The Directors’ Take Podcast

E210 - How We Became Writer/Directors with Marcus & Oz

Episode 10 of The Directors Take Podcast is AVAILABLE NOW on all major platforms.
In this week’s episode your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by absolutely no-one, as they break down how they became Writer/Directors… With a special emphasis on the writer part. Writing is one of the first skills we learn as humans and writing stories is a craft that can be learnt just like any other… So we will tell you how we did it.
This chat covers:
 
-How did we both start writing? 
-How do you select which ideas to pursue? 
-How do you get through a first draft? 
-What are the rules you try to stick to whilst writing, if at all?
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Nuggets of the week
Pandemonium, Inc. (Website/Resource)
Scriptnotes (Podcast)
The Screenwriting Life (Podcast)
The Annual Blacklist (Script Archive)
The Annual Oscar Nominee Scripts (Script Archive)
BBC Writers Script Library (Script Archive)
Lessons from the screenplay (YouTube Channel)
Teach yourself screenwriting by Ray Frensham (Book)
 
Into the Woods by John Yorke (Book)
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E209 - How I Directed HOUSE OF THE DRAGON with Clare Kilner

This is Episode 9 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast… and we’ve hit a very special milestone as this is our 50th Episode overall!
To mark this special occasion your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by one of the directors of HBO’s HOUSE OF THE DRAGON and our mentor Clare Kilner. She is an exceptional filmmaker whose craft has allowed her to direct shows such as Pennyworth, The Alienist, Snowpiercer, Gen V and the other recent smash hit show, FALLOUT. 
Clare is working at the absolute pinnacle of the High-End TV game right now and as ever we break down her journey and process for you all to enjoy. This chat covers…
 
-What is directing?
-What made her want to become a storyteller?
-How did she learn to work with actors? 
-How does she break down a script?
-How do you enter a show with such a distinct world? 
-How she plans her shots and blocking from within locations.
-Her process in working out blocking with the actors.
-What ideas she brings to the table in order to elevate it from the script.
-Her approach to creating a coherent visual language. 
-How she works with writers and execs on set. 
-Her approach to the editing process. 
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
Nuggets of the week
 
Clare: Marina Abramovic - 420 seconds of silence at Glastonbury
Oz: Eye Candy - Visual Language library
Marcus: The House that Dragons Built - Crafting a Royal Funeral - S2, Ep2
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Clare Kilner: Instagram
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E208 - Showrunning BBC's Domino Day with Lauren Sequeira

This is Episode 8 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Writer & Showrunner Lauren Sequeira. A BAFTA nominated writer and a member of the BBC’s Hotlist, they wrote on Kiss Me First and seasons 1 & 2 of Gangs of London before Showrunning their very own show, BBC3’s original series Domino Day.
As ever we break down Lauren’s journey and craft to uncover those delicious nuggets of information. This chat covers…
 
-How Marcus and Lauren met… (lol)
-Lauren’s journey toward becoming a writer
-How she got her agent and how they helped shape their career.
-What did her first paid writing jobs look like? 
-Writing on Gangs of London.
-How she got her very own show commissioned.
-Setting up a series, interviewing directors and building those relationships.
-What is her writing process?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Bio
Lauren Sequeira is a writer hailing from South London, earning her first TV Credit on Kiss Me First, which was a show plucked from the mind of Bryan Elsey, the creator of Skins. From here Lauren created the digital Spin-Off series to BBC’s The Dumping Ground, called Sasha’s Contact Meeting, which earned her a BAFTA nomination and she was named on the BBC’s hotlist for emerging talents tipped as future stars. 
 
She also went on to write for Gangs of London, on both Season 1 and 2, before getting her very own show commissioned, the Original Series Domino Day which aired on BBC3 in February of 2024. Domino Day is a show which follows Domino, a powerful young witch who is haunted by her need to feed on the energy of others… And she uses Dating apps to find her new prey.
 
Nuggets of the week
Lauren:  The sun (not the newspaper). Being outside and enjoying the sun.
Oz: The rap beef between Kendrick, Drake and J. Cole.
Marcus: Thelma & Louise - Screenplay
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Lauren Sequeira: Twitter (X) & Instagram
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E207 - Oliver Kassman on Producing Modern Horrors

This is Episode 7 of our brand new season of The Directors Take Podcast.
This week's episode is a conversation with Producer Oliver Kassman from Escape Plan, who have made waves in the genre space in creating films such as SAINT MAUD, OUT OF DARKNESS and the recent feature LOVE LIES BLEEDING starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian & Ed Harris. 
Oliver is a champion for first time filmmakers having made the above work with Rose Glass and Andrew Cummings, and there are absolutely many more on the way. In this chat we cover…
 
