The Directors’ Take Podcast

E128 - Demystifying the art of Production Design with Jacqueline Abrahams

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Jacqueline Abrahams, a BAFTA and BIFA winning Production Designer who has worked with directors such as Michael Winterbottom, Yann Demange and Yorgos Lanthimos. We used this conversation to tap into their creativity and to dig down into the collaboration that can happen between a Director and Designer to ultimately create the best work. This conversation covers:
 
-What is a Production Designer?
-What was her journey into the industry?
-How do Production Designers inform their process?
-How do Production Designers elevate story and character?
-What is the relationship between the Designer, the DoP and Director?
-What makes a good Director?
-What is the nature of art, creativity and authenticity?
 
Jacqueline Abrahams originally trained in Fine Art, specialising in performance and live art. She worked as a scenic painter for four years before moving into design where she has worked to design feature films, shorts, TV dramas, theatre, performance and live art. She is experienced working with scripts, on improvised pieces and with artists in a less conventional context. 
She has designed productions that have large ambitious studio set builds, completed location-based work and has experience working within very strict budgets too which is always good. She won the BAFTA in 2009 for best production design for TV series Wallander, was nominated for a BAFTA in 2010 and won the RTS Best Production Design award in 2010 also.
Jacqueline’s notable credits include TV series Wallander, Diary of a Call Girl and the original series of Topboy and feature films such as The BIFA winning The Look of Love (2013) from Michael Winterbottom, The Lobster (2015) by Yorgos Lanthimos, as well as Lady Macbeth (2015) by William Oldroyd and His House (2018) by Remi Weekes.
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Oz: Greta Gerwig's Official Barbie Watchlist
Marcus:  BIFA Insider: The Lobster with Jacqueline Abrahams
Kwellin: You can't live life without taking risks.
Capitalist Realism: Is there no alternative? by Mark Fisher (Book)
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Kwellin: She doesn't have socials, she just lives life... so should you.
 
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.
 

E127 - How to make a movie at Film4 with Amy O’Hara

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Amy O'Hara who is a Development & Production Exec at Film 4. We began this podcast as people who are actively working at making our own TV and Feature Film projects, but the pathway towards this goal is extremely rocky, murky, difficult etc... So we brought Amy on to help break this process down for us/you all. This conversation includes:
 
-What are Development and Production Execs?
-How do they find, develop and nurture new and emerging talent?
-What do they look for in filmmakers and projects?
-How do you submit projects to Film4?
-What does payment look like when developing a feature with Film4?
-What does a good development process look like?
-We also cover a bunch of listeners questions too!
 
Amy O'Hara is a seasoned Development and Production Executive who joined Film4 in October 2021. Her career in the film industry has been marked by a strong commitment to nurturing new and emerging talent. Prior to her current role at Film4, she held the position of BFI NETWORK Talent Executive at Film Hub North, where she closely collaborated with aspiring writers, directors, and producers, overseeing a diverse slate of films. 
Amy previously worked at Film4 company from 2013 to 2016, serving as the assistant to the late Sue Bruce-Smith, who was the deputy director at the time. Between her two tenures at Film4, Amy gained experience at the International Distribution company STX, where she served as a Marketing Executive, focusing on UK Productions. 
With a track record of championing innovative projects and diverse voices, Amy O'Hara continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of UK storytellers at Film4.
 
Nuggets of the week
Oz: Guy Ritchie's Kingdom: Master Your Life and Own Your Game
Marcus: The Deepest Breath - Netflix/A24 Documentary
Amy: Sharon Van Etten - Quiet Eyes | Past Lives (song)
Annie Dillard - The Writing Life 
'How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives.'
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Amy: Twitter (X)
 
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.

E126 - Demystifying Intimacy Co-ordinators with Louise Kempton

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Louise Kempton, who is an intimacy co-ordinator that has worked on projects such as The Great, Gangs of London and the upcoming feature film Hoard. Intimacy co-ordination is a relatively new role and directors may feel that they are losing control of intimate sequences with this being a barrier between them and performers... So we brought Louise on to help demystify the process of working with an intimacy co-ordinator so you can get the most out of this collaboration. This conversation covers:
 
-What is an intimacy co-ordinator?
-Why are they so important?
-At what point are they brought onto a project?
-What is their process in constructing intimate scenes?
-How are directors involved in rehearsals?
-Can you still tweak things on the day as a director?
-How do you do intimacy with low budget work?
 
Louise is a freelance intimacy co-ordinator working in TV, theatre & film. Louise trained with Intimacy on Set under the mentorship of Ita O'Brien, and has worked extensively as an associate member. Louise regularly facilitates workshops and seminars, introducing the Intimacy on Set guidelines and safe practises to trainee actors and directors, film crew and production. Louise's work enables the creation of dynamic and exciting choreography, within a safe and supported environment.
 
https://www.louisekempton.co.uk/intimacy-coordination
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Oz: Weekend Read (App)
Marcus: Meet the Producer - The Production Guild (Podcast series)
Louise: Try to connect with your inner child and take time to reflect on the beautiful moments and people that surround you.
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Louise: Instagram & Twitter
 
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.
 

