Press Release
DIRECTORS UK AND BBC WRITERSROOM CONTINUING DRAMA DIRECTORS’ TRAINING SCHEME WINS UK TELEVISION DIVERSITY AWARD
10 October 2019
Directors UK, BBC Writersroom and BBC Drama are delighted that the Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme has won the Partnership Award at the UK Television Diversity Awards.
The winners were announced at an award ceremony held by the Creative Diversity Network in London on Wednesday 9 October. The collaboration was recognised for making a real difference to the careers and lives of directors.
As part of the training, directors observe and participate in the entire production process of an episode of a show, from pre to postproduction, and ultimately take the helm for one full episode to gain a directing credit.
Andrea Corbett, Skills and Career Development Manager at Directors UK said: “The partnership between Directors UK and BBC Writersroom is a great example of a career development scheme that really works. Collaborating to connect the best talent to real opportunities on shows broadcast on the BBC means that directors are able to not only maintain but grow a career in the craft with hands-on experience. Thank you to Creative Diversity Network for recognising the importance of the scheme.”
Andrea Corbett, Skills and Career Development Manager at Directors UK said: “The partnership between Directors UK and BBC Writersroom is a great example of a career development scheme that really works. Collaborating to connect the best talent to real opportunities on shows broadcast on the BBC means that directors are able to not only maintain but grow a career in the craft with hands-on experience. Thank you to Creative Diversity Network for recognising the importance of the scheme.”
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.
Simon Nelson, Development Executive at BBC Writersroom added: “The Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme has been incredibly successful and has made a real difference to not only the individuals taking part but to the industry as a whole. This has only been possible thanks to the partnership between BBC Writersroom and Directors UK, and the ongoing support of BBC Studios and BBC Drama. We are delighted to have won this award.”
The Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme is funded by BBC Drama and Directors UK and is run by BBC Writersroom, with support from BBC Studios. Applications are open to anyone who meets the requirements of the scheme, but are especially welcomed from BAME and female directors are encouraged as the industry recognises that both are currently under-represented within film and TV directing generally.
This year, the award-winning continuing dramas series EastEnders, Holby City and Doctors have taken submissions for the scheme. This years’ successful directors will be announced shortly.
Simon Nelson, Development Executive at BBC Writersroom added: “The Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme has been incredibly successful and has made a real difference to not only the individuals taking part but to the industry as a whole. This has only been possible thanks to the partnership between BBC Writersroom and Directors UK, and the ongoing support of BBC Studios and BBC Drama. We are delighted to have won this award.”
The Continuing Drama Directors’ Training Scheme is funded by BBC Drama and Directors UK and is run by BBC Writersroom, with support from BBC Studios. Applications are open to anyone who meets the requirements of the scheme, but are especially welcomed from BAME and female directors are encouraged as the industry recognises that both are currently under-represented within film and TV directing generally.
This year, the award-winning continuing dramas series EastEnders, Holby City and Doctors have taken submissions for the scheme. This years’ successful directors will be announced shortly.
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.
Author
