John Altman
NEM Zagreb officially concluded its 2024 edition with a day dedicated to sharing knowledge through a Creative Europe MEDIA Desk Croatia workshop and two premium MasterClasses conducted by industry powerhouses who have made a significant impact on the field.
John Altman, Film Composer, Music Arranger, Orchestrator, Conductor and Saxophonist shared his musical experience in the TV industry and “the art of collaboration” with producers, directors, editors, clients and musicians. “I never made a demo for 'James Bond', 'Titanic', or 'Monty Python'. I never did one for Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, or any of the other artists I wrote for—George Michael included. I just went straight in and did it. It's interesting because that trust was there back then. I think it's eroded a bit these days. It's so easy to make demos, use focus groups, and bring in multiple voices. Many composers, I think, are very confused because they're being pulled in so many directions”, shared Altman. “When you play music with people, you adapt to what they do while also contributing your own input. This concept carries through an entire music career. For instance, if you're writing for an artist, you consider their style and sound. I would never play saxophone with Prince the same way I played with Van Morrison. It's about understanding the nature of collaboration”, explained Altman.
Larry Bass, Founder & CEO, ShinAwiL, shared tips on how to survive the upcoming 2025 and explained building sustainable businesses in a rapidly changing environment: “We don't stay in Ireland waiting for opportunities. Instead, we take our game to the international market, forming partnerships with streamers, co-production partners, distributors, and writers. Content is global, so you’ve got to think globally to compete. So, what are you doing about these new buyers, changing trends, and evolving demands? With commissioners, how do you plan to secure commissions from cash-strapped broadcasters and streamers? Sometimes, just asking yourself these questions can help you find the answers”.
EUROPEAN SHOWRUNNER PROGRAMME
One of NEM Zagreb’s biggest supporters is Creative Europe MEDIA Desk Croatia whose representatives, Martina Petrović, Head of Creative Europe MEDIA Desk and Carolin Große Hellmann, Head of Serial Storytelling / European Showrunner Programme at ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln, presented the European Showrunner Programme.
During a workshop that followed, a European Showrunner Think Tank explored the unique opportunities and challenges of the show running role and specially focused on the distinctions of the role between Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Western European countries. The moderator was a double NEM Awards winner (2019, 2023).