-What is producing?
-His journey into the industry.
-The importance of mentors early on in your career. 
-What does development look like? 
-How does he choose the filmmakers and ideas to pursue? 
-How important is it to attach cast to a project? 
-How do you navigate creative vision through sales and distribution?
-What does the Producer/Director relationship look like?
-How does he see the future of film?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Nuggets of the week
Oliver Kassman: Work: What Just Happened? Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Line by Art Linson
Creative: Orville Peck - Pony (Vinyl)
Oz: Anker Powerbank
Marcus: Music for K (Polish Jazz Vol. 22) by Tomasz Stanko Quintet
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Oliver Kassman: Twitter (X) & Instagram
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E206 - Is Perfectionism Killing Your Creativity? With Dr. Thomas Curran

This is Episode 6 of our brand new season of The Directors Take Podcast.
This week's episode is a conversation with Dr. Thomas Curran, a renowned Psychologist and Associate Professor in the esteemed Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at the London School of Economics and Author of ‘one of Bloomberg’s best books of 2023’, The Perfection Trap. 
In this chat we cover…
 
-What is perfectionism?
-Where does perfectionism come from?
-How is perfectionism linked to mental health? 
-How is perfectionism linked to ‘deficit thinking’ or ‘imposter syndrome’.
-Is procrastination linked to perfectionism?
-How do social environments breed perfectionist traits?
-How do factors such as race, gender and class play into this?
-How can we combat perfectionism?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Nuggets of the week
Dr. Thomas Curran: Dr. Gabor Maté on Alienation - YouTube Video
Oz: Rate my takeaway - YouTube Channel
Marcus: Shadow of the Colossus - Playstation Game
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Dr. Thomas Curran: Website & Twitter (X)
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E205 - After 16 Months on House of the Dragon, What Did We Learn?

This is Episode 5 of our brand new season of The Directors Take Podcast.
This weeks episode is a chat between Marcus and Oz, where they talk about their experience as Director Shadows/Mentees on House of the Dragon for the very first time.
-What was the scheme and selection process?
-Our first few weeks on the production.
 
-Reading the scripts.
 
-Creating our workflow.
 
-How we helped the production.
 
-How we constructed our learning.
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
About us
Marcus and Oz are both described as ‘rising stars’ in the film industry and both met whilst shadowing the directors and showrunners on Season 1 of HBO’s House of the Dragon for 16 months. Having both seen up close exactly what is required of a director when working at the highest level and understanding the gap between what is taught about filmmaking up to that stage… They created The Directors’ Take Podcast to help fill in the gap, so that early-career directors right through to mid-level career professionals can get the most out of themselves and their collaborators.
 
Nuggets of the week
Oz: Louaista - YouTube Channel
 
Marcus: Blood, sweat & chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E204 - Costume Designing on Rye Lane with Cynthia Lawrence-John

This is Episode 4 of our brand new season of The Directors Take Podcast.
This weeks episode is with the exceptional Costume Designer, Cynthia Lawrence-John. She has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world such as Adidas, Samsung, Amex and with a slew of directors such as Melina Matsoukas (Queen & Slim), Kibwe Tavares (The Kitchen) and Nicholas Winding Refn (Drive). She also recently earned herself a BIFA nomination for her work on the beautiful RomCom RYE LANE and helped to elevate the film’s colourful aesthetic. In our chat we cover:
 
-What is Costume Design?
-Her journey into the film industry. 
-What is it about her work that keeps bringing people to her door?
-Transitioning from commercials into film. 
-Storytelling through costume. 
-What do her conversations with directors look like? 
-How do you work with other Heads of department to create a unified aesthetic?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Nuggets of the week
Cynthia: Tony Allen: An Autobiography of the Master Drummer of Afrobeat.
Oz: BaByliss Pro Cordless Super Motor Skeleton Trimmer
Marcus: The Cinema Cartography - YouTube Channel
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Cynthia: Instagram
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E203 - How Directors Shape Stories

This is Episode 3 of our brand new season of The Directors Take Podcast.
This weeks episode is a chat with just Marcus and Oz, where they break down exactly how YOU as a director need to be thinking, planning and prepping in order to shape the story that you’re working on. This is a deep dive on directing craft and this conversation covers: 
 
-How do you find your way into a story?
-How do you think about the story as a director? 
-Crafting characters with actors.
-Working with actors on set.
-How blocking to tells a story.
-Principles for visual storytelling.
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
About us
Marcus and Oz are both described as ‘rising stars’ in the film industry and both met whilst shadowing the directors and showrunners on Season 1 of HBO’s House of the Dragon which they did for 16 months. Having both seen up close exactly what is required of a director when working at the highest level and understanding the gap between what is taught about filmmaking up to that stage… They created The Directors’ Take Podcast to help fill in the gap, so that early-career directors right through to mid-level career professionals can get the most out of themselves and their collaborators.
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Oz: How Scorsese Moves the Camera With Purpose in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ | Anatomy of a Scene 
 
Marcus: Denis Villeneuve on Dune: Part Two - Film at Lincoln Center
 
Credits
 
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
 
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
 If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.

