What they say about Labs
Attending Crossover Australia completely opened my eyes to the future of documentary work I’m grateful, excited and inspired by the opportunities that I now see ahead of us having done Crossover. The lab is particularly valuable given the crisis we are in with regards to the funding levels of documentaries in television.’ Roger Graef, Chief Executive, Films of Record
“Crossover U.K changed my life: it was the most stimulating brilliantly workshop I have attended. Part personal development, part creative brainstorming, it has the capacity to change entire businesses as well as creatives such as myself. I would describe it as inspiration, enjoyable, creatively empowering, life-changing” Roy Ackerman, Creative Director, Diverse.
“I have in turns been educated, stimulated and extremely excited …..it was a fantastic week and I can’t wait to act on what I have learnt.” Felix Barrett, Artistic Director, Punchdrunk Theatre.
”Crossover Labs are a fantastic format for getting different creative minds to think, explore and collaborate on new ideas. The world of cross-platform content and distribution demands a range of skills from technical, creative, artistic and business contexts. Many of the barriers to collaboration are down to not understanding the vocabularies and practises of these different sectors – Crossover is a perfect environment for talent to get together and really understand how creativity works in each others’ fields. I’ve found the Lab format the most effective and productive way of identifying and developing new ideas from cross-platform teams, and its a format we will be using more at Channel 4 as part of our cross-platform strategy.” Matt Locke, Commissioning Editor, Channel 4.
Absolutely fantastic! Mind-expanding, challenging, difficult, made me start to think in totally different ways about communicating with audiences. Grant Keir, Vitanova Films
I see it as one of the most important process I have gone through in a long time (both on a professional level and on a personal level). It made me realise how important it is to communicate and work with people from other fields. Heather Leach, Producer/Director.
I loved the course. I loved the fact that I got to work with so many people. I loved the creativity, honesty and enthusiasm they all brought. I think you (Frank) do a really good job in fostering this feeling that the lab is a safe space where people can be very open minded / brave and bold. It really works. Carolyn Anne Payne, Freelance Series Producer.
“without doubt, the most useful media course I have attended in a 20-year career in broadcast television.” Sonya Pemberton, former Head of Specialist Factual, ABC.
“By far the most genuinely productive course I’ve been on at the BBC.”
Stephen McCrum, Producer Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Grownups
“I consider it an honour to have participated. For me Crossover can make a wide, significant and lasting impact on both the broadcasting and new media sectors.” Matt Adams, Blast Theory
“one of the most enjoyable creative and learning experiences I’ve ever had”. Michael Cordell
“very inspiring, I left buzzing with ideas. It was also great to share the experience with highly experienced filmmakers/commissioners/ and new media people. A very creative experience.” Georgie Weedon, Al Jazeera.
“The best emergent media trainer in the world” Gary Hayes, Director LAMP@AFTRS & Head Virtual Worlds TPF
“a great, cost effective, way to reach out and innovate” James Boardwell, Rattle Research
“This is an extremely effective method for rapidly improving and evolving an idea from something really quite fuzzy and ill-defined…into a viable and much more concretely thought-out product” (Rik Abel, Headshift)
“I was completely pushed outside my comfort zone as I was exposed to new information and new ways of thinking. These new skills were put to great practical advantage as the week unfolded. It was an amazing journey.” Kathryn Penny, Mezzo Films.
“the course was exciting, informative, fun and encouraged us to think in innovative ways….it was inspirational to see strong ideas develop out of nothing much in a matter of hours.” Ariane Sherine, writer.
“It was a pleasure to work within such a positive environment and the fact that so many great ideas were established by all companies is testament to this.” Technophobia
“It is amazing to see how much our original idea evolved during the week”" Ymogen
“…the labs were incredibly stimulating and inspiring – I have learned huge amounts” Rechord
“It far exceeded my expectations brought me a new way of thinking about cross platform projects, a new way of working, and a new way of developing brilliant ideas.” Michelle Feuerlicht, Lion TV.
“It is amazing what only three days intensive development can do to an idea we only instinctively believed had potential.” Blinkmedia
“We loved the event, found the process informative and very well run, the mentors were fabulous (helpful and ruthless in equal measure), and the hothousing of the ideas about the most useful way we’ve ever developed an area or idea.” Stardotstar
“a very valuable experience even though our idea was not taken forward…a great learning experience. Ben Aldred
“what we gained out of the week is far more valuable than the actual contract.” Alistair Davidson, Headshift.
“…it’s such a blast to see germs of ideas develop in a week into clearly viable propositions”. Gill Wildman, Plot.
“I’ve always loved the Labs format. Tying it so closely to one commissioner’s needs in such a short timeframe was a gamble, but it paid off in spades.” Matt Locke, Head of Innovation, BBC New Media.
