The Directors’ Take Podcast

E115 - Sarmad Masud Part 1: Directing Shorts to an Indie Feature

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Director Sarmad Masud, whose credits include Hollyoaks, Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge, BBC’s You Don’t Know Me and Sky’s Bulletproof. He also wrote and directed the indie feature My Pure Land which he shot in Pakistan. 
 
Sam takes us through:
 
-His early start back in 1999 at Hull School of Art and Design.
-The journey to find his voice and make shorts whenever he could.
-Missteps, mistakes and finding a way.
-His successful short film, TWO DOSAS (Himesh Patel) funded by Film London and was voted best film in their London Calling Plus category by David Yates.
-Struggles to get a job which lead to him working as an Art Dept runner. 
-The long arduous journey of making his debut indie feature MY PURELAND.
-Having lunch with his man crush, Danny Boyle.-Beginnings of his TV career and shooting Hollyoaks and Ackley Bridge.
 
Sam most recently directed all four episodes of You Don't know Me, a brand new drama series for Snowed-in Productions, written by Tom Edge. It is based on the bestselling novel by Imran Mahmood and aired on Sunday 5th December at 9pm on BBC One.Sam previously directed the Bulletproof  Special for Vertigo and Sky set in Cape Town, having also directed the Season 2 finale. He also recently directed on Ackley Bridge  for The Forge and Channel 4. His first feature My Pure Land,  is set and filmed in Pakistan and based on the extraordinary true story of one woman and her family who defended their home and land from 200 bandits. It premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and was the UK submission to the Oscars in the Foreign Language category. 
  
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Sam’s twitter: @Sammasud37
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.

E114 - Shooting House of the Dragon with Cinematographer Catherine Goldschmidt BSC

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Cinematographer Catherine Goldschmidt BSC, whose credits include Doctor Who, A Discovery of Witches and most recently HBO's House of the Dragon and she is also co-founder of a UK collective of female cinematographers called Illuminatrix. In last week's episode, 1st AD Steven Eniraiyetan described the Director, 1st AD and Cinematographer as the 'Holy Triangle', so we brought on one of the finest up and coming Cinematographers to break down exactly what that relationship looks like. This chat covers:
 
-What is a cinematographer?
-What do you look for in a director when choosing a project?
-What do the first conversations with a director look like?
-How did you transition from shorts to long form?
-What does prep look like for you?
-How do you craft a visual language and establish rules?
-How do you bring your own style into a show that already has a very established look?
-What does the relationship with a director look like when you're shooting?
-How you work with multiple cameras.
-What scene are you most looking forward to shooting in season 2 of House of the Dragon.
 
With a background in shooting award-winning independent features and documentaries, Catherine was named a “2022 Rising Star of Cinematography” by American Cinematographer Magazine for her more recent work in episodic. Her TV credits include lead DP on the 12th Season of Doctor Who, the Emmy-nominated show Dummy, (for which she pioneered a new approach to framing that was featured in both American Cinematographer and British Cinematographer Magazine) and the critically acclaimed BBC/Amazon original mini-series Chloe. She also shot a block on the last season of A Discovery of Witches for Sky/AMC, and most recently on HBO’s hit prequel series to Game of Thrones – House of the Dragon, for which she garnered a 2023 ASC Award nomination.
Catherine has an MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute, and a BA in Film Studies from Wesleyan University. She is a voting member of BAFTA, a full accredited member of the British Society of Cinematographers as well a member of ICG Local #600.
https://catherinegoldschmidt.com/
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: How Hit HBO Shows Like 'The Last of Us' and 'Euphoria' Get Greenlit
Oz: IMDb Pro
Catherine: https://www.european-traveler.com/netherlands/rijksmuseum-largest-vermeer-exhibition-ever-in-amsterdam-in-2023/
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Catherine's Insta: @cgdop
 
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.

