| Start Date | Duration | Cost | Max Participant Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| End of July 2026 | 5 x one to one half days | €1,400 – usual price €2,500 without CCIs support | 10 |
Due to the success of this course we have opened it for a second round.
Breakout: Delivering Results:
In just two months, the first companies on the Breakout Programme are reporting a significant spike in their success rate.
For Slate Development: All participants report that Breakout has tangibly helped them out of creative rabbit holes to identify, prioritise and elevate their strongest concepts. Learning cutting edge development tools has been a key takeaway from the programme.
For Pitching: Companies report they have learnt vital skills in how to structure and deliver a compelling pitch, already resulting in measurable business progression.
For Commissioning: Four projects have already progressed to funded development, commissioning or channel-backing for Sound & Vision.
For Personal Career Development: Attendees report that Breakout has not only stimulated concept and business success, but also emboldened their personal career development, focus and confidence.
Some quotes for existing and past participants:
“Breakout has been hugely useful in helping us stand back from a busy slate of projects and identify the strongest, most compelling hooks within each one. Having a sounding board has really helped sharpen the pitching process, making the ideas clearer, more focused and easier to communicate.
“Breakout has been so valuable in helping us think more strategically about how each project is positioned, both creatively and commercially.”“There’s a genuine sense that the tutors are invested in helping participants progress professionally and creatively, rather than simply delivering a course.”
Overview
Ready for your TV Concepts to Breakout? Get Your Unscripted TV
Projects Pitch and Market-Ready.
Too many talented producers and indies pitch their TV concepts before they are truly market-ready, missing out on vital commissioning, funding and international co-production opportunities. In an increasingly competitive and global sector, you rarely get a second chance at a first impression. It’s time to equip yourself with the competitive edge needed for commissioning success.
Building on over 30 years of development, funding and commissioning success, the programme is designed by leading consultants Colin Pauser-Cowman and Eilish Kent. This intensive, end-to-end development journey is designed to help participants identify strong unscripted concepts from their own slates, and to use best practice development techniques to hone them, through a series of critical development pillars, to get them market ready.
This intensive one to one development and market preparation programme is delivered through five half-day, on-site or online sessions, with flexible follow-up support to ensure projects meet industry best practice.
Consultants: Colin Pauser-Cowman (Unscripted and Funding) and Eilish Kent (Storytelling & Industry Practice) will guide participants through a comprehensive programme, developing their own original TV concepts.
The programme includes:
• TV Concept, Format & Slate Development: (Identifying front runners)
• Genre-Specific Training & Development: (Market matching)
• Pitch Clinic: (Honing story, structure, and delivery for maximum impact)
• Funding Application Clinic: (Defining best practice and funding opportunities)
• Commissioner Pitch Prep: (Rehearsal and coaching)
• Pitch Strategy: Strategizing for domestic and international success.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will learn how to:
- Develop unscripted TV concepts with currency and impact
- Identify front runners from their slates
- Respond to commissioning call outs
- Understand how to market match and target
- Hone story structure for maximum impact
- Identify appropriate funding opportunities
- Build competencies in generating funding applications
- Embolden their pitching confidence
- Build a domestic and international development strategy
- Apply these discipline to their further development.
Participant profile/Who can apply/Eligibility
Emerging and established development producers & companies can apply.
This is not an entry level course. Participant should have some context of the commissioning landscape and some relevant experience in TV development.
All enquiries should be directed to frankeaveney@furthr.ie
Tutor information
Colin Pauser-Cowman (MD of CPC Creative Services), is a seasoned industry leader with 30+ years’ experience as a show runner and executive producer, primarily in unscripted genres. A former commissioner for VMTV, head of development, and current TV consultant for Tourism Ireland (TV fund), Colin has delivered hundreds of hours of hit programming for Ireland’s top broadcasters and steered countless projects to funding success at home and globally.
As a strategic consultant, Colin mentors independent producers on creative development, funding, market matching and co-production. Previously MD of successful Irish Indie Paradise Pictures for 13 years, Colin was executive producer for many returning commissions with RTÉ, TV3 (VMTV), global channels, along with digital content for major Irish brands. A passionate educator, Colin has spent over a decade designing and delivering high-impact producer training through IADT, Griffith College, MTU, Screen Ireland, SPI and partnering skillnets — empowering the next wave of creative talent.
Eilish works with writers, producers and content creators to identify the strengths of their ideas and shape the story for maximum audience engagement. She works across several upskilling and professional training initiatives in Ireland and Europe on fiction and non-fiction projects.
She has worked with the Arts Council of Ireland, Virgin Media, Screen Ireland and many local authorities on funding applications. Prior to her freelance consultancy, for many years Eilish worked in development and commissioning of TV Drama in the BBC and RTÉ.
Venue/location
Hybrid
Costs/fee
Course fee €1,400 per person. (Without CCIS support this workshop would cost €2,500 per person)
Deadline for Applications:
Thursday 30th July at 12noon.
Dates and times of the course
Commencing from the end of July
Due to our funding, this course is only available to those resident in the Republic Of Ireland.
For any queries, please contact frankeaveney@furthr.ie
Please apply below and if successful, we will be in touch with a payment link.