The Directors Take Podcast

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.

E105 - The biggest mistakes early directors make!

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus discuss the biggest mistakes that young directors make! Using their own learnings that they've made whilst navigating the pathway into the industry, they outline the things they wish they had known at the start. They cover:
 
-The failure to finish work.
-Chasing the 'film look'.
-Searching for shortcuts.
-Waiting for permission.
-Detrimental perfectionism.
 
Nuggets of the Week
TV Show: Project Greenlight
Film: Stutz (available on Netflix)
 
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.

E104 - Demystifying Agents with Mark Brennan of United Agents

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus are joined by Mark Brennan from United Agents and we have a very candid conversation which demystifies the process of being signed by an agent and what that relationship then looks like. We cover...
 
-At what point should you being looking for representation as a Director.
-How should you approach agents?
-What do agents look for in potential clients and how do they make their decisions on who to sign?
-What happens when you sign with an agent?
-What does the relationship look like once you've signed?
-What is the thinking process of an agent when  putting a director forward for a job?
-From their perspective, what does the pathway into being a working director really look like?
 
Nuggets of the Week
Podcast: Feel Better Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee #224 How To Live Your Best Life with Jake Humphrey
YouTube: Into the volume: A Behind-the-scenes Look into the Virtual Production of 1899
App: Copyclip
 
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.

E103 - How we shadowed on TOPBOY and HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus are joined by Director and visual artist Riffy Ahmed, where they talk you through the experiences they had in shadowing the Directors' on Season 1 of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON and the upcoming season of TOPBOY.
 
-Riffy tells us her incredible story of how she had a show featured in the Saatchi Gallery.
-We talk practically about how you should shadow on a high-end TV show.
-We talk about our relationships with the Directors and Showrunners.
-We cover what we learnt about the role of a Director working with the TV system and becoming a 'midwife'.
-We touch on what it is to be a Second Unit Director in TV.
-We talk about diversity in the TV & Film Industry based on our own experiences.
-We talk about emotional resilience and the importance of on set experience.
 
Riffy Ahmed is a multi-disciplined visual artist and has had her work featured in Directors' Notes, Dazed and the Saatchi Gallery. Now signed to Independent talent, she is currently developing her own original TV and Feature work and most recently shadowed Myriam Raja on Season 3 of Netflix's TOPBOY.
 
http://www.riffy.com/
 
Nuggets of the Week
 
YouTube Channel: Great Art Explained
Podcast: The Last of Us Podcast
 
Credits
Music by Oliver Wegmüller
 
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.

E102 - Films done... Now what?

In this episode of The Directors' Take podcast, your hosts Oz Arshad and Marcus Anthony Thomas talk you through what happened once they finished making the films that propelled them into the film industry.