Samantha Rosie, Executive Producer at BBC Wales, speaks with Buzz about winning the Womenspire Creative Sector Award and her career at the BBC.
How did it feel to win the Woman in the Creative Sector award at Womenspire?
To win a Womenspire award was amazing as no matter how long you have been working at your career an award like this can give you the encouragement you need to keep improving. It is also an honour to be recognised and nominated by the women I work with. I want to help them become the most creative and confident that they can be and shine brightly within the Television Industry not just in Wales, but beyond.
Why are events like Womenspire important?
Events like Womenspire are important to all industries in Wales. It gives us an opportunity to shine the spotlight on women from types of backgrounds and to celebrate personal achievements and contributions in areas of work which can sometimes be perceived as male dominated.
What’s been your proudest moment over your career at the BBC?
I have just marked my 25th year at the BBC. I started out as a Runner and have made my way up through all the roles to Executive Producer. My proudest moment is to have been recognised by my industry colleagues by being awarded a Royal Television Society Award and a BAFTA Cymru Award for my observational documentary film making. But I am also proud to have given people breaks into the industry and open doors to film making, it’s wonderful to see those people are thriving creatively who I used to work with years ago.
How did you get started?
I used to work in publishing – Puffin Books, part of the Penguin Group. I decided to have a career change and went to Bournemouth University to study film and television production. After that I worked in the corporate and voluntary sector making short films. My break at the BBC came when the Garden Festival Event opened in Ebbw Vale. The BBC broadcast a daily lunchtime magazine television programme from the site called ‘Summer Scene’ presented by the late Caron Keating, that’s when I came to Wales and decided to make it my home.
What is your new role in BBC Studios and what does it entail?
My role as Executive Producer in the newly formed commercial arm of the BBC – BBC Studios is to develop and make content which will play in Wales and on the Network BBC as well as content for other Broadcasters such as ITV, Channel 4 and 5 and to worldwide markets. The division is called ‘Unscripted Productions’ and we have staff covering the bases of Cardiff, Bristol and Belfast making some of the most popular television shows on the BBC from Crimewatch, Bargain Hunt, The One Show films, Gardeners World, Countryfile, Antiques Roadshow, DIYSOS, as well as X-Ray and Weatherman Walking.
What’s the best way of raising knowledge of Wales on the world stage?
I think the best way of promoting Wales is through the talent that we have in the creative sector. The Drama model has worked so well in Wales – BBC Roath Lock Studios has help produce some of the most original dramas which have been sold world-wide helping put Wales on the map, and attract more producers to the region to make more programmes because of the strength of the Welsh crews. With the newly created BBC Studios and growth of the independent sector in factual programming basing themselves in Wales, we hopefully will grow Wales as a base to be playing content on the World stage.
Are there any issues affecting women in Wales today that you’d like to explore? If so, what are they?
We have come a long way. When I started 25 years ago very few women in the creative sector undertook a technical job in television. The changing technology of cameras has been transformational in allowing women to step into film making and be confident about creative decisions and direction. However I feel there is still a long way to go on addressing the issue of the pay gap between the genders and we still see some women having to compromise their careers once they decide to start a family.
If someone had never visited Wales before and you could only recommend one place, where would it be and why?
If someone has never been to Wales before and they could only visit one place I would have to say take a road trip up the Valleys of South Wales. There are some beautiful spots and views to be seen and great walks in stunning countryside. One of my favourites is up through Ferndale and then into Llanwynno Woods. An unexpected treat.
Info: www.cteg.org.uk