Development assistant producers are part of the team that comes up with the ideas that get transformed into TV programmes.
Development assistant producers are part of the team that comes up with the ideas that get transformed into TV programmes. They have lots of ideas themselves and a nose for a good story. They also research and flesh out briefs given to them by the development producer, using their contacts and industry knowledge gleaned from several years’ experience.
They write well and help condense sprawling ideas into a packageable pitch. Depending on the type of programme they are developing, they may be responsible for filming and editing 'casting tapes', which are short interviews with potential new experts, presenters or members of the public. They may also be asked to shoot and edit a short 'taster tape', also known as a 'sizzle', to give the commissioner a taste of the content, style and tone of the show they are hoping to get commissioned. If they are working on the development of a new quiz show, they may have to write questions and test games or rounds to see if they work.
Development assistant producers work across several projects at one time, all of which will be at a different point in their journey to our screens. They work either with independent production companies or broadcasters.