Directors Digest — 5 June 2019

Creative content funds and skills levies make up just two of the week’s big announcements, where there have also been some big staffing changes at ITV and discussions of a Hollywood boycott of the state of Georgia. 

Also, there’s great interviews with directors Douglas Mackinnon, Naziha Arebi and Jim Cummings to get stuck into. Read all about it below. 

Film

Esquire interviewed Jim Cummings, director and star of the upcoming Thunder Road. The interview provides some great insight into how he made the film on a tiny budget — including learning to do his own editing from YouTube tutorials. (Esquire)

How would a Hollywood boycott over Georgia’s abortion ban hit the state’s film industry? (Guardian)

The BFI has launched a new £20m EIS creative content fund UK film and television companies. (Screen International)

Meanwhile, The Guardian interviewed Naziha Arebi — director of Freedom Fields — on the immense challenges of filming the Libyan women’s football team. 

The BFI hosts a fantastic long read on the production of Andrei Tarkovsky’s stalker, revisiting its stark soviet locations. 

Television

ScreenSkills has called for a skills levy, to replace the government’s failing Apprenticeship Levy. Directors UK CEO Andrew Chowns supported the call, adding that “There is a skills shortage at every level, all across the UK, and it is much greater issue than focusing on apprenticeships.” (Broadcast)

Ridley Scott’s classic Hovis ‘boy on a bike’ TV advert is returning to our screens. (Guardian)

Televisual has an in-depth report from behind the scenes of Good Omens, including plenty of insight from director Douglas Mackinnon. (Televisual)

ITV Entertainment Chief Siobhan Greene is stepping down, and will be replaced by Katie Rawcliffe, Deadline reports. 

They Shoot Directors Don’t They?, the memoir from the celebrated film and TV director Philip Saville, was launched at the BFI. You can find out more about it here. Phillip — a Directors UK member — sadly passed away in December 2016, and was remembered by directors Renny Rye and John Bruce on our website.

Are you a member with an opinion on one of these stories? Is there an issue affecting directors that you think isn’t getting enough attention in the media? Why not write for us and make yourself heard — email [email protected] with your article idea.