Music Matters on all Levels

In Conversation with Thea Cole, Digital Content Director and Executive Producer, founder of World Song a global platform for song writers and co-founder of StartPoint, a digital content and TV production agency.

In this interview Thea tells us how hard work, holding on to a long-term vision and serendipity have collided again and again throughout her career to propel her to where she is today - entrepreneur, business owner, musician, wife and mother of 3 boys. Thea’s sweet spot is where TV and music meet.

1. To kick things off could you tell us a little about your career background and how you got to where you find yourself now?

?In those days you had to be a secretary to get in to the BBC as a woman, can you believe?

It’s really interesting to look back on how I ended up in the media industry as I graduated in Music from Cardiff University – but even then, I had a sense of the power of TV and its potential to change people’s worldview. After Uni, my father who worked for BBC Plymouth introduced me to some young ‘station assistants’ which looked like a really fun role.?In those days you had to be a secretary to get in to the BBC as a woman, can you believe??So, I trained as a secretary and got my first job in BBC export sales. I wanted to work on Panorama, as I thought that would be a good way to effect change, but quickly realised I should have trained as a journalist.?Having vowed never to take another exam as long as I lived that wasn’t an option!

My music degree led me to a job in BBC Music and Arts and then I banged on lots of doors to get people to let me watch programmes being recorded, produced and edited and to work as a runner in my spare time.?I was lucky to get an assistant role at BBC South station where the accomplished BBC presenter and producer, Andy Batten-Foster (Saturday Live, Antiques Road, 999, Top Gear) took a punt on me. I’m indebted to Andy as he spotted potential in me and as a result, I got involved in all aspects of TV production from vision mixing to floor managing the studio and OBs and, importantly directing – I got the bug! ??

When BBC Creative was sold to become Red Bee Media, I was gutted. I was a ‘BBC child’ - my parents met at the BBC!

After a stint at the weekly Arts Bulletin and BBC Events, I then moved to BBC Creative where I headed up news promos and was seconded to the longest OB ever – the BBC’s International Millennium coverage.?When BBC Worldwide (now BBC Studios) approached us for commercial work, I was asked to take this on and this is what led me into digital and branded content.

I became ‘digital’… it wasn’t quite what I planned, but it is absolutely the best thing that happened to me.

When BBC Creative was sold to become Red Bee Media, I was gutted. I was a ‘BBC child’ - my parents met at the BBC!?But we had no choice but to pivot and become commercial. At the BBC, I had not had to worry about the bottom line, but nevertheless I had produced and directed countless BBC programmes and commercial content for BBC Worldwide, so I had experience of responding to briefs, costing up projects and producing narratives.?And so I was the natural choice to lead the team producing all the branded content, sponsorship, web development and long form shows for commercial clients.?And the rest is history as they say – I became ‘digital’… it wasn’t quite what I planned, but it is absolutely the best thing that happened to me. I went on to revamp the whole of BAFTA’s digital comms, work at MediaCom as Director of Content and head up the original micro-influencer agency, Latimer.?All of this has led me to the exciting new venture that is Startpoint.

2. What does 'a day in the life' look like for you? What still motivates you after such a long and varied career?

I love the variety - anything from a multi camera shoot, to writing my own creative, to producing websites, social campaigns and everything in between

Because of my background as a musician, the sweet spot is where Music and TV meet and I’m motivated by the kind of work I’m lucky enough still be doing. Every day brings new challenges. This morning for example I’m editing a series for the Purcell School of Music where I was invited to film their 60th anniversary composition - a new work that was written by 60 alumni. Later today, I’ll be writing proposals – for brands and for a new TV show on popular music.?

I love the variety - anything from a multi camera shoot, to writing my own creative, to producing websites, social campaigns and everything in between.

StartPoint's point of difference is that for every brief we get, we look for the transformative spark?that can actually bring good to the world

Earlier this year, I realised a long held dream and launched my own full service agency Start Point TV which brings together all of the skills I’ve developed over a lifetime in media and TV production.?It boasts a collective of really stellar industry professionals – some of my favourite collaborators - ?to help me deliver my vision of creating change through media. StartPoint's point of difference is that for every brief we get, we look for the transformative spark?that can actually bring good to the world, whether that be helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses, supporting charities to do more, or simply promoting cultural exchange and cohesion through the sharing of music, art and drama.

3. How do you manage your work-life balance between running your own businesses, the demands of filming, travelling and being a mother?

It is hard to clock off when you love what you do and the work never ends. I often work weekends and evenings, but I’m my own boss and enjoy the autonomy this brings. If I need to take some time out during the week, because obviously that's conducive with family life, I can. I have three grown up sons so they are much less demanding these days!?I always say ‘I love a useful child’ and I have two who shoot and edit really well and my youngest is a super talented jazz drummer and composer who has recently launched his own band – chips off the old block!

4. What are some of the most challenging/most prestigious projects you have worked on?

...while on holiday, I met an Italian conductor in the Tuscan city of Lucca, Puccini’s birth place which sparked and idea which I then pitched to Sky Arts who commissioned it!

I think the Millennium event was defining for me, I was a young producer, and I was given the task of managing the 60 participating broadcasters creating content for all the breaks in between the live coverage, - four hours of curated content, as well as our own.?Standing in front of 60 seasoned international broadcasters and briefing them on what I needed them to do was a huge challenge! ?On the night, I had my own team turning around highlights for the BBC. It was the most incredible project where there was absolutely no room for error!

The Magic of Puccini with Andrea Colombini

A couple of years before the pandemic, while on holiday, I met an Italian conductor in the Tuscan city of Lucca, Puccini’s birth place which sparked and idea which I then pitched to Sky Arts who commissioned it!

As a result, I had the absolute privilege of spending time in Lucca and filming the whole community come together to stage La Bohème in the Teatro where Puccini himself would have first seen it.

And then there’s the project with The Purcell School of Music. The hope here is that one of the world’s top orchestras will pick up the new work and perform it on a world stage. Ambitious but quite possible!

And I've just launched?World Song - a new global platform for singer/songwriters.?The platform gives musicians the chance to have their work published and to win the opportunity to record their own album with top professionals.?The project includes a global digital festival – WorldSong’s broader aim is to drive cultural understanding through the power of music.??

5. What are your own musical influences?

My mother used to listen to Schoenberg all the time because she was doing a music degree when I was 10, and so I really like what many would say is pretty hard to listen to opera and classical music – the Purcell’s new work is pretty atonal!?As an oboist, I love baroque music but I also had my own pop bands in the 90s so I’ll happily go to a gig… I’m lucky because my youngest son, Fred ?introduces me to all sorts of new music.?Last week, he took me along to see Lewis Cole at Troxy's ?- it was awesome! I take every opportunity to hear as much live music as possible and I think it’s important to stay on trend and know what’s new.?I’m the roadie for Fred’s quintet – The Chiriari whose summer season continues at Writtle Jazz on 6th August.

?6. What is your advice to anyone starting out today, what key qualities are required/what advice would you give your 20 year old self?

When you are a performer, a film maker or any kind of creative, you're putting a little piece of you out there to be judged by the world.

When you are a performer, a film maker or any kind of creative, you're putting a little piece of you out there to be judged by the world. My advice would be there is ‘no judgement’ - remain confident in your ability, take on feedback, consider it and cultivate resilience so you can pick yourself up, try again, develop your ideas and move on.

One of the most important lessons I learnt early on is that life is a journey, learn from your mistakes, stay strong and most of all don't be beholden to what people think of your work. Ultimately with perseverance and resilience, you will shine!

Click here to read other interviews in the same series

?

?