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Nick Young Award 2020

Graduates of the University of Oxford are invited to apply for the Nick Young Award 2020, run by St Catherine’s College. It is an annual award of £3,600 for 9 weeks of work experience with Lord Melvyn Bragg at Director’s Cut Productions working on the 2020 production of the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

The South Bank Sky Arts Awards are a unique event in television: they are the only cross-Arts ceremony in the world, celebrating all genres and facets of the Arts.

The categories cover various areas of the Arts, including TV Drama, Literature, Film, Pop, Classical Music, Visual Art, Opera, Dance, Theatre and Comedy. There are also several special awards, including one for  Outstanding Achievement.

Previous presenters, winners and guests at the awards include Helen Mirren, Tom Jones, Ken Loach, Darcey Bussell, Tracey Emin, Tamara Rojo, and J K Rowling. There are also three live performances at the event.

Being part of the production team on an Awards ceremony is a good opportunity and experience for anyone working in television. An Awards ceremony is multi-faceted, not only does it have to work in its own right as a single, live event for all the guests in the room, it also has to translate onto television as a stand-alone broadcast programme (the South Bank Sky Arts Awards will be recorded on Sunday, 31 May in the afternoon, and transmitted several days later on Sky Arts).

The annual award the Nick Young Trust, set up in memory of Nick Young, an alumnus of St Catherine’s College, Oxford – offers a grant of £3,600 to a graduate or alumnus of the University of Oxford for the purpose of gaining experience in television.

The relevant challenges involved in working on the Awards include: managing tight deadlines and pressurised scenarios; dealing with very high-profile talent; being constantly aware of developments and current events across the Arts world; suggesting ideas for contributors and artists to take part in the Awards; being involved in both pre-recorded filming sequences and live filming on the day; maintaining an eye for meticulous research in order to brief not only Lord Bragg, but also all of the presenters and many of the nominees, winners and guests on the day. You should also be able to collate large amounts of research information and present it in an accessible manner. In addition, the production comprises a very small and focused team, and it is important for everyone to be able to “hit the ground running” and work comprehensively across all aspects of the production process. Excellent communication is required, as well as an attention to detail and a genuine knowledge and passion for the British Arts.

How to apply:

Applications should be sent to the Master of St Catherine’s College (E: masters.office@stcatz.ox.ac.uk) no later than Friday 13 March 2020.

As part of the application process, please:
1. Write a paragraph explaining why you are passionate about having the opportunity to work in television, what appeals to you most about the placement and the Awards in particular, and what areas of the Arts interest you most. Please note that this is not an academic exercise, as such: we are interested in learning about you as a person.
2. Suggest a potential Pop Presenter for the South Bank Sky Arts Pop Award. You should bear
in mind why the presenter would be the right fit for the show, as well as thinking about their
availability, current activities and suitability for the South Bank Show and Sky Arts brand. Previous presenters include Sir Tom Jones, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Jarvis Cocker. Please make this outline no more than 200 words.

Director’s Cut Productions have defined the main features of the Nick Young Award as follows:
– To introduce an outstandingly promising graduate of the University of Oxford to television programme-making.
– To clearly understand that there is no guarantee of employment at Director’s Cut Productions following the attachment.
– Members and alumni of the University of Oxford can apply within a limit of seven years from matriculation.
– Those who are chosen for the final shortlist will be interviewed in the week commencing Monday 23 March by a small selection board in London.
– The selection board will choose one person as the winner of the award if, in their view, he or she is of sufficient calibre.

The placement will take place for 9 weeks from Monday 6 April to Wednesday 3 June 2020. This includes working the weekend of the ceremony on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May 2020. Applicants should only apply if they are completely available to work during these dates.

Published: 27 February 2020

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