Directors Digest — Friday 6 September 2024

In the news this week, the BBC to lay off 115 roles across Nations and Regions, the BAFTA Cyrmu nominations are out, and Peter Wiley joins Directors UK as General Counsel. 

Read all about it in this week’s digest.

News

•  Llongyfarchiadau i'r enwebau, 2024 BAFTA Cymru award nominees announced (BAFTA)

•  Brown Bob shuts Cardiff office due to ‘harsh’ TV climate,  Big Little Crimes indie has shut its Cardiff base (Broadcast)

•  BBC to cut 115 jobs in Nations and Regions editorial and production (Press Gazette)

•  BBC to spend £80m per year on diverse content (Broadcast)

•  Directors UK Hires General Counsel Peter Wiley Ahead of Streamer Chats. Says Wiley, “The work that Directors UK does for its members and the directing community is important, and I’m looking forward to working with Andy and his team to ensure that directors are respected, valued and supported.” (Deadline)

•  Rufus Radcliffe named CEO of STV, the Scottish media company (Advanced Television) 

•  BFI London Film Festival unveils full 2024 line-up (Screen Daily)

•  ‘It’s a very tough time in Hollywood’: inside the shrinking world of the TV writers’ room (The Guardian)

•  Donald Trump Movie ‘The Apprentice’ Launches Kickstarter to Raise Money for Longer Theatrical Release (Variety)

Features

•  Film industry ‘nowhere near’ gender parity, says London festival head (The Guardian)

•  True crime: the only way is ethics. This booming genre requires a strong ethical backbone to ensure the safety of both subjects and producers. (Televisual)

•  Working-class parents do not see film and TV as viable career for their children (The Guardian) 

•  Directors UK members Stephen Quay and Timothy Quay, ‘We never went down the Aardman route’: how the Brothers Quay rocked the animation world (The Guardian) 

Director interviews

•  Interview with former Directors UK board member Iain Softley, ‘Let them kick the crap out of the songs’: how we recreated the Beatles to make Backbeat (The Guardian)