I have no c.v for my drama work and have little material but Im afraid that this will weaken my chances…what could i do and how? (i dont know where to get an appropriate picture from, i have no means financially.

@ADEBUKOLA: Would it be Dramatic Performance that you’d enter?

We definitely need a visual representation of your work in order to judge it, however if you have performances coming up we could accept digital camera or even at a push mobile phone camera footage, if you have one or could borrow one from a friend. Does this help?

Would writing (poetry, prose, travel writing etc) be acceptable?
I obviously have work to support this as well as a website.
I try to paint a picture of places I’ve visited and that have had an impact on me, my focus largely being home and London in particular.

I notice that there is no minimum age limit, so it seems fine for 4 Talent to compare work of a 12 year old to that of a 30 year old but not that of a 18 years old and 31 year old… Seems a tad unfair and not thought through don’t you think!!

@Susan Davies:

Thanks again for your input - please see my previous comment as well on this.

You draw attention to the lack of minimum age limit, as you will also have noticed we stipulate that entrants will be judged on track record and the quality of their work, and so the likelihood of a 12-year-old having sufficient experience to be seriously considered is relatively slim.

However given that these are new talent Awards we’re not ruling out the possibility of someone having talent beyond their years - a 16-year-old film-maker already showing great potential, say, or a 17-year-old composer already shining in their field. As ones to watch, entrants are judged based on their potential for the future as well as the current quality of their work.

Arguably, an 18-year-old and a 31-year-old could submit work of identical quality - but age could be a factor in judging future potential. The age limit is not so much about quality of work necessarily, but about amount of accumulated experience in the industry.

Hopefully this makes sense.

Cheers
Nick

A quick question - there is the category for people who excel in two or more fields, but can you conversely enter several fields seperately??

I have to sympathise with Susan regarding age limitations. As you yourself have admitted this is not a ‘young talent’ opportunity, but a ‘new talent’ opportunity.

I myself and 31 years of age and, due to personal circumstances, am at the beginning of a career change. I would love the opportunity to submit some of my shots for judging at this embrionic stage of my career.

I believe that, in this time of diversity and equal opportunities, age should not be an issue here. Rather the amount of time already spent in the industry should be a qualifying factor as both a 16 year old and a 40 year old may have equal amounts of experience, talent and potential within their chosen discipline.

@Teresa Moody: Thanks for the comments, we’ll take them all on board for 2009.

As we point out above, we fully accept that anyone could come fresh to a creative profession when considerably older than 30, but capping entries with an upper age limit helps us to compare them as fairly as possible.

When you say ’shots’, I take it you’re a photographer? As you may know we also run a bi-annual print magazine and work with a wide range of new photographers and illustrators (of all ages), I’d suggest you send some example shots through to us: see the contributors page for more details.

Thanks
Nick

I’m too young to have a CV. What do I do? Will a reference be enough?

I’m 15 and am looking to enter in either the Dramatic Performance category or the Presenting category.

Hi, I write short stories, poems and music. Could I enter under the wildcard option? Thanks.

@Grant: Yes, the Wildcard category is open to any creative disciplines that don’t fit within the other specified categories, including short fiction and poetry. You may alternatively like to enter the Music category - it’s up to you - but the stories and poetry won’t be considered for this.

I love drama, im not as good as it as people in my class but i would like to enter this category but i dont really understand what to send off also i want to enter the photography category im 15 could you give me some information please

Hello there.
Just a quick one for you…

I wirte in partnership with a friend of mine. I am 28 and he is 32. I figure he is too old to enter but was wondering if you could take an average for the age limit? (bringing us both to 30)

We have several scripts and pieces of work and have always worked together. I wouldn’t like to think that the age limit on here would mean that, as a unit, we could not enter.

Just wondered what the rules were on this? Do I have to delete his name from all the work and take all the glory for myself?

Many thanks
Jamie

How should I structure my showreel? Should each clip have an introductory frame with the name and date of the performance of should it just be a continuous sequence only differentiated by fades?

Thank you very much for your help/

Kind Regards,

Carl Harvey

Hey

I’m a puppet film maker and I’m going to enter, I’m not sure which category would suit me best, I pretty much make everything in my films and get Puppeteers in to make the film. I’ve just started experiments with stop motion animation in my live films, can I go in under animation or would Directing be better?

Thanks for your help!

Richard
http://www.muckypuppets.blogspot.com

Hi I would like to enter under the screen presenting category, I have done presenting on stage and things before but I have no recordings of those events. The only thing I have evidence of is of a radio show that I presented in a foreign language. Do I have to submit evidence of something I have done along with the newsreel I am making for this category? I don’t really have much evidence. Is this essential?

