Directing Television Drama

In an effort to deliver the best possible experience and outcome for attendees of this masterclass, places are very limited, so you’re encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment.

Join accomplished director Andrew Gunn for this three-day Masterclass for aspiring high-end drama directors. Andrew will be sharing his valuable knowledge and expertise on the multi-faceted role of directing television drama.

Over the three-day intensive course not only will you network with fellow aspiring directors, you will get a ‘real world’ understanding and practical appreciation of the work of a drama director, and how to confidently succeed in this demanding and challenging job.

Andrew will take you step-by-step through the essential pre-production and shooting stages of drama directing, and how to effectively and efficiently plan and prepare for the production of High-End and Continuing drama.

This course provides in-depth insights into the processes of directing actors and crew from the perspective of the television drama director. However, it’s also relevant to single-camera comedy directing.

As a participant you will develop your professional skills as a director through a range of applied creative and technical training that includes:

• The Duties and Responsibilities of a Drama Director.
• Script Reading, Analysis and Director’s Notes.
• Director’s Planning and Prep.
• Casting and Directing Actors Like a Pro.
• The Creative and Technical Aspects of Directing Drama.
• Translating the Script to the Screen.
• Tone, Style and Visual Storytelling.
• Blocking, Staging and Choreography of a Scene.
• Collaborating With Your Producer and Heads of Department.
• The Best Way to Shoot with Two Cameras or More.
• How To Complete Your Shooting Schedule, Whilst Delivering Story and Performance.

Directing Television Drama is created and delivered by a highly experienced, versatile and award-winning director, with a 30-year track-record at the sharp end of the UK film and television industry. The course offers an intensive and ‘real world’ training that will empower you to succeed and thrive as a drama director, with no fluff.

Learn in three days the skills and knowledge that took Andrew over a decade to acquire. Through tried-and-tested practices and methods, Andrew provides you with the toolkit that will enable you to confidently transition into the world of drama production.

• HOW TO BECOME A DRAMA DIRECTOR.
• WHAT DOES A DRAMA DIRECTOR DO?
• THE DIRECTOR’S KEY COLLABORATORS.
• THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DRAMA DIRECTOR.
• SCRIPT ANALYSIS.
• DIRECTOR’S PLANNING AND PREP.
• CASTING – The Art of Casting.
• HOW TO AUDITION ACTORS LIKE A PRO.
• THE CHALLENGES OF PRODUCTION AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM.
• HOW TO DIRECT A SCENE - “The Process”
• HOW TO WORK WITH ACTORS.
• TV DRAMA CONVENTIONS.
• AN INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL STORYTELLING FOR TV DRAMA.
• CROSSING ‘THE LINE’ LIKE A PRO.

PLUS: practical exercises, workshops and screenings, culminating in a DIRECTING ACTORS WORKSHOP, during which you will try your hand at directing a short scene with professional screen actors.

** Please note however, this is NOT a practical filmmaking course. Although you will participate in several hands-on exercises and workshops, you will not be filming any scenes.

Directing Television Drama is for people with a passion for directing who want to develop their careers into directing High-End and Continuing drama. You may already have some directing experience and want to further develop your skills, knowledge and confidence in the world of premium drama. Or you may be working in a different role and have aspirations to transition into a directing career.

Whether your goal is to expand and enhance your existing skills or to make the move from short films, factual, commercials, indie features or studio directing, this course will allow you to explore the essential craft, technical and professional aspects of the role.

Early Career Drama Director

Editor

Cinematographer

Actor

Writer

Theatre Director

Factual Director

New Director

Film Graduate

Commercials Director

Indie Filmmaker

Previous attendees include a Sound Recordist, Camera Operator and Script Supervisor.

ANDREW GUNN is an accomplished and versatile film and television director whose diverse work encompasses high-end drama, children’s drama, comedy and short films.

He has directed some of the most high-profile dramas of recent years, working with Academy Award nominees and BAFTA award-winners, and counts amongst his collaborators Andy Serkis, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, David Morrissey, Olivia Coleman, John Simm, Ian Puleston-Davies, Felicity Jones, Sophie Okonedo, Ian Hart and Stephen Tomkinson.

His passion for compelling performance and potent visual storytelling is apparent from his work on hit shows such as the Emmy-winning Life on Mars, Doctor Who, Survivors, Wild at Heart, The Bay, Wolfblood and Primeval. His work extends to comedy, most notably the BAFTA-winning sitcom Green Wing starring Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig, for which he created the signature visual style.

Andrew is currently developing an original six-part drama with Rope Ladder Fiction, for which he is creator, lead director and co-executive producer.

Prizes for his previous short films include two Royal Television Society Awards, a Certificate of Merit at the Chicago International Film Festival and for his graduation film (way back in the day!) North East Young Filmmaker Award at the Tyneside International Film Festival.

“Andrew Gunn delivers insight that is hard earned, real and entertaining. Not unlike your favourite series.”

OLIVER PEARN – Writer/Director

“Andrew Gunn gives you real breakthrough knowledge that will inspire you, excite you, stimulate your directing desires above & beyond film-school, in only 3 days! The course really breaks down the fundamentals of directing actors, crew & collaborating with each member of the production. Andrew teaches you about adapting to challenges on and off set, and the fundamentals of preparing for your first drama directing gig in TV.”

BEN J. WILLIAMS – Director/Assistant Director

“I recently took the Directing TV Drama course with Andrew, and it was fantastic. The best part was the practical elements — watching Andrew block scenes and then getting to try it ourselves. We also analysed scenes from different films to understand storytelling techniques. The main takeaway for me was a big boost in confidence as a new director. Andrew's teaching made the whole process feel interesting and hands-on.”

EMILIJA PAULAUSKAITE – Script Supervisor

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Directing TV Drama course with Andrew Gunn whose insights into the world of HETV production were extremely helpful. Coming predominantly from working in short films and wanting to move into continuing drama, I found Andrew’s expertise of the process from prep to shoot a real eye-opener and look forward to applying the knowledge I have gained to my first HETV production.”

DAN BRONZITE - Writer/Director

“Taking Andrew Gunn's Directing TV Drama course was a transformative experience. Andrew's extensive industry knowledge and experience made every session entertaining, informative and engaging. His unique method for directing actors on set is excellent and should be essential training for all aspiring directors. This course not only enhanced my directing skills but also profoundly changed how I approach working with actors, making me a more efficient and effective director. I highly recommend Andrew’s course to anyone serious about excelling in TV drama direction.”

PETER DEMETRIS – Director/Camera Operator

“Attending Andrew’s course on Directing TV Drama was a Masterclass in storytelling. His insights on how to weave story into every decision a director makes gave me a better idea of the director‘s process. Best of all I got to put this into practice, working with real scripts, scenes and actors - all with Andrew’s guidance. I can highly recommend this course, especially if you’re about to or want to sit in the director’s chair on a TV fiction set for the first time.”

JEROME ISAAC - Creative Producer/Director

Cancellations made 7 days or more in advance of the event start date, will receive a 100% refund.

Please be advised however that cancellations made within 3 - 6 days of the event start date will be subject to a 20% cancellation fee.

Cancellations made within 48-hours of the scheduled start of the event will be subject to a 30% cancellation fee.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Methodist Central Hall, Manchester, United Kingdom