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How does a professional director approach a shoot day when they’re trying to figure out what are the most important elements to bring home - and what blocking, shots and equipment are best for achieving that?
Is it better to plan every move, every word - or to improvise and react to the work of the actors and the weather on the day?
How can you communicate these intentions to important collaborators - like your DOP, or 1st AD - so they can prepare for the same goals, but leave you enough freedom to catch inspiration when you see it? What’s the industry standard way to do this, and how does that fit with your own vision? And how much prep is too much prep?
Emmy- and Prix Europa-winning director John McKay has made feature films with Andie McDowell, Imelda Staunton and Karen Gillan, leading series like Shetland and Life on Mars, and won awards from short films to his own feature producing debut Falling Into Place.
Whether you’re a first time short film maker, a seasoned series director on a high end drama, or an arthouse feature maker expressing your vision, time on set is always short and under pressure. No wonder directors get nervous!
This 1 day workshop takes you through the pros and cons of pre-blocking, storyboarding, shot-listing, and pre-timing on a real 2 page scene of action and dialogue in a real shooting schedule - supporting you to prepare and communicate your own take to key crew collaborators, actors (and even producers!); and in discussion with a guest DoP and 1st AD, giving you a toolkit of techniques to achieve a confident and fluent level of planning and communication, at a shoot-ready industry standard, whatever your individual style and vision.
Everyone with an interest in directing.
Please complete the application form via the button at the top of the page