E113 - Demystifying First ADs with Blue Story’s Steven Eniraiyetan

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by First Assistant Director Steven Eniraiyetan, whose recent credits include Netflix's The Strays, Dreaming Whilst Black by Adjani Salmon and Blue Story by Rapman. As a Director, the people you will be working with closest on a film set is the First AD and the cinematographer, so we decided to bring one on to talk about exactly what that relationship looks like. This chat covers:
 
-What is a First Assistant Director?
-What does the relationship look like between a First AD and Director?
-Scheduling as a means of being creative.
-What does prep look like?
-The difference in early career and experienced directors.
-The big mistakes that directors make.
-His own career as a director.
 
As well as being an exceptional First Assistant Director, Steven is also transitioning into directing himself, having recently been selected to be a part of the Amazon Prime Video Directors Workshop in partnership with the NFTS. His short film A Warriors Dance has now screened at its showcase and will be embarking on its festival journey imminently.
https://nfts.co.uk/article/six-and-coming-directors-join-prime-video-workshop-nfts
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: FilmRiot - Can you write a feature film?
Oz: Only Fools and Horses - Chain Gang
Steven:  Look Up - Author Nathan Bryon (book)
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Steven's Insta: Steven_imp
 
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.

E112 - What is Directing?

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by absolutely no-one... It's just the two of them, and they ponder and breakdown what they believe the fundamentals of directing is. This chat covers:
 
-What is directing?
-What is your voice?
-What is blocking?
-How do you communicate information visually?
-What is visual language?
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: The Directors Cut - A DGA Podcast - Glass Onion A Knives out Mystery with Rian Johnson and Phil Lord (Ep. 390)
Oz:  Directors UK Podcast - Aftersun: Charlotte Wells in conversation with Barry Jenkins
 
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.
 

E111 - Em Gilbertson: 2nd Unit Directing on ITV’s Malpractice

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Director Em Gilbertson, a recent National Film and Television School graduate who is currently making their way as a 2nd Unit Director for TV, most recently working on Malpractice which is directed by Philip Barantini and stars Niamh Algar. So we thought we'd bring them on for a chat to explain exactly what 2nd Unit Directing is! This chat covers:
 
-How they got into the film industry
-Entering the NFTS as someone who is from a working class background.
-The process of making their graduation film Requiem and working with Bella Ramsey.
-What is 2nd Unit Directing?
-What are the roles and responsibilities of a 2nd Unit Director?
-How do you make sure you are making the same show?
-How do you work with high level cast and crew?
 
Em J. Gilbertson (they/them) is a writer/director from Liverpool, working across film, television and music videos. Em is represented by the Independent Talent Group and currently working towards their first feature film. Their previous work has explored gender roles and the pressure to assimilate into dangerous environments but new projects are exploring non-binary identities and freedom. Em likes to draw upon personal experience to create complicated queer characters that examine the human condition. They have a passion for creating work that champions dance, spoken word and music whilst featuring it in innovative and unorthodox ways.
​
A recent graduate of the prestigious NFTS' Directing Fiction course and a Channel 4 Scholar. Their graduation film: Requiem starring Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us and Game of Thrones)  was the Winner of Best Postgraduate Drama at the Royal Television Society Student Awards 2022 and has been selected at multiple BAFTA qualifying film festivals. Since graduating, Em has done some second unit directing on BBC's Silent Witness and ITV's Malpractice. Previously Em shadowed BAFTA nominated Phil Barantini and the legendary Mary Harron. Em has also directed multiple music videos that have featured on MTV and in Kerrang! 
​
Em's previous work: Crashing Waves saw a lot of success on the festival circuit and was Broadcast on Channel 4 as part of Series 5 of Random Acts. The film was nominated for the Iris Prize, gained a Vimeo Staff Pick and was an official selection for #fivefilmsforfreedom presented by the British Council and BFI Flare in 2019.
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: Artist - Miles Johnston
Oz:  Creativity, Inc: an inspiring look at how creativity can - and should - be harnessed for business success by the founder of Pixar by Ed Catmull
Em: Veneno
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Em's website: https://www.emmajgilbertson.com/
 
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.

