Top Go Viral production tips from Jeremy Dunn

Corporate video and television commercial producer Jeremy Dunn has worked at toast for over eight years and is one of the company directors. Jeremy is scheduled to produce and judge the Go Viral script contest winner’s idea, and constructed much of the contest himself. His clients have included Innocent Drinks, Morgan Stanley and LadyLucks. Here he provides some top production tips for young creatives planning to submit their scripts. He writes:

In my view, this is a great opportunity for someone out there to really shine, and make a name for themselves.

Whether you have had an idea that's been bouncing around your head for years or have just had a eureka moment, the Go Viral competition could just be your fast track to the top. Worse case, you get a professional, director led piece of lovely work that will be yours forever to show off.

From a producers perspective I can't wait to see what scripts come in. 

In an ideal world I'd loved to be amazed, shocked, disturbed, in stitches... whatever it takes really. The key for me is that it has to fit the classic 30-second time frame, which actually is harder than it sounds.

30 seconds on the one hand is short and sweet, but with the right idea… its actually loads of time to 'stop' the world and make us all stand up and take notice. 

The 30 seconds should have a beginning, middle and end, and not necessarily in that order. 30 seconds gets you from the start, leaves you guessing or simply spins you round and spits you out. It’s up to you.

Whichever way you choose to go I promise the young winner will get the best we, as a production house can offer, from the directing brilliance of Stuart Fryer, to the latest HD cameras, to top notch finishing facilities.

I will pull out all the stops to ensure that the winning entry will have their 30 seconds of fame.

So, good luck and get scribbling!

Keep up to date with our video production tips, news and analysis by subscribing to our RSS feed in the top right hand corner, or join us on Twitter and Facebook. Watch out for some top Go Viral tips from our competition director Stuart Fryer later this week. Click here to apply.

Shoots and sequences snaps

Channel 4's World's Maddest Job Interview and Learner Adams Bones are two of our most recent clients at toast, among a few other corporate requests.


First up, Bob Hough, our head of graphics, put together the opening title sequence for the World's Maddest Job Interview, which was first aired on Channel 4 on Wednesday 25th July 2012. The programme has stirred a debate about how mental health issues are touched on by the media. But, having watched it ourselves we think that the topics were covered sensitively and did well to break up conventional stereotypes of how mental health affects performance in the work place.

Bob Hough provided the graphics for the opening title sequence of C4's World's Maddest Job Interview.

Then, today (Monday 30th July 2012) we went on a green screen shoot at 01ZERO-ONE for Learner Adams Bones, which went much faster than predicted!

John adjusts some lighting for the Learner Adams Bones shoot.

Otherwise, our Go Viral competition was featured on the BBC Writer's Room last week, alongside Televisual's website! Please do keep spreading the word - we'd love to get as many young creatives involved as possible. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us or post a comment.

Watch out here for further hints and tips.

Email Vicky on vicky@toasttv.co.uk or call 0207 437 0506 for interview requests, quotes and further competition enquiries.

Sign up to our newsletter, or follow our Facebook page and Twitter for competition updates.

toast announces Go Viral script writing competition

toast are excited to announce the unveiling of their Go Viral 30 second script writing competition in association with IdeasTap.

Writers aged between 16 and 30 can send in their script via the IdeasTap application form to be judged by top industry professionals.

Among the judges are notorious viral director Stuart Fryer and Gravity London’s creative director Steve Long.

The winner will have their viral brought to life by toast, with Stuart Fryer and toast’s own producer Jeremy Dunn.

The chosen script will be filmed within the UK using the latest HD cameras, professional cast, crew and editing facilities.

Jeremy said: "The Go Viral script writing competition is all about bringing a young person's script to life, no strings attached.

“As an independent production company toast is all about producing beautiful commercials and corporate films, but we also believe that it's important to help and invest in the next generation of young ideas makers too.

“If we can have some fun along the way making it too, then bonus."

To enter for a chance to win this unique opportunity and for full terms and conditions visit the application form on IdeasTap.

Plus, keep an eye on the toast blog for top script writing tips over the coming weeks.

Email Vicky on vicky@toasttv.co.uk or call 0207 437 0506 for interview requests, quotes and further competition enquiries.

Sign up to our newsletter, or follow our Facebook page and Twitter for competition updates.