John Finn - Derbynnydd Cynllun Datblygu Busnes Annibynnol
As the independent television production sector reaches maturity, success for new start-ups and established companies alike increasingly relies on a clear-sighted business strategy, focused planning and, just as importantly, the ability to innovate. During the course of 2005 and 2006, Skillset is offering the chance for 45 companies to maximise their potential in this competitive market through its Indie Business Development Scheme.
Each participating company receives a tailored package of support including business planning consultancy and advice and, where appropriate, training investment for staff., time with industry mentors, networking events, and workshops on financing, legal affairs, marketing and management. The scheme is one of 20 projects that make up the Audio Visual Entrepreneurship (AVE) programme, launched by Skillset and the UK Film Council in 2005, to increase diversity in the media industries.
One of this year's participants is John Finn who recently set up Deadcreative, a company specialising in animation for deaf people and individuals with learning disabilities. Finn's approach is to use the latest CGI motion picture technology to incorporate sign language communication into entertainment and educational formats through the use of animated characters.
"Technology has significantly improved for many deaf people in recent years, but there are still niggling bits that have been overlooked," he explains. "There are lots of television programmes for children, for example, but what about deaf children who are too young to read subtitles on programmes like Teletubbies and Tweenies."
By happy coincidence Finn won an award through the Creative Pioneer's programme run by NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) within weeks of being accepted on the Indie Business Development Scheme.
"It is just sheer luck that I have both at the same time," he says. "NESTA has given me the funding to test the technology through producing a showreel and Skillset is helping me to develop the business around the showreel."
Through Skillset, Finn is working with Jeremy Gawade of Lee & Thompson, who has brought in new media expert Michael Blakstad to explore ways of exploiting the business beyond traditional broadcasting and animation veteran Mike Robinson who is looking at the production issues.
"As there has been no attempt to produce animation for the deaf the whole project is proving a steep learning curve for everyone," says Finn. "The focus of my work with Skillset is establishing the business model, planning its implementation and structuring the company. And as a relative newcomer it's fantastic to be working with people with years of experience behind them. I am finding the whole process extremely useful and am really looking forward to moving the business on."
