Running Free Live: Think Bigger, How Ideas Become Formats

Now’s the time for content creators to think big.

Content creators can refresh their thinking in this session featuring the Australian producers who make a living out of creating and reinventing formats for audiences in this country and around the world. 

How did the idea of renovating one room become The Block? What do you need to do to create a quiz like The Chase that shows on screens around the world? Is it possible for an Australian comedy to be successfully adapted for international audiences? 

These questions, and more, will be answered during this Running Free Live session.  

Hosted by Denise Eriksen, Media Mentors Australia.   

About the panelists: 

David Barbour, Executive Producer, The Block
David has over 30 years of experience in media creation with over 1,000 hours of primetime TV under his belt. He started out as an editor before moving into producing. In 2002 he co-created The Block which is now in its 16th season domestically. The Block has been sold to over 150 countries and more than 37 series have been made internationally. 

Chloe Rickard, COO of Jungle Entertainment
Chloe is a Partner, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Producer at Jungle Entertainment. Jungle is responsible for internationally acclaimed comedies No Activity (CBSAA), Mr Inbetween (FX), and A Moody Christmas (Fox) – making Jungle one of the only companies globally with three comedies concurrently on air with three different US networks/platforms. Her Executive Producer credits include Wakefield (ABC/BBC), Bad Mothers (Nine Network/Sundance Now) and Squinters (ABC). She oversees many of Jungle’s international format sales and is currently developing the feature films The Hitchhiker and Croak funded by Screen Australia. 

Deb Stewart, Executive Producer, ITV
Deb has created and produced quiz and sports formats including The Weakest Link, Fox Footy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and Deal or No Deal. For ITV Deb has worked on The Chase, Think Tank and Beat the Chasers (2020).

Maz Farrely, Creative Strategist, BBCWW
Maz has worked on everything from The X Factor to The Celebrity Apprentice, Dancing With The Stars to Big Brother and she helped create the long running Q&A for the ABC. Her content has been watched more than eight billion times worldwide and she’s put more than ten thousand people on stage. Maz runs the consultancy company, Maz Speaks.

Nathalie Wogue, TV Format Expert, Wogue Entertainment
Nathalie is an LA based content creator, developer, buyer and strategist. Former journalist at TF1, independent TV producer, Head of Development at Fremantle France, Global VP Formats at IMG Entertainment and Chief International Officer at Endemol France, she helped launch iconic formats that are still successfully aired. Running her own company, she has consulted for major players like ABC Studios, Fox, Canal+ or RTL as well as independent producers. Nathalie has been a judge at the Emmy Awards, The Rose d’Or and C21 Award.