The former CEO and Head of TV at Vision+Media, Paul Taylor and Maureen Walker, have launched a new consultancy providing specialist commercial and legal expertise to the TV and media industry launches at MediaCityUK.
Big Deal Creative offers expert support to businesses and talent covering commercial strategy, deal making and business affairs, including helping talent in setting up new businesses, advising indies on commercial strategy, managing major deals, as well as providing a one-stop-shop for production business affairs.
The new venture, headed by Paul Taylor and Maureen Walker, plans to capitalize on the anticipated growth in media production in the region over the coming years, stimulated by investment in MediaCityUK and the relocation of BBC North. Cory Bryant joins them as Office and Contracts Manager.
Paul Taylor, ex CEO of creative industries regional support agency Vision+Media and former Commercial Director at Granada, is a qualified lawyer with over 20 years experience within the television and media industry. He has been advising high profile independent TV producers and talent for a number of years on commercial strategy, deal negotiations and business affairs and has worked with companies such as super indie, All3Media and Graham Norton’s So Television, as well as comedian Peter Kay.
Maureen Walker, who previously worked with Taylor at Granada, has operated in the production business affairs arena for more than 25 years, through her roles within ITV and more recently The Walker Partnership. She currently provides a number of clients with specialist support across talent contracts, production agreements and associated industrial relations. She has worked with indies including Kindle Entertainment, Mammoth Screen, Isis Media and B4Films, is a member of the RTS North Committee and sits on the Board of The Television Workshop.
"For many independent media businesses the creative talent leads and commercial, legal and financial expertise plays second fiddle", says Taylor.
"Also, many smaller indies simply can't afford to employ full-time commercial or business affairs support. In a fast changing market, where business models are constantly evolving, issues around rights protection and exploitation are becoming increasingly important, and more and more businesses are entering into partnerships and joint ventures, this sort of expertise is critical."
"I've worked with Maureen on and off for nearly 20 years and our skills are very complementary. We both have a number of existing clients, who will also benefit from us coming together, and we are confident that there is a growing demand from other businesses. Some indies value having part-time director level support, providing input on growth strategy or specific deals, whereas others are more interested in finding a high quality and cost effective way of out-sourcing production business affairs. We can offer all of this. We have also brought together a wider team of freelance associates, who will be able to provide particular specialisms, such as music, feature film or other areas as and when required by clients”.
Walker adds: “It’s great to be working with Paul again in this exciting new venture, and I believe the range of industry specific experience we offer is unique. We have both independently worked with some big names and great talent and we are very positive about the demand out there - MediaCityUK can only increase the opportunity. We know the industry well and understand the need to strike the winning balance of creativity and commerce. Enabling producers and other talent to be successfully creative is what its about - demystifying industry agreements and handling talent and rights issues in a pragmatic, commercial way.”
Big Deal Creative launched at the beginning of December and is based at The Greenhouse, MediaCityUK.
www.bigdealcreative.co.uk