E110 - Demystifying BFI Network Funding with Film Hub North’s Ben Taylor

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by Film Hub North's very own Ben Taylor, a BFI Talent Exec. With BFI Network funding being one of the most widely accessible funding pots for aspiring filmmakers in England, we decided to bring on one of the people who has a say in which projects are successful, all in an effort to demystify that process for each one of you. This chat covers:
 
-What is the job of a talent exec?
-When should you be reaching out to a talent exec?
-The barrier of having to apply with a producer.
-What criteria do you look for in the successful applicants?
-Is the industry becoming more diverse?
-What level of support do they offer filmmakers at various levels?
-How are you bridging the gap between shorts and features?
-The North/South divide.
-We also cover a bunch of (fun) questions from you guys!
 
Ben Taylor went to college in Nottingham and then migrated to Sheffield University to study, and it is here that he became involved in the Sheffield Doc fest. He then migrated again, but this time to Scotland when he took on the role of a Screen Executive at Screen Scotland, working across scripted and factual funding for film and television alongside supporting festivals, distribution and training.
He has also held roles as BIFA's Talent and Training Manager, Creative Europe MEDIA Officer for Scotland and was responsible for launching Glasgow Film Festival’s Industry Focus strand and at Crossover Labs managed the Interactive section at Sheffield's programme. Now he is a BFI Talent Executive at Film Hub North supporting filmmakers in the region through funding, events and guidance.
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: Short Hand: A guide to making a short film Podcast
Oz: Nathan Bryon - Black Prose Podcast 
Ben Taylor: Krzysztof Kieślowski: Three Colours Trilogy
Dark Matter: Independent Filmmaking in the 21st Century by Michael Winterbottom
German Artist Hanz Hemmert
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Ben's Twitter: @imbentaylor
 
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.

E109 - Amit Shah: Acting in Happy Valley

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas are joined by prolific actor Amit Shah (Happy Valley, His Dark Materials, Doctor Who). One of the most important collaborations on a film set is between a Director and their cast, so we do a deep dive into what that process looks like to help demystify what it is to work with actors. This covers:
 
-Amit's journey into acting.
-Amit's range as an actor.
-What is the role of an actor?
-What's the difference between shorts & TV?
-Is the industry becoming more diverse?
-How does a director gain your trust?
-We talk about the process of blocking actors.
-We talk about resilience as an actor.
 
AMIT SHAH has probably been seen by everyone in England in one project or another having had roles in - Black Mirror, White Van Man, Benidorm, Casualty, Hustle, Fresh Meat, Lillyhammer, Silent Witness, W1A, Jekyll & Hyde, Crashing, Midsommer Murders, Johnny English Strikes Again, Doctor Who, Last Christmas, The Witcher, His Dark Materials, The other one, Death in Paradise and most recently he played a rogue Happy Valley. He also won a BIFA for best actor in the short film Big Ears.https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/amit-shah/
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: Behind the Curtain - The unknown story of writing drive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsfWO5eJtm4
Oz: A personal story from Oz about not taking life for granted.
Amit: 'The more honest you can be about the specificity of a subject matter, the more universal it can be.' - Darren Aronofsky. 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
Socials
Instagram: @TheDirectorsTakePodcast
Twitter: @DirectorsTake
Amit's Twitter: @theamitshah
Amit's Instagram: @amitshahactor
 
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.

E108 - Demystifying Producers with Helen Simmons

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus are joined by Producer and Writer Helen Simmons (F*CK & KLOKKENLUIDER). With the BFI Network funding applications currently open and there being a lack of Producers available, we did a deep dive to uncover the mystery of Producers. This covers...
 
-What are the different types of Producers?
-What do Producers do?
-How do Producers choose their collaborators?
-How do you find/approach Producers?
-How do you get projects funded?
-How do you get feature projects moving?
-We also ask a bunch of YOUR questions!
 