E125 - Demystifying Online Releases with Short of the Week’s Rob Munday

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Rob Munday, who is the current Managing Editor of Short of the Week and co-founder of Directors Notes. As a director looking to break into the industry, you may think that gaining laurels from physical film festivals is what you need in order to gain industry recognition, but this isn't necessarily always the case. So we've brought Rob on to help demystify releasing your short films online and the decision-making process that goes into it. This conversation covers:
 
-How he got into the industry.
-Why he founded Directors' Notes.
-How he got involved in Short of the Week.
-What happens when you submit your film to Short of the Week.
-What makes a good short film in his eyes.
-What the difference is between online release and physical film festivals.
-What the selection process is.
-What he feels about the pathway into the industry.
 
After co-founding Directors Notes in 2006, Rob Munday joined the team at Short of the Week in 2009 and has been championing short film on the platform ever since. Looking to help a new generation of filmmakers share their stories on a larger stage, Rob believes short film is more than a playground for narrative and craft and is constantly excited and surprised by the new work being made in the format. The only British based member of the Short of the Week editorial team, Rob is particularly passionate about supporting emerging talent from UK & the rest of Europe.
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Oz: Film Riot - Amazing Effects in Classic FIlms - How Did They Pull it Off?
Marcus: Light & Magic - Disney+
Rob: Pod Save the UK - Podcast
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Rob: Instagram
Short of the Week: Instagram, Twitter & Facebook
Directors Notes: Instagram, Twitter & Facebook
 
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.
 

E124 - The Director/Actor Relationship with Henpocalypse! Star Callie Cooke

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Henpocalypse! and general TV star Callie Cooke to help break down what the relationship between a director and an actor can look like. This conversation covers:
 
-Callie's journey from Northamptonshire to the Film & TV industry.
-How she got her first acting gig.
-The preparation she does for a role.
-The conversations she has with directors during preparation.
-The relationship with directors on set.
-How to give notes to actors.
-What the future looks like.
 
Callie Cooke is an actress born in Leicestershire, England. Born on 23rd October. She trained at the Arts Educational School London before landing her first professional role in Sky Atlantic show Britannia. She is known for The Stranger, Wedding Season and Cheaters. Callie starred alongside Maxine Peake in BBC drama Rules Of The Game.
 
Nuggets of the week
Oz: People say this tool will replace me, so I made a movie with it by Corridor Crew.
Marcus: The Filmmakers’ Podcast - How to Direct & Adapt a Stephen King classic with The Boogeyman’s Rob Savage.
Callie: Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Callie's socials: Twitter & 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.

E123 - Composing for Heartstopper with Adiescar Chase

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by composer Adiescar Chase, to talk us through her journey into composing and how she ended up as the lead composer on Netflix's hit coming of age TV show Heartstopper. This conversation covers:
 
-How Adiescar got into composing music for TV & Film.
-The journey into the industry.
-How she got her first break as composer on Heartstopper.
-The relationship between a director and composer.
-The do's and don'ts of communicating with a composer.
-The purpose of music in films.
-How to make the most out of music.
 
Adiescar Chase is an exciting, emerging and very distinctive composer and multi-instrumentalist based in the UK, composing and performing in a wide variety of contemporary, musical styles.
With a diverse collection of projects in her portfolio ranging from video games, tv drama, short film and animation, Adiescar is the composer for Netflix’ YA drama HEARTSTOPPER, directed by Euros Lyn for See-Saw Films. She is the composer for Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall Media’s WATERLOO ROAD drama series broadcasting on BBC.
After graduating with a first class B.mus (Hons) degree in composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2017, Adiescar went on to study for a Masters in Composition for Film and Television at the National Film & Television School graduating in early 2021.
 
Nuggets of the week
Oz: BetterSnapTool
Marcus: 3-Iron by Kim Ki-Duk
Adiescar: Composer Henry Jackman and TV show The Flatshare with Composer Nitin Sawhney.
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Adiescar's socials: Twitter & 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.

E122 - Directing Dreaming Whilst Black with Joelle Mae David

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by director Joelle Mae David to talk us through her journey into the industry and how she went about directing the middle block of the hit BBC and A24 show, Dreaming Whilst Black from creator Adjani Salmon. As ever this is a craft focused conversation which covers the following:
 
-Joelle's journey into the industry.
-The challenges of making her first narrative short film, Greasy Spoon.
-Setting up and running her own production company.
-How she got her first TV credits.
-How she works within a tough filming schedule. 
-How to direct comedy.
-The difference between being a middle block and lead block director.
-Managing work/life balance as a working director.
 
Joelle Mae David started making her own short documentaries that shone a light on undiscovered talent from marginalised backgrounds which ultimately got featured on BBC3. She has since set up a company Bluebird Pictures with a focus on more narrative storytelling, that will further help give marginalised talent a chance and to tell stories that challenge the status quo. 
 
