The Directors Take Podcast

E220 - From Directing Shorts to Continuing Drama with Writer/Director Nichola Wong

This is episode 20 in our second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by Nichola Wong, a Writer and Director who has successfully navigated her way from making short films to directing over 20 episodes of the continuing drama Hollyoaks. 
The transition from shorts to TV is one of the most challenging leaps to make as a filmmaker and continuing drama’s often come with a very systemic approach to delivering a constant stream of episodes for their audiences, so we brought on Nichola to break that process down for you all. 
This chat covers: 
 
-What is directing?
-How and why did she want to be a filmmaker?
-How did she break into the industry? 
-Gaining and losing an agent.
-How did she get her first break in TV? 
-What were the challenges she came up against in directing continuing drama? 
-How have mentors helped her career so far? 
-How has that helped her career going forward?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
Nichola’s Bio
Nichola is an award-winning Writer-Director, Sundance Fellow, BFI NETWORK x BAFTA Crew listed Director, and a graduate of the prestigious NFTS Directors Workshop, supported by Walt Disney. Her 1st TV pilot won All3 Media’s New Drama Script award at Edinburgh TV Festival and was one of eight out of 3000+ projects to be selected for the Sundance Episodic Lab.
Her short films have screened at film festivals all around the world, as well as on Hulu, US broadcast TV (FX, Freeform) and Film 4/All4.  She is currently developing various TV ideas and her 1st feature film with Ardimages. She has been mentored by Hong Khaou, Nick Rowland, Claire Tailyour and Tessa Hoffe.  
She also directs the 2nd unit on high-end TV shows, as well as directing over 20+ episodes of the continuing drama Hollyoaks.
 
Nugget of the week
 
Nichola: Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Hague
Oz: Song Exploder
Marcus: 6 days to air: The Making of South Park
 
Nichola’s Films
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssb7wRrdMOc
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Nichola Wong: Twitter (X) & Website
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

E219 - Demystifying the Road to BAFTAs & OSCARs with London Flair PR's Catherine Lyn Scott

This is episode 19 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by Catherine Lyn Scott from London Flair PR, who specialise in running BAFTA and Oscar award campaigns for short films. Catherine has helped her clients gain 32 Oscar nominations including 6 wins with films such as An Irish Goodbye (2023), The Long Goodbye (2022) starring Riz Ahmed and The Silent Child (2018). She was also attached to the most recent BAFTA nominated short Yellow and the eventual BAFTA winner Jellyfish and Lobster.
She is a master in her field and so we brought her on for a chat to help demystify the process of tackling awards season and to offer you all some very practical tips on how to up your own PR game. 
 
This chat includes:-
 
-What is PR?
-What attracts her to a project? 
-What does she look for in the filmmakers she represents? 
-Is there a formula? 
-How do you make the most out of a film festival run?
-What practical tips can you give to help people with their own campaigns?
-What mistakes do filmmakers make? 
-Do you need social media? 
-How do you build a personal brand?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Catherine: The Academy giving its own section to Short Films.
 
Oz: Fasting as a means to appreciate our fortune.
Marcus: DUNE part Two Q&A w/ Denis Villeneuve and Steven Spielberg
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
London Flair PR: Twitter (X), Facebook & Instagram
Catherine: Twitter (X), Facebook & 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

E218 - A conversation with DIRECTORS UK CEO Andy Harrower

This is episode 18 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by Andy Harrower who is the CEO of DIRECTORS UK, who help amplify the collective voice of working directors in the UK in tackling the multitude of issues that they might face. The TV & Film industry has undergone massive amounts of change over the last decade and beyond, so we wanted to get Directors UK’s perspective on the challenges faced by its 8,000 strong membership of Directors and by the wider industry too. 
In this chat we cover:-
 