E202 - How I Directed Love Lies Bleeding with Rose Glass

Hello again... This is Episode 2 of our brand new season of The Directors Take Podcast.
This weeks episode is our live podcast recording with Writer/Director Rose Glass, which was recorded at our very first live event and was performed immediately after the screening of her latest film LOVE LIES BLEEDING, which stars Kristen Stewart, Katy O'Brian and Ed Harris. This is a SPOILER FILLED conversation on craft and it includes:
 
-How she dealt with the level of expectation after her first film SAINT MAUD was so well received.
-What aspect of the shooting process scared her the most.
-How she practically creates tone.
-How the characters changed from script to screen.
-The challenges of working at a higher budget level.
-How she crafted a story that follows multiple perspectives.
-Emotional resilience.
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Bio
Filming anything and everything from Harry Potter spoofs to fake nature mockumentaries about aliens, Rose was destined to be a director from a young age. Upon leaving home she studied film and video at London College of Communication, UAL - where she directed her first 'proper' shorts - and also gained experience as a runner on professional sets. Eventually she made her way to the NFTS, where she made acclaimed short Room 55 and began working on the idea for SAINT MAUD.
In the years following she waitressed and worked as a cinema usher whilst working on the treatment and teamed up with fellow Breakthrough Brit Oliver Kassman. Initially Rose was intimidated by the idea of directing a feature, especially after finding the writing process quite isolating, but once she started, the collaborative nature of the experience made everything a complete joy. Having had such a great time with her team on SAINT MAUD.
She has now made her second feature LOVE LIES BLEEDING starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian and Ed Harris. Teaming up again with producers Oliver Kassman and Andrea Cornwall, and also co-writing the script with fellow NFTS graduate and BABY REINDEER lead director Weronika Tofilska.
 
Nuggets of the week
Rose Glass on Directors Now
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.
 
 

E201 - How I Directed Baby Reindeer with Weronika Tofilska

WE'RE BACK! This is the very first exciting episode of our brand new season of The Directors Take Podcast, 
In this episode we'll be speaking to Weronika Tofilska who is the lead director (Eps1-4) of the Netflix global phenomenon BABY REINDEER. As ever we break down directing craft to gain a greater understanding of how this smash hit show was created. This conversation includes:
 
-Weronika's journey into filmmaking.
-Her experience of film school in Poland and in the UK.
-How she navigated the filmmaking wilderness.
-How she got her first break as a TV Director.
-Her process for interviewing.
-How she evolved her process for working in television.
-Creating a bespoke visual language for Baby Reindeer.
-Working with the show's creator Richard Gadd.
-Her directing process.
-How she wrote Love Lies Bleeding with Rose Glass.
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Bio
Weronika Tofilska is a London based Writer and Director, a graduate of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s Film School  in Poland and National Film and Television School in the UK. 
 
They’ve made several successful short films including LAST TRAIN, which won multiple awards at Polish and Internation film festivals, they’ve made Dark Comedies such as THE PATIENT, SUICIDE IS EASY and horror/comedy PINK and BLUE which won FrightFest Short Film Competition as well as the Channel 4 Horror Short DOORKEEPER. You can watch a lot of these on her website. 
 
With the success of her short works, she has begun making her name in TV directing on the Netflix Show IRREGULARS, with Amazon on the show HANNAH, on HBOs His Dark Materials and most recently has directed the first four episodes of the smash hit Netflix Show, BABY REINDEER which is written and created by, as well as starring Richard Gadd. 
She is in development on her feature project POLYPHONY with Film4 and also co-wrote LOVE LIES BLEEDING
 
Nuggets of the week
Weronika: Jerry Seinfeld wisdom.
Oz: Go to the lake district.
Marcus: Take the time to celebrate your wins as they happen.
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Weronika: Twitter (X) & Instagram
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: Twitter (X) & Instagram
 
If you have any questions relating to the episode or have topics you would like covering in future releases, reach out to us at TheDirectorsTake@Outlook.com.