I am a poet so would a referance from a litrary agent be a feesable referance?

I am interested in sending something in for the music part, but what i would do would be totally different. Would a dnb mix with my mcin’ skills on it be allowed?

You say there’s no lower age limit, but on the online form, the year only goes to 1994 and I was born in 1995.

I am elated to see artwork created by the young being accepted
Work I created when I was 15 recieved a standing ovation at the Edingborough Festival of Arts when I was 16 and several other artists wanted to meet the authour but I couldn’t get entry into the inns and hotels where subsiquent recitals were held because I was too young.
Creation of the internet as a source of communication has given everyone the freedom to communicate without predjudice, when you are able to overcome your age limit altogether I would be interested in entering.
Remember the internet is new to everyone, a shared experiance of all ages

For the Comedy Scripts category, it says to send 3 scripts, does this mean 3 scripts of the same sitcom/sketch show? Or 3 completely separate scripts? So for example I could sent a script of a sitcom, a script of a sketch show and a script of a different sitcom…?

What if I can’t get any reference? I haven’t shown any of my illustrations to anyone. By the way which category does illustration go in?

I do illustration and fashion design. I don’t make any of these garments cuz I don’t have the resources but will be acceptable to enter my illustrations and designs on paper as they are?

And I don’t study fashion at school yet, just art. and I only study fashion through exhibitions tv magazines etc. I just do it as a hobby, so I don’t really have anyone to get a reference from like a client. Who else would be suitable to give a reference?

Sorry for such a long question lol

Thankyou

:]

@Marmalade: Illustration would be a Wildcard entry. For a reference, this should be an informed person who appreciates your work - ideally a client or employer, but it could be a fellow creative or a Uni tutor, for example.

@Ness: Designs on paper would be fine. I’d suggest an art tutor would make a suitable reference. Cheers

Hi, just wanted to know if a website/ online link etc was absolutely essential to enter? I was thinking of entering the dramatic writing catagory.

Also, the works I would submit are mostly scripts that I have had short-listed & long-listed in competitions and I am continually submitting the work to competitions - would this interfere with the entry criteria??
thanks

Great thanks for your feedback

I have a few reference-type comments on letters I have received. Can I submit these as a reference (with the writers’ permission obtained by phone, obviously) or do I have to have a specific reference written for 4Talent? I don’t have an agent to write a refence for me. I would have thought it better to have referential comments written by those ‘in the know’ than by, say, a work colleague.

Kim

Hi
My name is Lisa and my talent is alternative/experimental photography and TV/ Film directing. After searching through the site i realized that the deadline is approaching real close, and a lot of my work is not at a standard of entering a competition just yet. I would like to know if contestants are being judge on their creative ability as a whole, or how good the product their selling is.

Thanks
Kind regards
Lisa

Ageism is as bad as sexism or racism. Make the leap.

@Helen Byrne:
Thank you very much, i do intend on entering…

Fingers crossed

Regards
Lisa

I would just like some clarification on whether the copyright for any material submitted remains with the writer / artist? I couldn’t really see any mention of it in the Terms and Conditions.
Thanks!
Katie

Is advertising for writers UNDER 30 years of age not illegal under the Age Discrimination Act. If not why not? Does the BBC have some sort of opt out clause from the Act? Would the BBC be allowed to advertise for only BLACK writers, or WHITE writers, or maybe only writers over the height of 5ft 8ins with a unshaven semi beard and tweed jacket to fit the image of the typical writer.

Hi, Is there any minimum/maximum page limit on comedy scripts?

Hi. Regarding to your Comedy Scripts category, I would like to know whether the ‘up to three scripts’ when submitting is essential, because I have only written two episodes within my comedy series so far? I would like to just submit both episodes, as I will not have completed the third episode within the series when the deadline date comes. Is this okay or do I have to come up with a new separate idea/comedy series to make up the number of submissions to three?

As both episodes that I would like to submit are within the same comedy series, is this okay? As one of the requirements maybe being that each submission has to be of different ideas/concepts all together. Therefore leaving me now to come up with two or even, if it is the case from my first question, three different comedy series.

Thanks.

hi - i assume that the copyright of any work submitted will be respected?

I am surprised that an equal opportunities corporation such as Channel 4 would sanction a competition which discriminates solely on the grounds of age. The competition calls for New talent, which can apply equally to an older writer, who may have come to writing later in life, as to a young person. I do not see how Just4talent would be able to tell the difference in age between two contributors, unless the age had been given to them.
Bearing in mind recent age discrimination legislation, I am not even sure this is legal. It is certainly worthy of investigation.

