Making it and Faking it in Factual TV - a conversation with John Maclaverty

Everyone dreams of being the righteous documentary maker getting triumphant ovations at the Sundance Film Festival - but most newcomers would settle for a job as a junior researcher on The One Show. You're invited to a chat with award-winning documentary maker, John MacLaverty, about the realities of working in factual TV in Scotland. We'll cover how to get a foot in the door, doing your first job well, how to get on in the TV industry, why directing documentaries is one of the great jobs, and when you're allowed to fake it.

John MacLaverty has worked in TV for over 25 years, directing award-winning documentaries, presenter led travel shows, and arts TV ( but also lots of crap). Specialising in Scotland's own oddities, he's told the stories of Scotland's abysmal World Cup attempt in 1978, the story of the hunt for the Loch Ness Monster, the story of Gay Scotland, an entire f**cking documentary about cursing in Caledonia. He's worked for BBC, Channel 4, ITV and won 3 Scottish BAFTAS and 3 RTS Scotland awards en route.

Credits:

Director: Loch Ness They Created a Monster - feature doc for Screen Scotland /BBC

Director: The Limbs in the Loch - Catching a Killer - for BBC Scotland due to Tx November

Producer / Director : The Mystery of Anthrax Island - BBC Scotland

Producer / Director: Scotland '78 A Love Story - BBC

Producer / Director: Glasgow 1967 - The Lisbon Lions

Director: Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys Jones - ITV

Director: Dispatches ( 3 episodes ) - Channel 4

Director: Coming Oot - A Fabulous History of Gay Scotland

Host or Publisher GMAC Film