HELEN SIMMONS is a BIFA longlisted producer and writer who was named a Screen Star of Tomorrow in 2018. Her work has screened at festivals across the world including Rhode Island, Flickerfest and LOCO. As a producer, she runs Erebus Pictures – BFI Vision Awardee 2020 – and recently produced features KLOKKENLUIDER (Jenna Coleman, Tom Burke, Amit Shah); HOARD, (Joseph Quinn, Hayley Squires), and BONUS TRACK (Josh O’Connor, Jack Davenport, Alison Sudol and Susan Wokoma) As a writer, her debut short F*CK, starring Emmy-award winner Brett Goldstein (TED LASSO) and Esther Smith (TRYING) screened at multiple festivals, was a Vimeo Staff Pick, and gained a Best Screenwriter nomination at Underwire. Helen has been part of iFeatures and 4Screenwriting, and wrote 4 episodes of Audible Original DARK HARBOUR. She’s currently writing 3 episodes of an animated show for Sky and Hocus Pocus under lead writer Joseph Morpurgo, released later this year, and a romantic comedy feature for the Netflix Breakout scheme with director BAFTA nominated Ben Mallaby. Helen co-wrote feature film LAST SWIM, which is being produced by Caviar (SOUND OF METAL), directed by Sasha Nathwani, and is in production. She recently co-wrote and directed a BFI short starring Callie Cooke (WEDDING SEASON) and Lydia Rose Bewley (DRIFTERS). Helen is also developing multiple TV and film projects including a darkly comic crime thriller with World Productions; a romantic comedy six-parter starring Daniel Lawrence Taylor for Kinetic Content; a biopic for Erebus and The Development Partnership; and a darkly comic horror for Moonriver TV.
 
To hear about Helen's journey into the industry listen to this episode of The Filmmakers Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2c2gzdoCno8VCnl1rgeTjL?si=4c8804f20b7341d3
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: The A24 Podcast - Nervous Laughter with Ari Aster & Joaquin Phoenix.
Oz: Unreal Engine for Animatics.
Helen: S16 Ep9 How To Fail: Greg James on radio, rebellion and failing to be good at fame.
Instagram quote - 'Art doesn't have to be depressing, there's value in happy/feel good art'.
 
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.

E107 - Alice Seabright Part 2: Showrunning BBC’s Chloe

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus are joined by Writer & Director Alice Seabright (SEX EDUCATION & CHLOE) for a deep dive on directing craft... We dove so deep that we had to split this conversation into two. This is Part 2, which covers....
 
-A sincere apology for the excellent cliffhanger at the end of Part 1.
-Alice details how she got her very own TV show.
-What the greenlight process was like.
-What were the differences between being a lead director and 2nd block director?
-What she looked for when choosing the 2nd block director.
-Tackling a TV schedule.
-Reshaping story on the day and in post production.
 
Alice Seabright is a Writer/Director who gained acclaim for a series of short films such as the BFI backed PREGNANT PAUSE, SEX ED and END-O which was an official selection at the BFI London Film Festival. Alice then went on to direct and write episodes of the hit Netflix show SEX EDUCATION before having her own TV show commissioned by BBC & Amazon, a mystery/thriller titled CHLOE, which released to strong reviews.
 
Nuggets of the week
Marcus: YouTube Channel - Corridor Crew
Oz: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Dir: Sergio Leone, 1966)
Alice: Book - The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
 
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.

E106 - Alice Seabright Part 1: Directing Sex Education

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus are joined by Writer & Director Alice Seabright (SEX EDUCATION & CHLOE) for a deep dive on directing craft... We dove so deep that we had to split this conversation into two, with Part 1 covering the following...
 
-Alice talks us through her journey into directing.
-We talk about how she got her first job as a working director.
-We talk about the biggest issues she faced in transitioning from short films to high-end TV.
-We did a deep dive into how she attacks pre-production.
-We break down the role of a working director within high-end TV.
 
Alice Seabright is a Writer/Director who gained acclaim for a series of short films such as the BFI backed PREGNANT PAUSE, SEX ED and END-O which was an official selection at the BFI London Film Festival. Alice then went on to direct and write episodes of the hit Netflix show SEX EDUCATION before having her own TV show commissioned by BBC & Amazon, a mystery/thriller titled CHLOE, which released to strong reviews.
 
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.