I’m wondering, If I want to send my CV/Bio online rather than post, is there anything else I need to include such as more pictures or anything?

Thanks

Nevermind about my above comment! I’m guessing if I’m entering the photography category, I enter 10 pictures. I think I’ll do it by post!

How do you know who’s posted stuff is who’s though? ie. Who’s online application form matches who’s posted stuff?

Thanks!

If referees would rather not send their comments to the applicants (us) to be written in to the online form, but would prefer to keep their 100-words confidential, could they send it separately to the above Birmingham address?

Would this present any problems in matching up the reference with the online form as well as the material posted by the applicant? And could we then write in the relevant box on the online form just a note to refer to a posted reference?

Or is it essential that the reference be physically typed in to the form?

@Helen Byrne: Thanks very much!

@Colin: Thanks for your input, as you will have seen from previous comments, several people have raised the issue of the age limit, citing very similar points to yours, and I’ve replied before in some detail on the matter. So please refer to my previous comments.

Channel 4 is confident that no Age Discrimination laws have been broken in any of its activities, including these Awards. From an editorial perspective, the 4Talent Awards are specifically devised for young persons, to encourage their development and contribution to creative media from a relatively early stage in their career. It is not discriminatory to make opportunities available to young people where those opportunities would not otherwise exist.

@Brian Brown: I’m a little confused as to why you think we’re the BBC, and confess I have no inside knowledge of their recruitment policies. But suffice to say, if you have concerns with BBC activities they should be raised with the BBC.

i’d really like to try the acting or presenting catagory and feel i’d really enjoy it but i do not have any experience in either.I usually participate in fashion design or art and design in general and so this would put me in the wild-card catagory but would like to try something new.is experience neccessary?

I’m 19 and on my gap year at the moment - my C.V consists of….waitress, nanny, cleaner, barmaid, receptionist etc. I don’t think that’s really relevant to this competition. So instead of my ‘work’ C.V would it be more appropriate to include a C.V of my creative projects ?

Also I’m not sure whether to enter the Directing or Photography award - all my short films feature music that I don’t have the copyright for, so I guess that rules them out ?

Hi,

Im just wondering - im a british citezin not living in uk. Can i still apply if i was interested, say, in the comedy part of the competition? I would really like to submit some material and have already entered the competition held by ‘Every1’s a Critic.’ If i cannot enter, are there any opportunities available to do with script writing and comedy/comedy sketches that i mightn’t be aware of?

Thanks

Hi,

I’m applying for the comedy performance category but don’t have anyone, bar my family, to give me a reference. Is the reference an absolute requirement?

Hi. I would like to know whether a feature-length screenplay could pass as an “other asset(s)” for supporting material? I’m entering the comedy writing category and I have no video nor audio to support my material only other than another screenplay which does not fit within the genre of comedy.

Thanks.

Hiya, I am looking to enter in one of the writing areas, only I am not sure which one. I only have one script I wish to submit, although a lot of my supporting work that has been made is comic, the script is a comedy drama… Any ideas which would be best for me to submit to?

Hi

This may be answered someone on the site, but I just can’t find it.

I’d like to enter the comedy writing category. Is there anywhere that details exactly what you want in terms of scripts, in terms of how long it should be, what format, if you want sitcoms, sketch shows etc?

Thanks in advance

How old are the JUDGES ?

Hi,

Im sure i posted this earlier but i can’t find it!

what kind of scripts do you want for the comedy writing section?

What style, how long etc?

Many thanks

Hi

I have web design capabilities and can upload my scripts as .fdr (First Draft) and/or .pdf files to my website for the judges to download and read from there.

As this would sidestep all the complications of postal submission, I wondered if I could submit my scripts this way (embedding hyperlinks to the online scripts in my online application form)?

Many thanks

Hey

Was wondering for the Comedy Performance category, can you enter as a duo?

Thanks Helen,

when applying how do you then enter as a duo as the online aplication form seems to only let you apply as individual?

Anna

I’m going to enter the wildcard option as I do illustration. I have a website/ myspace etc. with most of my work on, but I was hoping to send one of my books in the post & wondered if it would be possible that it were returned after judging?.. Thanks, Sarah.

hello im writing to enquire if you would concider an aspiring make-up artist into your wildcard catagory?

Hi, i’ve recently finished a script but I’ve been told its a comedy drama. Should that be entered in the comedy section or the drama section? Any help would be grateful

cheers

How disappointing that age discrimination limits the talent attracted.

Great breadth of categories though. Good luck.

