All3Media and Company Pictures, in partnership with Directors UK, is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a woman director of colour.
Addressing the stark under representation of women directors of colour in scripted television, the opportunity will be on Block 5 of Series 22 of one of ITV’s most popular drama series, Midsomer Murders. The successful recipient will work alongside one of the show’s most experienced directors – Toby Frow.
The placement director will join in pre-production and over the course of 15 weeks will become embedded in the production team. They will observe and contribute to the direction of the whole production process, developing their own script notes and shot lists, receiving feedback from Toby at each stage. The director will receive payment for their contribution and participation in the programme.
Upon completion of the scheme, the successful applicant will be given an opportunity to apply for, and to be considered for, available new roles to direct future episodes of Midsomer Murders in their own right, and other primetime drama series.*
What are we looking for?
Midsomer Murders is an internationally popular brand, and we are looking for someone who can contribute to the visual style, story structure and unique creative elements that make Midsomer Murders stand out from other dramas.
The successful recipient will need to have previous directing credits of scripted TV drama, most likely on a continuing drama series or a series of short films.
Each episode of Midsomer Murders is a 90-minute murder-mystery with a complex, demanding and multi-layered plot, a regular cast of six characters (including a child actor and Paddy, the dog!) and a guest cast of around twelve characters, most of whom have profile in the industry, within each episode.
Specifically, applicants must evidence their story-telling skills through the performance of actors, understanding of the script, choice of camera angles, and the ability to effectively collaborate with every team member involved in the process. Please reference these criteria in your application statement.
Applicants must be a Full or Associate members of Directors UK.
Location
The production of Midsomer Murders is based at Pinewood Studios and is filmed entirely on location along the M4/M40 corridor, mainly Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, usually up to around 30 miles from base. With late shoots, often in rural settings, personal transport is advised. In addition, whilst we navigate COVID-19 it is written into our production protocols that individual private transport must be used for all cast and crew. For short listed candidates, we will discuss at interview stage, how best to support if they do not have access to transport.
Under current COVID restrictions, guidelines and protocols, much of the prep and post-production including casting is being carried out remotely/at home, apart from location scouting which, together with the shoot itself, is being strictly carried out in accordance with the government and industry guidelines. Midsomer Murders is shot mostly on single camera (Alexa). The cutting rooms are in Outpost Post-Production at Pinewood and dubbing is by Pinewood Sound.
Dates
All applicants must be available for the entire Block 5. Scheduled dates are:
Prep start date 15 February 2021;
Principal photography 12th April 2021 through to 14 May 2021;
Post five weeks delivering on 25 June 2020.
These dates may be subject to change.
How to apply
Please send your CV, showreel and a covering statement supporting your application to [email protected] using the criteria stated above.
DEADLINE: 12 Noon, Monday 11 January 2021
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview the week commencing Monday 18 January 2021 via Zoom/Teams. The aim would be to announce the successful director during the week of 25 January 2021.
*Applicants are not guaranteed a role at the end of the scheme and all applications for future directing roles will be considered solely on merit.
This opportunity is permitted as Positive Action within the 2010 Equalities Act and acknowledges the under-representation of women and directors of colour 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).
Photo: Mark Bourdillon
