The Directors UK Inspire scheme pairs mentee directors with director-mentors to help support career growth and enhance directing craft. It takes place across the year and is open to directors from all genres, formats and backgrounds.
Here, director Caryl Owen, part of our 2023-24 Inspire cohort, shares an insight into what to expect from taking part in the Inspire scheme — from what inspired her to apply to how she made the most of working with her mentor, and how it supported her during precarious times.
Caryl Owen, directing the Red Pavilion at the Urdd Eisteddfod 2023
The appeal of the Directors UK Inspire scheme
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room — times are hard in our industry, and a lot of directors are especially feeling this at the moment. Combine that with being a relatively new female multi-camera director who’s finding her feet and trying to become established, and you’ve got the potential for a perfect storm. But, this is not a wallowing piece — far from it. It’s a ‘I was able to navigate this storm, thanks to being part of the Directors UK Inspire cohort’ piece. Because I am incredibly grateful to both Directors UK and to my mentor Rhodri Huw, without which and whom I think I would be in a much worse position, or even possibly considering my options outside of the industry. I’ve been told by numerous people, it’s not you, it’s the industry, however, it’s tough to take sometimes — I hope that my insights are useful for anyone who is thinking about taking part in Inspire but feels a little apprehensive knowing the challenges currently affecting our industry and directors.
I’m part of the 2023-24 Inspire cohort, and I am the only multi-camera director within this cohort. Prior to applying for the Inspire scheme, I was working as a director who was always a part of the wider directing team, usually on Festivals or the many Eisteddfodau we have here in Wales where I am primarily based. I was already a member of Directors UK and, when I came across the Inspire scheme, I thought a mentor could be what I needed to help me achieve my goal of directing my own show/concert/programme, and I also knew immediately who I wanted to mentor me.
Working with my Inspire mentor
My mentor is Rhodri Huw, who is one of the country’s top classical music directors. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Rhodri in my former guise as a Script Supervisor over the years and I was even luckier that he agreed to be my mentor and has been since July 2023. He has always been the director I’ve aspired to be, as he is always calm, always in control and always directs the most exquisite shots — he gets the best out of his crew and creates magic on screen as a result, too.
As mentee and mentor, Rhodri and I have regular meet ups, either in person or via video call where we discuss various topics related to directing, music and the industry. He’s been setting me tasks – mainly scripting various orchestral and music pieces. He’s been to watch me direct, and I’ve also been able to shadow him on Gareth Malone’s Easter Passion concert which premiered on the BBC over Easter. I was able to shadow Rhodri on the recce, during the rehearsing and recording of the concert and then sat in on the edit – meaning I was part of the whole process, and I know he has a few other things planned for me before our time is up.
Experiences like this that are facilitated by programmes such as Inspire are so important for directors like myself who are trying to move ourselves along in our career. Sadly, not everyone has capacity to help you, so you should grab onto those opportunities where you can learn from or shadow your mentor director with both hands.
Image: BTS, Gareth Malone’s Easter Passion concert
The importance of mentorships and directing outside the box
Being on the Directors UK Inspire scheme has also meant that I haven’t been sitting idle, waiting for the phone to ring or the emails to ping. As a director, I know I have a responsibility to do a lot of research and work myself, and to introduce myself to as many people and companies as I can — I often have to remind myself: “if it was easy everybody would be doing it”. Having someone there to keep in touch with, and to keep me on my toes, has meant that doing this research and work during the testing times we’re currently experiencing has been easier to tackle. Having someone who’s guiding you through the next step in your career progression has been invaluable — it’s kept me going and has helped me navigate these precarious times.
Mentorships are such an important cog in the wheel of our industry. In my experience, and in general, it’s notoriously hard to further yourself as a freelance multi-camera director. Even though you know you can do the job, there’s a huge element of also convincing other people that you can do it when you’re looking for directing opportunities, which can be a bit of a catch-22 sometimes. It’s a huge responsibility to be the creative force behind a show or concert, and people and companies can sometimes air on the side of caution and use directors they already know, which is fair, but makes it difficult for the next generation of directors to step into these roles and to take up their next step in the working cycle, especially when there is less work about than there has been in the past.
I cannot stress enough how grateful I am to Directors UK and Sean Thomas in the Career Development and Skills team for the Inspire scheme and for the opportunity they have given me, and to my mentor Rhodri for getting me through these tough times. Things have picked up for me recently, and I was excited to be asked by BBC Events to direct A Celebration for Pentecost, which will be broadcast live on BBC1 later in May. I feel like being part of the Inspire scheme has truly helped me achieve my goal of directing a live broadcast, as I don’t think this would have been possible had I not applied or been mentored by Rhodri.
If you ever get the chance to apply for the Inspire scheme — go for it.
