When it comes to TV, there’s a lotta crap out there… So it’s a rare treat when something comes along that’s good and worth watching and that actually knocks your socks off. Thinking about the past decade or so of quality Aussie TV shows (you know the ones I mean: Offspring, Tangle, Puberty Blues, Paper Giants), there’s one name that’s a staple in the credits: I’m talking the genius production* skills of one uber-talented Imogen Banks.

(Me with Ms Imogen Banks at the Offspring Season Five After-party. Sisters, or what??)

And whaddya know? She just happens to be the subject of today’s Inspiration Bomb Master Class. One of Australia’s most celebrated, accomplished and adored television producers and all round brilliant women. The sort of lady you’d want to sit down with for a cuppa and a chinwag. So that’s exactly what we’re doing today.

Imogen is name-dropped as a mentor by many of Australia’s most elite actors, and her working partnership with John Edwards is the stuff legends are made of. The most delightful part of this all is that for a long long time, she didn’t have any idea what she actually wanted to do with her life. She just followed her nose, and went with what made sense to her.

Today’s – might I say – brilliant Master Class from Imo covers:

• how to produce incredible stories
• how to pitch an idea that takes
• the advantages of putting together an excellent team, and how that works for her
• what TV networks are actually looking for
• what you need (and what you have to give up) in order to do this job well
• how she got to do EVERYTHING she wanted in life, without a single dash of goal setting
• how to manage the personal trials and tribulations of being this good at your job
• AND… the most important life and work advice she’s ever been given, as a producer and a human being

The accompanying short film has been made by yours truly. I call it “An Homage to Fitzroy, in Red and Orange”, in honour of both the suburb in which Offspring is set, and the colour of Imogen’s incredible mane (which, unlike my own, is UTTERLY natural). Please be warned, this flick is not so much “high-brow” as “Clare-the-amateur-learning-to-use-her-handy-cam-because-the-artist-called-in-sick-brow”. I’m an amateur, but Imo’s a pro, and her words make up for any lack on my behalf! I hope you like it.

Now. Could you let us know which of Imogen’s quotes, musings, outlooks, pearls of wisdom struck the biggest chord with you? Pop your thoughts in the comments.

AND! Did it arrive just when you needed it most? Let us know your thoughts!

AND! Did you notice our site has changed? From here on in, it’s www.bigheartedbusiness.com all the way!

Looking forward to hearing from you on the talented and lovely Imogen Banks (or anything else that might be on your mind)!

CB and the BHB crew xoxo

*Please note correction: Imo was previously credited as a writer and the producer of show Love My Way, both of which were incorrect (Love My Way was in-fact produced by her compadre John Edwards before they were working together. Apologies for this!).

Today’s Credits:

Inspiration Bomb with T.V. Producer Imogen Banks.
Interview and Production by Clare Bowditch
Audio editing by Anthony Ackerman
Chalk Lettering by Carla Hackett