An NFTS TV entertainment documentary commissioned by Channel 5 is to be broadcast on this Sunday July 21 at 12.15am after the 10pm movie.
Channel 5 asked the NFTS TV Department students to pitch ideas last year and finally chose ‘Sexters’ – which takes a light-hearted look at the modern phenomenon of of people sending sexually explicit messages and photos via mobile phone.
It features a gay party-goer who uses mobile apps to sext strangers; a young open-minded woman; a middle-aged married couple who sext to spice up their relationship; a man who sexts before first dates and many others. It is the first time that Channel 5 has commissioned a student TV department to make a programme for transmission and it forms part of the broadcasters' drive to develop talent in the UK.
The idea was developed by recent graduate Cynthia Colucci (Producing and Directing TV Entertainment MA 2011), who also directed it; she co-produced the documentary along with Justine Ost (Producing and Directing TV Entertainment MA 2011), plus a crew of graduates and current students using the school's production facilities.
Producer Director Cynthia Colucci said: "It’s a light-hearted programme talking about sexting, which does relate to sex, spicy messages and nude pictures sometimes - but it’s not only about that. It’s also about flirting, love, and emotional insecurities. It’s entertainment and I hope viewers find it entertaining. "It’s a controversial topic but there is a huge world of people out there that sext. Finding them was not an issue. The tricky bit was to get hold of those who wouldn’t mind showing their faces, pictures, messages and sharing their stories.”
Producer Justine Ost, said: "Making a documentary that delves into people’s personal sex lives has been quite an experience. It’s been great meeting all of the contributors and hearing about the positive, funny sides of the sexting phenomenon. I think it hasn’t been talked about as openly as this before so I’m glad to have contributed to bring something new to TV audiences.”
Head of Television David G.Croft said: “This is a unique partnership – a Film & TV School making an entertainment programme for a broadcaster and operating under the same kinds of pressures as the professional world of TV production.”
Justine is now working as Assistant Producer on a BBC 2 new property show pilot. Cynthia is working on Coca-Cola commercials this summer and shooting some pitch reels for future TV pitchings.
Warner Bros. Television in the UK are also to invest in an NFTS graduation project that is currently in development. Shooting starts in September on the project whose working title is ‘LIONS SHARE’, which is a new formatted hidden camera show.
To apply for the 2014 NFTS Producing and Directing TV Entertainment MA course contact the NFTS registry by email info@nfts.co.uk
Scholarships and Bursaries are available including one from Zodiak Media Group specifically for students on the TV Entertainment course.