One of my scripts is co-written - I want to enter it as it’s my strongest but does that mean I enter as a duo and can’t enter the scripts I’ve written alone or can I enter myself and note on the one script that it’s co-written?
If the first one applies then do we need a joint reference for our work or individual ones? How do I stand if I want to enter the multi-talented with a co-written script?!
Thanks

I have a reference from a friend who also happens to be in a creative field (albeit different from mine). It is a simple character reference. Would this be sufficient to put on the application form?

Thanks.

Hi. I need to know whether any script for supporting material needs a synopsis or treatment included with it when i send my script in the post. Thanks.

Hi,

I’m 14 and I’ve written a 60 page hour pilot for a pilot drama. I know - only 14! But I’ve been told that it sounds like it’s been written by an adult.
I’m still in school (obvioulsy) so I don’t have a CV! I don’t have anything apart from my script and a short film I made this summer.

Is it worth applying… can I apply?
Is there a chance my idea will get stolen? Its really original (so I’ve been told!)

I have a page resume about myself aswell which I use to apply for work experience

@Josh: Yes, you can apply - and all copyright in your script will remain with you when you submit it. Re: CV, if you don’t have a work history then would suggest you outline how you got into scriptwriting / film-making in your self-sell.

Hi,

I’m interested in submitting an application for the Dramatic Writing category and I was just wondering what format my script/supporting material should be sent in? Either a hard copy or saved to a CD? My script is saved as a “Final Draft” file, do the judges have access to “Final Draft” or would Microsoft Word be better?

Thanks for your help

Tom

Hi, myself and my co-presenter are looking to enter the On Air Presentation category with our podcast and just have a few questions. For the Self Sell, in our instance would that just be a self sell for the show? Also will we have to send in one CV each or a joint CV for the show?

Thanks

Matt

I have a multi-platform idea that i would like to submit but am weary, mainly because when I was 15 me and a friend submitted an idea to Trouble TV which surprise surprise happened, our idea being the cruel winter / summer tv show.
We stood no legal grounding as we had no form of copyright.
What will happen to my idea if submitted, and if it is later followed up by C4?

@Tom: Hard copies are fine - if you’re sending a digital version please stick to Word format for maximum compatibility.

@Matt Horne: The self-sell is for you and your work as a whole - i.e. why you deserve a 4Talent Award. Whether it just focuses on the one show is up to you, and depends what other work you’ve produced. A joint CV for your work as a partnership would be fine.

@Andy Caldwell: Appreciate your concerns, and sorry to hear about your past experiences. All copyright in material submitted will remain with entrants, however in legal terms no copyright exists in an ‘idea’ per se, only in the original way that idea is expressed - how a script is written, how a film is produced, etc.

We can only assure entrants that if you submit an ‘idea’ in non-produced form, we have no intention of stealing the concept - the 4Talent Awards are there to reward and showcase individual excellence in particular fields and flag those people up to commissioners and producers in the industry, and if you’re selected as a winner, you’ll be on the radar of the right people.

Hi. I’m at the crossroads at the moment. I’ve got two sitcom scripts to enter into the Comedy Writing category and a screenplay that is a comedy-drama. With the two-sitcom scripts being for television and the comedy-drama being for film, it would be great to enter all three into the Comedy Writing category, as this would show off my writing talents the most in comparison to me just sending in two sitcom episodes for television.

Is this okay?

If so, then I come to another crossroad. If I enter all three into the category then I will have no written supporting material, only a short film script. If the short film script is okay just to enter for supporting material then I would like to do that. If not then I could just submit my comedy-drama screenplay for the supporting materials.

What should I do?

Thanks.

Hi there,

I’ve only recently started this writing lark and as such I have just the one short story (approx 3000 words) which I could enter.

As for my CV, you could be forgiven in thinking that I’ve taken it upon myself to take up every admin job that has been on offer in London in the last 5 years. Long story short, I lack specific experience in the writing field.

Can I assume that it won’t be worth entering the Wild Card category with such a weak portfolio of work?

Hi, I forgot to ask in my last question. I know that each synopsis needs to be 50 words. By chance, is this just guidance as my synopsis for each script is around 75 words? Is there any leeway?

@Roy: Re: your first crossroad, that’s absolutely fine - it’s the writing rather than the medium that’s being judged, and brilliant to show breadth across TV and film.

Your second crossroad I’m afraid I’m struggling to get my head around - for Comedy Writing you need to submit up to 3 scripts, a CV and a one-page self-sell as set out above (plus the info on the online form). So examples of your work, plus information about yourself.

