Little Dot Studios’ branded content production agency, WING, has teamed up with TED to launch The TED Idea Search, a new global YouTube-first competition series designed to uncover fresh ideas from everyday voices around the world.
The project invites emerging thinkers to step forward with a six-minute talk that has the power to “inspire, motivate and change lives,” with one speaker from each of nine cities earning the opportunity to speak on the iconic TED mainstage in Vancouver this April.
A WING London production for TED, the series was filmed across nine TEDx events worldwide and received more than 5,000 applications from aspiring speakers. A group was chosen to recieve expert coaching from a panel of TED specialists before delivering their talks live on stage. The judging panel included the TED curation team, Kelly Stoetzel and Kelli Hsu, and the local TEDx organisers in each city.
Launching this week on YouTube with weekly episodes, The TED Idea Search is narrated by musician and comedian Reggie Watts and shows a behind-the-scenes look at the personal journeys behind each idea, “exploring the inspiration, challenges and preparation that lead to the defining six-minute moment.”
Kelly Stoetzel, Project Lead and Curator, TED: said: “TED has spent four decades curating ideas worth spreading, and The TED Idea Search represents an exciting evolution of that work. This series allows us to meet emerging thinkers where they are, showcase the depth of our curation process, and invite a global audience into the experience. It’s also a powerful reflection of the incredible worldwide TEDx community, whose organizers and local teams made this search possible by championing new voices in their cities. It’s about transparency, mentorship and discovery — and about expanding who gets to stand on the TED stage.”
Will Ingham, Group Chief Creative Officer at Little Dot Studios, added: “TED has always championed powerful ideas, but this series brings audiences closer to the people behind them. The TED Idea Search is about platforming voices we might not otherwise hear and capturing the courage it takes to step onto that red dot. It’s character-led storytelling designed for a global YouTube audience, with the potential to evolve into a significant returning format.”
The series is directed by Jacob Mackay and produced by Jake Kelsall.
WING was founded by Will and Tess Ingham and was acquired by social media agency, multi-platform production company and digital media network, Little Dot Studios (an All3Media company), in 2020.
Jon Creamer
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