ANewYearMessagefromDirectorsUKChairKarenKelly

Last year, the headwinds were challenging; lack of work, soaring cost of living, the commissioning slow down, strikes, cancellation of long running shows and talk of AI impacting our jobs. It was, and continues to be, unsettling and deeply frustrating. Whilst Directors UK cannot directly change these things, we can support you by continuing to fight for more money, more opportunity and greater acknowledgement of directors’ creative rights.

With your agreement, the management fee on UK distributions has increased to enable the organisation to build more muscle. As a direct result, Paul Evans, who has an impressive background in industrial relations, joins the senior management team next week. He will wrestle with some of the broader issues raised in the member survey we carried out last year, as well as being our man on the ground, addressing specific concerns in relation to your engagement as a director. 

In December, we had our first meeting of the Directors and Producers Forum. We’ve set up this partnership with PACT to establish more effective, mutually beneficial ways to work together. BBC Studios and ITV Studios were also invited to the meeting where we set out key principles around the guidelines governing engagement of directors. We’ll drill down on the detail through working groups and biannual meetings and update you on progress as things develop.

Another way we can mitigate the current climate is to keep you connected to your community of fellow directors. This year there will be more In Conversation events to inspire and inform, new career development opportunities as well as our Town Hall meetings in the Nations & Regions and London.

At previous Town Hall meetings, members expressed a deep concern about the erosion of the status of directors. Addressing this is complex but directly increasing visibility at industry showcases is a useful lever. Last year we raised our profile at Sheffield DocFest and hope to build a stronger presence going forward. This year we’re planning to have active representation at a number of key industry festivals and events, including Edinburgh TV Festival, giving us a greater voice in the room with industry decision-makers.  That’s just one of the many things Directors UK is doing to help elevate directors and the craft.

AI and its potential impact on our industry is increasingly part of our discourse. Understandably there’s anxiety about what it means for directors as well as actors and crew. I’ve heard it said, “It’s not AI coming after our jobs, it’s the people who know how to use AI”. It makes sense to keep step and make AI work for us. For that reason, we are launching Focus on: AI for Directors – a series of skills building sessions to enhance your performance as directors. It kicks off on Thursday 18 Jan 2024 with an overview from the fantastic Dr Alex Connock, followed by a series of online practical workshops on Chat GPT, Midjourney and more. 

These sessions will be interactive with an emphasis on how to make the best use of AI when creating mood boards and pitch decks, through to researching and script feedback. You can find out more about the first session on our Events page.

Our work to represent directors at government and senior industry level continues. With a general election looming, it’s key we ensure the value of the Creative Industries, and that the needs of our sector and of directors are represented and understood. We’re anticipating the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee report on Creator Remuneration following Andy’s appearance before them, where he highlighted the challenges freelance directors face in sustaining financially viable careers. 

We’re also working collaboratively with rightsholder colleagues to lobby for better protections for freelancers and to enhance copyright protections for creative authors. In addition, we’re making sure the directors voice is heard across the sector by responding to developments in the Media Bill and consultations on licensing and regulation around Channel 4, the BBC and the streamers. Next month, we’re attending a roundtable with Sir Chris Bryant MP, Shadow Minister for Creative Industries and Digital.

Directors UK is also part of the BFI Screen Sectors Skills Task Force and will be pushing to ensure mid-career talent development is a priority. We also remain closely involved in the development of The Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA), due to launch in 2024, with an aim to uphold and improve standards of behaviour and prevent and tackle all forms of bullying, harassment and discrimination. 

Finally, 2024 is a Board election year at Directors UK. If you feel strongly about the issues that affect you and your fellow directors, and you have the time to commit to following through, please put yourselves forward to stand for a seat on the board. There will be more information on how to get involved over the next few months.

Directors UK has your wellbeing and priorities front and centre of everything it does. Here’s to a better year ahead for all our members.

On behalf of myself and the Board, the warmest wishes to you all for 2024.

Karen Kelly
Directors UK Chair