously, The Great British Bake Off
is renowned, The Great British Sewing Bee, The Pottery
Throwdown ... so why not: The Great British Jewellery
Make Off?
3 years ago I approached the BBC with the idea for
a series on WireWork and admittedly they decided that
it was too niche.
I have since applied to many, many more independent film
production companies, to all the UK TV channels with the format
mentioned above, but sadly to no avail! I especially wanted to
pitch to Love Film Productions, who create the Bake Off, Sewing
Bee and Pottery Throw Down, but they are a completely "closed
shop" and do not entertain any ideas from outside, it's all 'in house'
development!
The closest I got, was the Tweet above! So, without
any contacts in television, it's pretty near impossible
to know how to pitch a new programme idea! Hence
the reason for this blog ... I've hit every wall, but
there is always a tiny, glint of a chance, that if YOU
help spread the word, perhaps someone, somewhere who
knows somebody connected to someone else who
has a contact to television broadcasting services ...
could possibly get this idea known and I am ready
and waiting to pitch, so that we can get this on our screens
as soon as possible and to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!
Talking of dreams ... if you were able to catch my
recent Create and Craft TV show for BEADS DIRECT,
I demonstrated my designs for Dream Catcher Pendants.
Maybe, this is what we should all be making and
hanging in our houses and offices to help manifest
the jewellery TV programme?
If you are interested in getting the instructions for the
pendant, OR if you have ANY contacts in TV,
just email me, at:
linda.jones@wirejewellery.co.uk
and I will send you the pattern and together, we'll
push the universe to answering our jewellery dreams!
Happy WireWorking to one and all!
It's a great idea and given all the niche shows out there is hardly a preposterous idea ! I would deffo watch , and probably apply to BE on the show. Not accepting 3rd party ideas seems very closed-minded. maybe one of their team will imagine a creative jewellery show in the future, would totally be their idea though ;) . Cheers, Linzi Alford-Buckmaster, MagPie In the Sky jewellery
ReplyDeleteThanks for your lovely endorsement, Linzi! Getting responses like yours, just makes me want to continue plugging the idea! x
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised some of the craft TV channels aren't keen to do something like this. Something a bit more in depth to get your teeth into instead of the endless papercraft demos and here's how you can buy stuff type shows they put on all the time :D
ReplyDeleteI hope you do manage to get the idea off the ground Linda.
Thanks Cinnamon Jewellery! The problem with the production companies is that they 'play safe' and Jewellery Making is a bit of a niche, however, I still feel people will be very interested in watching how pieces are created, as well as the 'reality' TV bit of watching a design competition! Let's cross our fingers and toes ... that it takes off eventually! x
ReplyDeleteIt's a brilliant idea, can't imagine why they wouldn't be interested.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope you're right! :D
ReplyDeleteFab idea, but as mentioned above the craft channels are the most likely to do this as they would benefit from sales revenue and have the most suitable viewers. I loved the pottery showdown but how many people can make pottery at home & fire it? Jewellery making is much more accessible for people both the cost & practically ��
ReplyDeleteI have approached The Craft Channel and Create & Craft TV and it's not their thing, as they are 'shopping channels'. Creating a TV series requires investment funding and distribution, which is completely out of league with how TV Craft Channels work. Anyhow, I'm giving it one more plug to see if anyone has a contact in TV. It's definitely 'who you know' as I have since found out! Thanks for your support, Eva! x
DeleteI love your dream catcher necklace I missed the show, when was it? I would love to make one x
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHi Eva - I've emailed you with details! :D
DeleteLinda this is such a brilliant idea! I can't understand how they think it is nice - pottery certainly sounds niche to me! And a while ago the BBC had a creative show in conjunction with the V&A and I'm pretty sure there was a Jewellery Designer on that! Perhaps contacting a big museum know ke the V&A is an Idea - they have jewellery galleries! Plus, I wouldn't mind applying too! Amanda AKA Bowerbird Jewellery
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda, thanks SO much for your moral support! I hadn't thought of contacting the V&A because I don't know how they could help with filming, etc... but perhaps they could spread the word somehow ... If we all keep talking about it, it might just happen eventually! xx
DeleteI meant 'niche' not nice! Sorry using my mobile with predictive text!
ReplyDeleteTry approaching the Jewellery Making channel, the company who produce that are a TV production company. They may be willing to do it as they do all genre's of jewellery making and it would be a good way for them to direct viewers to their shopping channel.
ReplyDeleteHi Margie, I hadn't approached them, as I thought they were more a shopping channel and Create & Craft and the Craft Channel are the same and have already said that it's not in their field. An 8 part TV series needs serious funding, however I guess, I could but ask?!! :D
ReplyDeleteIt's an awesome idea. I think they tried or did something along those lines here in the USA on Jewelry TV, that may have been something else, but they may be able to direct you to the right people. I wish I could tell you more, but I live out, way out, on the Kansas prairie & don't get the cable station it broadcast on. I'll try to look it up more. If you message me through facebook I may be able to send the links.
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa, the problem is I am in the U.K. So I am looking for this to be a U.K. TV series! :D
DeleteTammy Adams posted this last year on our B'Sue Boutiques Build-A-Line Challenge Classroom. I'd found it the day before & thought about it, but I'm a real newbie. They were looking for a special style, so maybe they'd do it again with a new style. I don't know if this has been produced & aired yet, hope the link shows up for you.
ReplyDeleteJTV Launches “Rock Star” Designer Search Competition
http://www.accessoriesmagazine.com/117425/jtv-launches-rock-star-designer-search-competition#.VwVFjHpOmM-
Maybe approach Kirstie Allsopp's agent? She has an element of this in her homemade home series. Maybe not in the format you envisaged but could have different jewellery techniques featured as part of the competition section (previous competitions based on table-setting, decorating trees, etc)
ReplyDeleteHi Kirstie - I have already approached the production company Kirsty Allsop used and they felt jewellery was too niche, it would only work if it was part of a more general 'crafts' programme. I would have thought that 'pottery' was too niche, but they did that successfully ... so, there is always hope!
DeleteMaybe approach Kirstie Allsopp's agent? She has an element of this in her homemade home series. Maybe not in the format you envisaged but could have different jewellery techniques featured as part of the competition section (previous competitions based on table-setting, decorating trees, etc)
ReplyDeleteYou are right to mention that it could be marketed in a more 'craft' orientated way, but, I didn't want to water it down and Jewellery is such a big subject, when you think of all the styles, mediums, materials and techniques! When the time is right, I am sure it will happen! :D xxx
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Have you thought of trying to get on one of the morning talk shows as a local guest artist? I don't know about U.K. tv, but, here in Sacramento, we have a local show that airs in the mornings and they are always looking for people to put on the air in short segments.. Might be worth a try to get your foot in the door.. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing information about jewellery films.
ReplyDeleteJewelllery Films
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