Talks and Masterclasses
Ben Wheatley Masterclass for NFTS
Had the pleasure to be asked to host the National Film & Television School masterclass presents Ben Wheatley. To get the opportunity to ask lots of questions to a really interesting film maker whose projects are incredibly diverse. Talked about his new independent film 'BULK', which leans heavily on hand made props and story structure that is loops within loops. To hear Ben's creative processes and the freedom that comes from lower budget film making vs big budget block busters (Meg 2 for example). The questions were then opened up to the student audience - it was great evening.
If you do not know his work - may I heartily recommend a couple to begin with - 'A Field in England' is a personal favourite if you can find it, but I also adore 'High Rise' and 'Sightseers' for their twisted humour, visuals and plot.
Pembrokeshire College Master Class
Via the NFTS - I was asked to do a masterclass to the students at Pembrokeshire College, briefed to focus on the aspects of collaboration - I used slides and clips from my career to show my progression from student work into directing children's series, and the main differences I had found directing for pre-school younger audiences, to the more more chaotic and surreal storytelling opportunities I found with Dave Spud.
The audience was from a variety of courses, so kept the discussion broad - but I did show a simple story mountain diagram that demonstrates well the main story beats I was using in Dave Spud series.
Production Unlocked Talk - at BBC Bridgewater House Bristol
Representing animation series, I was asked by NFTS Cymru Wales to be part of Q&A panel of a Directing for TV Masterclass: Panel Discussion in different areas of the industry - including Clare Richards (Documentary) and Lee Haven Jones (Drama) hosted by Kate Thomas. Very interesting to hear the differences in the Directing experience and to be able to respond directly to the audience members.
Cinema For Young Explorers Workshop
As part of a students final Film Studies in Programming and Curation MA - I was invited to put on a live engaging and interactive workshop for the young audience members before the programmed film screening of Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds (lovely film btw). Given the attention span of the young mixed audience and wanting to be as interactive as possible - I led story mountain exercise - showing the main story beats of an episode I might write for Dave Spud series - then getting the audience to come up with and draw new invented characters and story beats to a new narrative story.
Starting with characters - then a problem they are faced - we had fun coming up with solutions - and struggles - and finally a new approach and solution to get to the ultimate outcome/story resolution. It was a blast - the kids came up with a crocodile with no tail and a Karate kicking hero desperate to show off their skills - a falling asteroid was the suggested problem threatening to squish them all. After several failed attempts to save the day (Including using a trampoline and a volcano) - a space mission to karate kick and shatter the asteroid was a success - inside was filled with gold coins and jewels - perfect to fashion the best sparkly tail for the crocodile - everyone was saved and went home happy. I'd watch that! The audience of kids were brilliant and took home their drawings.
Get Animated Conference Birmingham - PANEL & NEW IP PITCH
A guest speaker on panel for the Get Animated Conference - but also decided to take advantage of the opportunity and book a live slot with the huge screen to do a timed 10 minute pitch to the audience of two projects/new IP'S I had been thinking about - and test the water and force myself to get them whipped into a form I could communicate clearly. It was a great exercise to do - forced me to focus and push my presentation skills with limited materials. Pretty raw idea's. Useful to get the valuable feedback from industry members in the audience - including ITV who reacted well enough to one of the 'ideas' to gave me the confidence to continue refining the materials for future submission to them. That idea is now a fully formed pitch doc with two full scripts - and is being sent to any broadcaster who is willing to look. It's a tough time in commissioning - but I choose to battle on regardless in the hope that if the idea is strong enough - it will open doors. p.s I find the word 'IP' a bit naff, but does remind me that it's a product i'm pitching and that this industry is a business. Show Business!
The Mental Health Shelf - Podcast Guest
I ran into Jamie Skinner who hosts the Mental Health Shelf podcast at the Cinema Workshop for young Explorers (listed above), we chatted briefly and afterwards Jamie reached out to see If I would like to be a guest on the show and talk about some of my own ways of trying to keep my life in balance - it was a pleasure to chat to Jamie and I really liked the idea of identifying three objects that I regularly turn to that bring me Joy and comfort.
You can listen to mine and all the other guests talking on his podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Links Apple Podcasts: Ed's Mental Health Shelf Apple
Links Spotify Podcasts: Ed's Mental Health Shelf Spotify
Even Baddies Wear Helmets Podcast - Guest
Even Baddies Wear Helmets is a podcast all about the craft of making children’s television, in conversation with the people who make it happen. Host Billie Collins invited me on and we chatted about everything I had experienced making Children's animated series. Plus talking about some of my fav shows.