-What is Directors UK and what do you represent? 
-So are you or are you not a union?
-Why was it founded in the first place? 
-How are residuals collected? 
-How disruptive has streaming been for working Directors and the industry over the last ten years and what other issues have come to light outside of residuals?
-The issue of late scripts and the subsequent mental health impacts. 
-How sustainable is the UK industry for Directors at the moment?
-The lack of joined up thinking around Talent Development in the UK.
-Talent Development within Directors UK.
-What other issues are in the crosshairs for Directors UK to attack?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Oz: Murder on the Orient Express - Tour
Marcus: Selling Sunset - Season 8 
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Directors UK: Twitter (X), Facebook & 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

E217 - Demystifying VFX with BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE’s Angus Bickerton

This is episode 17 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by legendary VFX Supervisor Angus Bickerton, whose career has stretched over 40 years and landed him jobs on films such as Lost in Space, Tim Burton’s - Dark Shadows & Batman (1989), Kingsman Gold Circle, Rocketman, HBO’s House of the Dragon and most recently on Tim Burtons sequel to his 80s hit BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE starring Michael Keaton.
 
This chat includes:
How does a VFX supervisor collaborate with the director to bring a vision to life on film and TV?
The role of pre-vis in VFX workflows on projects?
How can a VFX supervisor balance creative freedom with tight budget constraints?
Working with different creative approaches - Tim Burton, Matthew Vaughn, Miguel Sapochnik.
What makes the volume and blue screen techniques different for actors and crew?
How do VFX artists adapt to changes on set and in post production?
Crafting iconic sequences like the Batwing shot in Batman (1989) and dragon chases in House of the Dragon.
The VFX of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
How can directors be better equipped for VFX on their projects?
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
Nuggets of the week
 
Marcus: Jim Cummings The Beta Test documentary
https://x.com/jimmycthatsme/status/1797659509172654512?s=46 
 
Oz: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/
 
Angus: Mach Loop in Wales - Military Aircraft fly low through the valleys, 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyszRvOOVmg
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
The Directors' Take: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Marcus: Twitter (X) & Instagram
Oz: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

E216 - The Journey to Directing PRESUMED INNOCENT with Greg Yaitanes Part 2

This is episode 16 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by legendary TV Director Greg Yaitanes, whose career has stretched over 30 years and landed him jobs on shows such as House M.D., Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Prison Break, Banshee, House of the Dragon and most recently on Apple TV’s most watched Drama of all time, PRESUMED INNOCENT starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
In Part 2 we go in-depth to explore his time directing the exceptional cast and crew on Presumed Innocent. This chat includes:
 
-How did you come to direct 5 episodes on Presumed Innocent?
-Do you tailor the way you communicate with actors based on their experience?
-How did you go about elevating the material from the script? 
-How did you craft the visual language and did that allow you to be more free with the actors? 
-How did you go about creating the texture of the world? 
-How do you navigate Writer, Producer and sometimes Actor notes?
-What does he see the future of filmmaking as?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Greg: What you take for granted, someone else is praying for.
Oz: https://medium.com/@gregyaitanes
Marcus: The Mythical Production of Prometheus by Frame Voyager
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Greg Yaitanes: 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
 

E215 - The Journey to Directing PRESUMED INNOCENT with Greg Yaitanes Part 1

This is episode 15 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by legendary Emmy winning TV Director Greg Yaitanes, whose career has stretched over 30 years and landed him jobs on shows such as House M.D., Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Prison Break, Banshee, House of the Dragon and most recently on Apple TV’s most watched Drama of all time, PRESUMED INNOCENT starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
In Part 1 we cover his journey of directing over 200 hours of TV and unpick the nuggets of information he gained along the way. This chat includes:
 
-What is directing? 
-Why did he become a director? 
-Why does he prefer to work on Season 1 of a show, rather than something already established? 
-His experience of directing on Lost.
-Building a relationship with producers such as JJ.. Abrams.
-How he approaches interviews. 
-What does he look for when hiring directors? 
-What did he learn whilst directing on House of the Dragon?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
Nuggets of the week
 
Greg: What you take for granted, someone else is praying for.
Oz: https://medium.com/@gregyaitanes
Marcus: The Mythical Production of Prometheus by Frame Voyager
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Greg Yaitanes: 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