She’s obviously a filmmaker on the rise, having success with her short films Greasy Spoon and Cycle, before most recently landing the role as second block director on the wonderful Dreaming Whilst Black created by Adjani Salmon who stars in it too, Max Evans and Natasha Jatania. She’s also currently working as Lead director on Queenie from Showrunner Candice Carty-Williams for Channel 4.
 
Nuggets of the week
Oz: Oppenheimer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Ludwig Göransson
Marcus: Documentary - The Phenomenon
Joelle: The Firm by Sydney Pollack
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Joelle's socials: Twitter & 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.

E121 - Navigating Development & TV with Writer/Director Raisah Ahmed

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Writer/Director Raisah Ahmed. Raisah talks us through her journey into filmmaking, discussing her work as a writer in Sundance Writers' Lab, gaining her first TV directing credits, navigating the tricky world of development and her work on the hit Channel 4 TV show We are Lady Parts. This chat covers:
 
-Why did she get into films and TV?
-What made her begin writing?
-The journey toward directing her first short.
-Her work within childrens TV and directing children.
-Her work in development and development hell!
-Navigating the industry as a woman of colour.
-What the future holds.
 
Raisah Ahmed is a Writer & Director based in Glasgow Scotland. Her first funded short ‘Meet me by the water’ was commissioned by the Scottish Film Talent Network and premiered at Edinburgh International Film Festival, with a feature based on the same short further developed under the mentorship of Olivia Stewart and was also shortlisted for Sundance Writers Lab.
Raisah has since gone on to gain several TV directing credits as a part of BBC’s The Break, Sparks and also with childrens TV shows Princess Mirror-Belle and Molly and Mack. She hasn’t stopped writing though… Oh no. 
She wrote on the hit Channel 4 Show We Are Lady Parts created by Nida Manzoor and currently has several feature films in active development which have been done in partnership with the BFI and Film4 and her producer Zorana Piggott. And it has just been announced that you are adapting Martin Sixsmith’s follow up to Philomena, a family drama, detective story and thriller titled Ayesha’s Gift into a 6 part TV series. 
 
Nuggets of the week
Oz: Cadrage App
Marcus: Ponysmasher - Communicating Your Vision as a Directo
Raisah: Get out of the house and experience something outside of your own art form.
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Raisah's socials: Twitter & 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.

E120 - What is tone?

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by absolutely no-one. As filmmakers you may have heard someone mention tone in relation to yours or another directors' work and tone can be created instinctually because of past experience and taste or it can be more consciously crafted. Either way... we thought we would talk about it to outline exactly what it is and how you can think about it when producing your own work. This chat covers:
 
-Tone vs Mood, what's the difference?
-How do you create tone?
-We discuss tone coming from writing, referencing the scripts for Hereditary and Moonlight.
-Tone in prep, production & post-production referencing our films CUR:FEW and The Retreat.
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Oz: Don't be a knobhead.
Marcus: You can create - YouTube channel
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
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.
 

E119 - Demystifying Film Schools with Writer/Director Remi Moses

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Writer/Director Remi Moses, a recent attendee of the prestigious London Film School. There are no clear routes into the film industry as a director and many people see film schools as a clear pathway, but this isn't entirely the case. With Marcus and Oz's affilliation to the National Film and Television School and Remi's to LFS, we have a chat which aims to demystify film schools for those who haven't attended. This conversation covers:
 
-How Remi got into filmmaking.
-The challenges he faced which made him apply to film school.
-The application and entry process.
-A bit about the curriculum.
-What did we learn through attending?
-Is there an academic aspect to them?
-Did it improve your prospects/entry into the industry?
-Listener experiences and observations.
-Do you need to go to film school?
 
About Remi
Remi is a British born filmmaker who has been film-making for 9 years and likes to tell stories about disability, invisible illnesses/struggles and intimately complicated queer relationships. He has an affinity with intimate black stories, often told from his own experiences growing up in a Caribbean household.
 
When it comes to visual storytelling, Remi has a very poignant and romantic style. He takes huge pride in bringing heavy emotions and realism to his drama's, often elevating the genre by fusing it with horror, thriller or mystery.
 
Remi has won awards for his films and had them screened all around the world. Notable festivals include: BAFTA qualifying Norwich Film Festival and Aesthetica Film Festival, Los Angeles Short Film Festival and other smaller festivals in New York, Australia, Sweden and Glasgow.
 
https://rmmoses.co.uk/
 
Film School Information
 
The National Film and Television School
 
https://nfts.co.uk/directing-fiction
 
London Film School
 
https://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/course-overview
https://lfs.org.uk/full-time-study/ma-filmmaking/curriculum
 
Marcus' NFTS Entry Film
 
Watch No Exposure Here
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Oz: Harry's Podcast
Marcus: Best Girl Grip Podcast 
Remi: The scent of flowers at night – Leila Slimani
What Editing a Big Movie Looks Like – This Guy Edits
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Remi Moses socials:
Twitter
Instagram
Vimeo
 
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.