50-words is a guideline for the synopsis: if it’s marginally over this, but still easily scanned quickly, this is fine.

@Court Jester: Entirely up to you. So long as you meet all the entry criteria and feel your one short story will blow us away, feel free to enter - but yes, you will likely be up against people with a wider breadth of work behind them.

Hi. It took a while for the penny to drop. Supporting material means the actual material you want to consider from the writer. I thought the supporting material was material that backs up the work that the writer was already sending in to be considered for the competition.

Thanks, Nick.

I amj entering the photography section, but I do not have time to post my CV and images now (I go holiday tomorrow too so I must do everything today).

If I made a webpage with my CV and 10 images underneath that, and inlcuded that as a link in my application form, would this count?

Then I will also include a link to my official website so that you can see my other work too.

Hi,

I have written a number of scripts for entry in the Comedy Writing category. Can I just get a definitive answer on the matter of ’supporting material’ as the phrasing is a little ambigious.

Would you like the Word documents printed and posted to you? This wouldn’t be a problem, if necessary, or would you prefer such documents as attachments as part of the application process? The wording states supporting material as ‘video clips, etc’ being difficult to process as attachments but states nothing on the matter of the scripts themselves.

Thanks for your time, and for the opportunity,

Adam

@Eleanor: A link to your photos on a website is perfect - yes. Make sure you include your ’self-sell’ (personal statement backing up your entry) on there too.

@Adam: We would prefer the supporting material in hard copy form where possible, unless it’s all available online - in which case you should indicate that on the form and provide necessary links.

Hi.

I’ve just found this page today and think it would be perfect for a fanzine I created and wrote for until very recently. It mentions in the journalism category that I need to include three pieces but is it ok to send copies of the fanzine in the post so judges have an understanding of the mag? I will then print out the three articles. Or do they have to be photocopied to prove they were printed?

Also music journalism is correct for the Journalism category yes? I’m just checking it doesn’t have to be hard news!

@Ruth: Yes, that’s all fine. The Journalism judges are from a Current Affairs background as you can see, but the category covers all walks of journalism - print, broadcast and online.

Hi

I’m submitting an application in the Dramatic writing category. I’m only submitting one script for consideration but I also have other material that can showcase my work as a scriptwriter, such as a feature length horror script and numerous short film scripts. As these don’t fit into any category I was just wondering if I could send them along with my drama script just to show my other work?

Thanks for your help.

Tom

@Helen Byrne:

Can I just send one sitcom script? My sketch show script is currently in development so I’ve been advised not to send it in case I queer the company’s pitch. Could send a 8 page proposal and 3 sample scenes of another sitcom project - would that count? If not, will one script be enough? Or to be on the safe side should i also send you a first draft of a comedy feature?

@charlotte reather: As the guidelines state, we’re asking for UP TO 3 scripts. One example of your best work is fine.

@Nick Carson:
I did read it as that but then i read some of the comments here and started to get my knickers in a twist!
Many thanks

Hi, I’ve left applying late, so sent off my pack today by next day delivery. However, the post office don’t have your address in their computer. The nearest address was for Maverick Television, so they insisted they could only send it there- will it get to you there?

Thanks

@Toby: That’s correct, we’re based at Maverick.

my name is chris brown. i write lyrics for hip~hop music and sing them. my problem is i dont have any clue on haw to get started. i need help. i’ve not done any competions or battles or anything like that……..NOW YOUR THINKING I’M CRAZY. i need to find like minded people like my self and when i saw your advert on tv for unsigned writers/ singers. i’m going in any direction to start as i find music is about the only thing that keeops me entertained, excited and most of all on my toes. i have a lot more to ask. i dont posses a computer so i go to the library as much as i can….. i suppose all i’m asking is for MY CHANCE and some help any how. thanks

can anybody help me get to record something. i write lyrics for hip hop. get back to me……. safe

Ooooh noooo! I just saw this advertised on tv last night and got my applications ready overnight. And have just seen there’s no email address you can enter to? Oh noooo. Does that mean I can’t enter anything now???

yes but the only way of applying is post isn’t it? :s

@Suzy Q: That depends on the category - if all your work is available online then you can indicate that on the entry form, and email your CV and self-sell to helen@4talentmagazine.com. Otherwise yes, you’d need to post it - so would need a same-day courier.

I’m confused. I want to send in a script; is it okay to send it via email? Please say it is. At this late stage it’s my only viable option.

The person I asked for a reference was on holiday and has only just got back to me. When I submitted everything I included his name and e-mail address but just ommitted the rest. If I now obtain the reference is it too late to submit it?