Press Release
BBC, DIRECTORS UK AND CREATIVE SKILLSET ANNOUNCE NEW TITLES FOR THEIR DIRECTORS’ TRAINING SCHEME
10 November 2016
BBC Drama, Directors UK and Creative Skillset’s High End TV Council are delighted to announce new titles, as part of their second call for their directors’ training scheme.
Following the success of this collaboration in 2015, this year will see nine drama directors mentored on one of the following continuing drama series: Doctors, River City, Holby City and Casualty.
Applications will be open from Monday 14 November to directors seeking to be trained on River City, Holby City and Casualty. Deadlines for submissions and applications for each show is 4 December.
As part of their training, each director will observe and participate in the entire production process of an episode of a show, from pre to post production, and will ultimately take the helm for one full episode to gain a directing credit. The scheme also offers the possibility of employment after training, as there is an ambition for the series to hire directors within nine months for a full directorial commission if the director has shown that they can meet the standards required.
The scheme is inviting applications from directors who have a genuine interest in the show and are passionate about developing their skills in continuing drama. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a solid knowledge of the drama, and is open to anyone who meets the requirements of the scheme.
Involved in the selection panel will be Anne Edyvean (Head of BBC Writersroom), Simon Nelson (Development Producer, BBC Writersroom), and a team of experienced TV directors and BBC Executives from River City, Holby City and Casualty.
This scheme is funded by the BBC, Directors UK and the High End TV Levy and is run by BBC Writersroom. Applications from BAME and women directors are encouraged as the industry recognises that both are currently under-represented within film and TV directing generally. As there will be training opportunities in London, Glasgow and Cardiff, we encourage applications from across the UK to reflect specific training needs in all of the UK’s nations and regions.
More information about the scheme, full requirements and application details are available at the BBC website, via the link below. Deadline for applications is 5 December.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/BBC-New-Directors-Scheme-2016
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/BBC-New-Directors-Scheme-2016
- DIRECTORS UK is the single voice of British screen directors representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 6,400 members – the overwhelming majority of working film and television directors in the UK. Directors UK campaigns for the rights, working conditions and status of directors in the industry and works closely with fellow organisations in the UK, Europe and around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns. It also promotes excellence in the craft of direction both nationally and internationally, and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
- BBC WRITERSROOM is a department within the BBC with responsibility for developing and promoting new writers and directors across the whole of BBC Drama, Children’s and Comedy. We have offices across the UK dealing with several thousand scripts per year. BBC Writersroom has a mission to promote new talent to meet the creative needs of the future.
- CREATIVE SKILLSET works with the UK’s screen-based creative media industries to develop skills and talent from classroom to boardroom. We support high quality professional development across TV, film and related sectors – identifying skills needs, targeting skills investment, developing key skills and growing diverse talent networks. Through our industry partnerships Creative Skillset helps to improve productivity, creativity and employability across the UK’s screen-based creative media industries.
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