Press Release
DIRECTORS UK AND BBC ANNOUNCE FURTHER ROUND OF THE CONTINUING DRAMA DIRECTORS’ TRAINING SCHEME
22 August 2019
Directors UK and BBC Drama are delighted to announce the next round of the Continuing Drama New Directors’ Training Scheme.
Following the success of this collaboration since its inception in 2015, this year will see nine drama directors mentored on some of BBC Studios’ continuing drama series. In previous years this has included Doctors, EastEnders, River City, Holby City and Casualty.
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 award-winning continuing dramas series, EastEnders and Holby City will take submissions for the scheme. Applications will open on Monday 19 August 2019 and the deadline is Monday 16 September 2019.
The scheme is inviting applications from directors who have a genuine interest in EastEnders or Holby City and are passionate about developing their skills in continuing drama. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a solid knowledge of the drama, and it is open to anyone who meets the requirements of the scheme.
Andrea Corbett, Skills and Career Development Manager for Directors UK said: “Training opportunities like the Continuing Drama New Directors’ Training Scheme are absolutely vital in ensuring talented directors are given the hands-on experience and exposure they need to progress. At Directors UK, we know how important it is to gain a directing credit at the end of a training scheme; it lays the very real groundwork to the next step in a lifelong career.”
She added: “It is heartening to see the BBC’s continued commitment to investing in and nurturing the best homegrown talent – together, we can’t wait to see what the successful directors bring to the screen.”
The selection panel will include Anne Edyvean, Head of BBC Writersroom; Simon Nelson, Development Executive, BBC Writersroom; and a team of experienced continuing drama TV directors along with BBC Producers and Executive Producers from EastEnders and Holby City.
The Continuing Drama New Directors’ Training Scheme is funded by BBC Drama and Directors UK and is run by BBC Writersroom, with support from BBC Studios. Applications from BAME and female directors are encouraged as the industry recognises that both are currently under-represented within film and TV directing generally.
More information about the scheme, full requirements and application details are available at the BBC website, via the link below. Deadline for applications is September 16 2019 at 10am.
About Directors UK
Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,000 members - the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK collects and distributes royalty payments and provides a range of services to members including campaigning, commercial negotiations, legal advice, events, training and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
About BBC Writersroom
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 & 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.
Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,000 members - the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK collects and distributes royalty payments and provides a range of services to members including campaigning, commercial negotiations, legal advice, events, training and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
About BBC Writersroom
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 & 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.
About the Directors UK and BBC Drama Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme
The Directors UK and BBC Drama Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme launched in 2015. Since then, 33 directors have been selected to take part in the scheme across a number of BBC continuing drama programmes, including EastEnders, Doctors, River City, Holby City and Casualty. Many directors who have taken part in the scheme have gone on to work on the series.
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