We are excited to announce a paid opportunity for a Directors UK member to gain invaluable production experience by joining director member Jamie Donoughue during prep and during the shooting of a major new high-end drama, A Town Called Malice.
Sky Studios, Rogue State and Vertigo Films are in production on this major new TV series for Sky Max. A Town Called Malice is a bold and sophisticated crime drama set in South London and the Costa Del Sol in the 1980s. It will be shot in London and Tenerife this Winter / Spring.
This opportunity would most benefit a director who is ready to move into directing high-end drama and is looking to develop knowledge and confidence of leading complex television productions. The ideal candidate might have directed episodes of a continuing drama OR already be directing in documentary OR directing episodes of a returning series, OR have directed several short films or a low budget feature.
This particular opportunity is open to women; directors of colour; or a director with a disability.
This opportunity is permitted as Positive Action within the 2010 Equalities Act and acknowledges the under-representation of women, directors of colour and directors with disabilities currently working in the TV industry (Source – Who’s Calling the Shots? -Gender inequality among screen directors working in UK television August 2018 and Adjusting the Colour Balance, Directors UK, September 2018).
This is also open to a director from a disadvantaged socio-economic background - please provide evidence by addressing the questions at the bottom of the page and providing them with your application.
The deadline for applications is 12pm on Monday 22 November, with Zoom interviews for shortlisted candidates planned for later that week.
Please send your CV, showreel and a covering statement supporting your application to [email protected] using the criteria stated above. We would be keen to know why you think this opportunity is right for you at this point in your career.
About the opportunity
The ambition is to engage the successful director as early as possible, joining during prep stages. Jamie intends to offer access to the whole organisational and creative process. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop their own mood boards, script notes and more, in parallel with Jamie, then be able to review, discuss and receive feedback throughout.
The intention is for the director to join in person in prep and on the UK shoot, then transfer with block 1 to Tenerife in early 2022. This is subject to COVID restrictions and the evolving situation meaning no elements are guaranteed. Applicants do not have to be double vaccinated or disclose vaccination status, but if the successful applicant is not double vaccinated it may also mean the foreign element of the shoot cannot be guaranteed. If all goes well on the placement the intention will be for the director to potentially gain experience overseeing shooting splinter unit, additional marketing content and possibly 2nd Unit days. This element is an ambition, but cannot be guaranteed.
This is a paid opportunity, with details to be finalised, plus travel and accommodation costs for travel outside the UK.
Prep will begin in early December with the UK Block 1 shoot currently planned to begin in January 2022. The Block 1 Spain shoot will commence in mid-February for 5 weeks. Please ensure you can commit to this schedule at the point of application.
Socio-economic background
If you are a director from a disadvantaged background, please provide your answers to the questions below in your application.
What type of school did you mainly attend between the ages of 11 and 16?
- Attended school outside the UK
- Independent or fee-paying school - bursary
- Independent or fee-paying school - no bursary
- State-run or state-funded school - non-selective
- State-run or state-funded school - selective on academic, faith or other grounds
- Don’t know
- Prefer not to say
- If other, please specify here in your application
Please think about the parent or other caregiver who was the highest income earner in your house when you were around 14 years old. What kind of work did they do? If this question does not apply to you (because for example, you were in care at this time), you can indicate this in your application.
- Clerical and intermediate occupations e.g. secretary, personal assistant, nursery nurse, office clerk, call centre agent
- Middle or junior managers e.g. office manager, warehouse manager, restaurant manager
- Modern professional occupations e.g. teacher, nurse, social worker, artist, musician, software designer
- Routine manual and service occupations e.g. van driver, cleaner, porter, waiter/waitress, bar staff
- Semi-routine manual and service occupations e.g. postal worker, security guard, machine worker, receptionist, sales assistant
- Senior managers and administrators e.g. finance manager, chief executive
- Technical and craft occupations e.g. fitter, plumber, printer, electrician
- Traditional professional occupations e.g. accountant, solicitor, scientist, medical practitioner
- Long-term unemployment e.g. claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year
- This question does not apply to me
- Prefer not to say
These questions were devised in consultation with the Bridge Group and taken from its guidance in the 2018 Ofcom report Diversity and Equal Opportunities in Television to begin to monitor opportunities for people from different socio-economic backgrounds.