E214 - The Journey to Directing SUPACELL with Sebastian Thiel Part 2

This is Episode 14 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by Sebastian Thiel for the second part of their conversation on how he directed three episodes of the global number one Netflix show, SUPACELL. Sebastian is also a writer, producer and all-round creative, so we brought him on to talk us through his journey toward Directing the phenomenon that is SUPACELL.  
This conversation covers the following…
-The jump to lead directing on Riches.
-How did he get the job on SUPACELL?
-What was his first day like?
-How did you find it working with VFX and Stunts for the first time?
-What sequences did he change from Script to Screen? 
-What is he most proud of looking back?
-What does the future look like for him now?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
Biography
Sebastian Thiel is a director, writer, producer. Born in Zambia and raised in North-West London, 
 
He started his own production company, Upshot Entertainment, at the age of 17 and made his 2014 TV debut on London Live with his documentary Trap Town which he created, wrote and directed. 
 
His first drama Just A Couple began life as a YouTube series before being picked up by Big Talk Productions for BBC Three.
 
Sebastian went on to direct the International Emmy-nominated BBC Three comedy Dreaming Whilst Black, and the recent hit ITVX and Amazon Prime drama Riches.  
 
Most recently, Sebastian directed Rapman’s SUPACELL, the number 1 superhero drama show in London for Netflix.
 
Sebastian continues to produce content through Upshot Entertainment, a subset of which produces professional and dynamic showreels, under Upshot Reels, for some of Britain’s greatest talent including Letitia Wright (Black Panther, Small Axe).  
He is also the founder of Dope Black Art, which is dedicated to championing black culture through visual art.
Nuggets of the week
 
OZ:Jean-Michel Basquiat -  id 
 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8G9pnE0bnfE
 
Marcus: Shiro’s Story - https://youtu.be/H_6ZJrg-E3Q?si=dnk8dmSHiTsn8KvE 
And also Just A Couple https://youtu.be/E_jATst-xtk?si=oz_uFxa5bm2DnMdp
 
Sebastian: UPSHOT Reels
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Sebastian: 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
 
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E213 - The Journey to Directing SUPACELL with Sebastian Thiel Part 1

This is Episode 13 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by Sebastian Thiel, who is one of the directors on Netflix’s global number one show, SUPACELL. Sebastian is also a writer, producer and all-round creative, so we brought him on to talk us through his journey toward Directing the phenomenon that is SUPACELL.  
 
This conversation covers the following…
 
-What is directing?
-How did he come into storytelling? 
-The story of how he made his first projects and web series. 
-The jump between making films as a self-starter to working within the TV system. 
-A discussion on development hell and getting the first directing gig.
-How to direct comedy.
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
 
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
 
Biography
Sebastian Thiel is a director, writer, producer. Born in Zambia and raised in North-West London, 
 
He started his own production company, Upshot Entertainment, at the age of 17 and made his  2014 TV debut on London Live with his documentary Trap Town which he created, wrote and directed. 
 
His first drama Just A Couple began life as a YouTube series before being picked up by Big Talk Productions for BBC Three.
 
Sebastian went on to direct the International Emmy-nominated BBC Three comedy Dreaming Whilst Black, and the recent hit ITVX and Amazon Prime drama Riches.  
 
Most recently, Sebastian directed Rapman’s Supacell, the number 1 superhero drama show in London for Netflix.
 
Sebastian continues to produce content through Upshot Entertainment, a subset of which produces professional and dynamic showreels, under Upshot Reels, for some of Britain’s greatest talent including Letitia Wright (Black Panther, Small Axe).  
He is also the founder of Dope Black Art, which is dedicated to championing black culture through visual art.
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Sebastian: 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
 

E212 - The Art of Performance with Brian Gilbert - Part 2

This is Episode 12 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by Brian Gilbert, a BAFTA and Oscar Nominated Director and one of the lead tutors at the National Film and Television School, who specialises in the art of performance and working with actors. 
This is the second part in our conversation with Brian, as we break down the fundamentals of working with actors and how you shape their performances for screen. 
PART 2 covers…
 
-How do you create motivated blocking in a scene?
-How should you use rehearsal time with actors?
-Having helped develop some of the best filmmaking talent in the UK, has he seen any similarities between them?
-Brian talks us through how he met Stanley Kubrick on the set of 2001.
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is THE NATIONAL FILM and TELEVISION SCHOOL.
 
