CME Content Academy student - Adam Závodský

Adam, now 26, left math and science behind and headed to Pisek and FAMO, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in multimedia studies.  He wrote scripts and screenplays; he produced plays. He even began teaching drama classes and writing plays for his students to perform. Here he had to get really creative because his students were mostly young women, ages 10-18.

             “It was pretty difficult because I had to always make a play for eight female characters,” Adam said.

             At one point, Adam entered a film-making contest related to climate change.  He had five hours to come up with a short-film idea for Filmem Pro Klima.  Adam quickly pitched an idea for a mockumentary that would poke fun of the politicians and the G7 regarding climate change. To his shock, he won. 

                       “I was so scared…I actually needed to make the movie!” he laughed.

             Filmem Pro Klima gave him 10,000 Czech crowns to make the film, so Adam frantically called his colleagues at film school for help.  He soon realized the idea would need to be completely re-worked.  He called up Filmem Pro Klima and confessed. 

             “They were fine with me changing it as long as I kept the same approach of a mockumentary,” Adam said. The contest organizers also had professionals in the industry who helped Adam flesh out the idea and solve any technical and logistical issues. His animated 10-minute short was well-received.

             “This was my first success that went beyond the borders of the school,” he said.

             Not long after, Adam saw an ad for CME Content Academy.  It felt like a great fit – a guaranteed job after the program and lecturers who are the best in their field.

             “This is almost revolutionary,” he said.

 CME Content Academy is a school designed to develop talented newcomers into the scriptwriters, showrunners and TV producers of tomorrow. CME, together with TV Nova and TV Markíza, created the CME Content Academy. The provider of theoretical education is the Television Institute, and the practical part subsequently takes place at TV Nova or TV Markíza, in order to not only train students in the television industry but also to provide them with the opportunity to work long-term for both broadcasters.

 Adam was especially impressed with the Television Institute’s CEO, Kamila Zlatušková, who is well-known in the industry and who founded The Serial Killer film festival.  Kamila Zlatušková, in return, sees great promise in Adam.

 “He’s a self-confident young man and he can hold his own in any situation,” she said. “He’s also got a quirky sense of humor and we look forward to the viewpoint he’ll bring to the academy.”

 For all his confidence, Adam was worried that he blew his chances during the second round of CME interviews.

 “They asked about reality TV. I gotta admit, I’m not a big fan,” he said. “There was an awkward moment where I couldn’t remember any shows and I could only come up with the stupidest, most embarrassing show.  Kamila’s eyes got big, and she gasped, ‘You watch THAT one?!’”

 Adam claims he only watches the show “as a study, of course.”

 Adam’s serious side comes out when asked what his vision is for television.

 “In my opinion, they’re missing struggle. A lot of younger people are suffering from depression. They don’t want to see perfect people living perfect lives,” he said. “A show where they’re having a struggle and then overcoming it” is what he would like to add to the mix.

 Following his time at the Content Academy, Adam said he’s looking forward to working a long time at TV Nova.  He wants to eventually become a showrunner and lead a team, to have his own show with his ideas and values.

 “I have ideas for full-length movies, too” he added. “Eventually, I’ll have my movie shot.”

 Mostly, Adam wants to focus on the younger audience, roughly 16 to 23 years old -- to create content that resonates with them and their lives.

 “Something more honest than what’s on TV,” he said. “The world is not perfect. We are not perfect. And that’s all right. We don’t have to be.”