We are excited to announce a paid opportunity for a Full or Associate member of Directors UK with Welsh residence to gain invaluable production experience, joining director James Kent during the prep and shooting of a new High-end drama for the BBC.

Duck Soup Films are in production on Lost Boys and Fairies (working title), a major new 3x60’ drama TV series created and written by Welsh writer Daf James. The series follows Gabriel, a singer and artiste-extraordinaire at Cardiff’s queer club-space ‘Neverland’ and his partner Andy, as they adopt their first child. But Gabriel has a history and he will need to embark upon a journey of self-discovery and attempt to repair his relationship with his dad before he can truly begin to parent 7-year old Jake. It will be shot in Wales in Spring - Summer 2023.

About and Dates and Details

About the placement

The ambition is to engage the successful director during the prep stage. The placement intends to offer access to the whole organisational and creative process.

The candidate will have the opportunity to develop their own mood boards, discuss script notes in parallel with the director, attend key meetings and recces, as well as be a part of the Main Unit discussing and receiving feedback throughout.

If all goes well on the placement the intention will be for the placement director to potentially gain experience overseeing shooting a splinter unit, additional marketing content and possibly 2nd Unit days. This element is an ambition but cannot be guaranteed.

Dates and details

• Interviews will take place towards the end of the week of the 27 February 2023.

• This is a paid opportunity, with details to be finalised.

• Travel and accommodation expenses will be paid.

• This position is subject to COVID restrictions and the evolving situation meaning no elements are guaranteed.

• The placement will begin the week commencing 6 March 2023 and end in June. Please ensure you can commit to this schedule at the point of application.

Who should apply

This opportunity would most benefit a director who is ready to move into directing High-end drama and is looking to develop knowledge and confidence of leading complex television productions. The ideal candidate might have directed episodes of a continuing drama, or already be directing in documentary, or directing episodes of a returning series, or have directed several short films or a low budget feature.

Our aim is to support future IP/content creators in Wales. Therefore we are looking for directors who predominantly live and work in Wales and have a connection to Wales or Welsh culture.

Applications are encouraged from female directors, directors of colour, disabled, d/Deaf and neurodivergent directors, as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is also open to a director from a disadvantaged socio-economic background — please provide evidence by addressing the questions at the bottom of the page in your application.

This opportunity is permitted as Positive Action within the 2010 Equalities Act and acknowledges the under-representation of women, directors of colour and directors with disabilities currently working in the TV industry (Source – Who’s Calling the Shots? - Gender inequality among screen directors working in UK television August 2018 and Adjusting the Colour Balance, Directors UK, September 2018).

How to apply

Please send your CV, showreel and a covering statement supporting your application to [email protected] using the criteria stated above. We would be keen to know why you think this opportunity is right for you at this point in your career.

The final deadline for applications is Friday 24 February 2023.

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Socio-economic background

Socio-economic background

If you wish to use socio-economic background to qualify, please give evidence in your statement addressing the following questions:

What type of school did you mainly attend between the ages of 11 and 16?

• Attended school outside the UK
• Independent or fee-paying school - bursary
• Independent or fee-paying school - no bursary
• State-run or state-funded school - non-selective
• State-run or state-funded school - selective on academic, faith or other grounds
• Don’t know
• Prefer not to say
• If other, please specify here: _________________

Please think about the parent or other caregiver who was the highest income earner in your house when you were around 14 years old. What kind of work did they do? If this question does not apply to you (because for example, you were in care at this time), you can indicate this in your application.

• Clerical and intermediate occupations e.g. secretary, personal assistant, nursery nurse, office clerk, call centre agent
• Middle or junior managers e.g. office manager, warehouse manager, restaurant manager
• Modern professional occupations e.g. teacher, nurse, social worker, artist, musician, software designer
• Routine manual and service occupations e.g. van driver, cleaner, porter, waiter/waitress, bar staff
• Semi-routine manual and service occupations e.g. postal worker, security guard, machine worker, receptionist, sales assistant
• Senior managers and administrators e.g. finance manager, chief executive
• Technical and craft occupations e.g. fitter, plumber, printer, electrician
• Traditional professional occupations e.g. accountant, solicitor, scientist, medical practitioner
• Long-term unemployment e.g. claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year
• Prefer not to say

These questions were devised in consultation with the Bridge Group and taken from its guidance in the 2018 Ofcom report Diversity and Equal Opportunities in Television to begin to monitor opportunities for people from different socio-economic backgrounds.