Writers are human too ...

Vinay Patel provided hope to any would-be writer that success is attainable with the right amount of determination and flexibility. He provided an insight into the world of the playwright, explaining the differences between the stage and the screen.

His discussion with DMU's Kathleen Bell served as a reminder that writing scripts, for either medium, is a process which extends far beyond putting words on the page, with involvement in casting and deliverance also coming into play. To hear that the writer for TV is often the most overlooked member of a production team was truly fascinating. 

Furthermore, Vinay proved to be incredibly personable, with a love of cats, proving that writers, for all their talents, are human like the rest of us - and that's a thought which makes the gulf between dreaming of a script and having it produced seem much less daunting.  

L Robertson

Anne Davies: "Perseverance is the key"

If I were to sum up Anne Davies in three words they would have to be inspiration, aspiration and motivation. Oh and determination. She's very determined!

Anne Davies’ talk to a large audience at De Montfort University's Cultural Exchanges Festival produced laughs, groans and many a nod of recognition as we were treated to a nostalgic, but by no means rose-tinted, journey through her career so far.  

Anne's early days were spent making tea and opening post at London’s Lime Grove studios where a well-known TV presenter regularly climbed over her desk to get out of the window - because that was the quickest way to the wine bar.  

From there her career has taken her through local radio in Leicester and Derby and the very first airing of GMTV, to the present and BBC East Midlands Today, Anne’s journey has exemplified the mind-set that no opportunity should be ignored, and that if you really want something, you should go out and get it.

With refreshing honesty, Anne Davies recounted the highs and the lows of an extremely varied and successful career. She returned again and again to the excellent advice that if you don’t try, you’ll never know. 'Grab every opportunity' but, quoting Jimmy Durante, Anne asserted ‘Be nice to people on your way up because you meet them on your way down’. 

Another excellent piece of advice was to remember that it takes ‘7 seconds to make 11 assumptions’ when meeting someone, so not only should we be ready to make a positive first impression when we know we need to, but we should always make that first impression a good one, because we never know when it might matter.

Anne’s talk concluded with an insight into her latest project ‘Fashanne’, Awards recognising excellence in the East Midlands' Fashion students. Determined to showcase the very best of regional achievement, and to ensure that the ceremonies are truly inclusive, this year’s show in June 2018, will feature both able-bodied and disabled models.This is the third year of the Awards, and while they have been a challenge to stage, the forward-thinking and influential Anne Davies continues to inspire with the final piece of advice, ‘Nothing worthwhile doing is easy but if you believe enough, you can persuade other people too’.

You can find more details about the Fashanne Awards 2018 and book your tickets here.

Helen Abbot

Anne Davies - headstrong and heartfelt

If you were looking for a confident, determined and approachable female role-model in the world of journalism, stop now! Anne Davies has it covered.

The award-winning journalist radiated a gallon-load of enthusiasm as she took us through a forest of anecdotes to outline her colourful career. From 'crying by the photocopier' as a secretary at London's Lime Grove Studios, to co-host of the first airing of GMTV, and her current position as co-presenter of BBC's East Midlands Today, Davies detailed how she fashioned her flourishing career path. 

  It was Davies' headstrong attitudes that kept her in control: asking questions and making active decisions whilst always remaining courteous and positive. 

She is an advocate for a motivated, amiable and inclusive mindset. Her FASHANNE awards project encapsulates this, as the first East Midlands Fashion Awards showcasing student designers of tomorrow, where this year's campaign for the 'Not 100% Perfect Body' will feature both abled and disabled models.

It was inspiring to hear from an industry professional who is still working hard to achieve and advance in her career, with unwavering passion and warmth. 

Davies concluded by assuring her audience that even if you're not working on your 'dream job', that can be exactly what you need to kick start your journey, to take control and shape it for yourself. 

For more details about Anne, you can check out her website or follow her on twitter @AnneDaviesTV.

Hollie Godwin

Lisa Holdsworth's advice: "don't be a d*ck"

More inspiration for the aspiring TV writer came in Lisa Holdsworth’s account of her career, peppered - of course - with hilarious anecdotes about how she got where she is today. And it was just as entertaining as you would expect from someone writing for television. After all, this woman is a storyteller, not afraid to turn meta in the way that she structured her own life story, and the wisdom she imparted was filled with gems.

Top line of advice for those wanting to break into the elusive business? Well,  “don’t be a d*ck,” according to Holdsworth. It’s certain she takes her own advice. Hearing how one tawdry script which took her years to perfect led to lucrative work on soap operas and highfalutin BBC dramas was enough to spark something within even the most sceptical dreamer amid the crowd, which included a broad spectrum of aspirers.

More advice? Plentiful. Slacking off is actually work, I learned, for you’re merely allowing the backdoor, creative-processor of your brain to churn out the real gold in its own time. And of course beware public meddling, for “there’s always a story behind a bad show”.

It’s sad that this business is so destined around who you know as opposed to what you know, and true characters such as Holdsworth definitely seem worth knowing in such a brutal, cutthroat, amazing industry. I can’t wait.

J. D. Gardner