We’ve also partnered with SCRIPTATION to offer our listeners an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT on their software, which you can find on the link below… 
http://scriptation.com/thedirectorstake 
 
Biography
 
Brian Gilbert started out his career as a child actor, appearing several times on Australian television before earning a scholarship to read English Literature at Oxford University, where he began directing plays. After this he travelled for a while as an actor, before being accepted into the National Film and Television School where his graduation film, THE DEVOTEE won several awards and got him industry attention. From here he went on to make several feature films such as Sharma and Beyond, The Frog Prince, Vice Versa, Not without my Daughter, Tom and Viv which starred Willem Dafoe and Miranda Richardson and picked up two Oscar and two BAFTA nominations before making WILDE. A Biopic on Oscar Wilde starring Stephen Fry and Jude Law amongst others.
 
In 2004 he began working at the National Film and Television School and became a key figure there as it went on to establish itself as one of the top 15 film schools in the world as said by The Hollywood Reporter. As a lead tutor he has overseen the development of some of the UKs most exciting filmmaking talent such as Nick Rowland, Mahalia Belo and Rose Glass, and he specialises in the art of performance on screen.
 
NUGGET
Marcus: A Quote from Stanley Kubrick taken from the book The Film Director as Superstar by Joseph Gelmis.
 
‘A director is a kind of idea and taste machine; a movie is a series of creative and technical decisions, and it’s the director’s job to make the right decisions as frequently as possible. Shooting a movie is the worst milieu for creative work ever devised by man. It is a noisy, physical apparatus; it is difficult to concentrate - and you have to do it from 8:30 to 6:30, five days a week. It’s not an environment an artist would ever choose to work in. The only advantage it has is that you must do it, and you can’t procrastinate’.
 
Oz: Shot Designer App
 
Brian: The Homecoming (theatre) directed by Matthew Dunster and starring Jared Harris, Joe Cole and Lisa Diveney.
 
Emily Dickinson Poem - The Brain -  is wider than the Sky
 
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.

E211 - The Art of Performance with Brian Gilbert - Part 1

This is Episode 11 in the second season of The Directors Take Podcast.
In this week’s episode your hosts Marcus Anthony Thomas and Oz Arshad are joined by Brian Gilbert, a BAFTA and Oscar Nominated Director and one of the lead tutors at the National Film and Television School, who specialises in the art of performance and working with actors. 
Your ability to draw performances from actors is at the heart of the directors’ job, so we brought on an absolute expert in Brian Gilbert to break that all down for you all. 
PART 1 covers…
 
-How did he get into filmmaking as a practice?
-How did he get his first break as a working director? 
-How does he work with high profile actors?
-How should you communicate with actors?
-How can you change the energy of a performance?
 
Our wonderful sponsor for this episode is The National Film and Television School.
 
Biography
 
Brian Gilbert started out his career as a child actor, appearing several times on Australian television before earning a scholarship to read English Literature at Oxford University, where he began directing plays. After this he travelled for a while as an actor, before being accepted into the National Film and Television School where his graduation film, THE DEVOTEE won several awards and got him industry attention. From here he went on to make several feature films such as Sharma and Beyond, The Frog Prince, Vice Versa, Not without my Daughter, Tom and Viv which starred Willem Dafoe and Miranda Richardson and picked up two Oscar and two BAFTA nominations before making WILDE. A Biopic on Oscar Wilde starring Stephen Fry and Jude Law amongst others.
 
In 2004 he began working at the National Film and Television School and became a key figure there as it went on to establish itself as one of the top 15 film schools in the world as said by The Hollywood Reporter. As a lead tutor he has overseen the development of some of the UKs most exciting filmmaking talent such as Nick Rowland, Mahalia Belo and Rose Glass, and he specialises in the art of performance on screen.
 
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