FILMMAKING DIPLOMA UPDATE: BAFTA-winning Director Stephen Frears presents a masterclass for LFA Filmmaking Diploma students
(13/8/2009) BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated Director Stephen Frears – whose credits include ‘The Queen’, ‘Mrs Henderson Presents’ and, most recently, ‘Cheri’, starring Michelle Pfeiffer - came to visit the LFA Filmmaking Diploma students to talk about his career in movie-making and offer his tips for directing.
Students commented:
“It was nice to see that Stephen is a normal guy and that he came into the film & TV industry in a way that any of us could potentially do. It was great to hear how he entered industry and to hear how he works with writers.” Rachael James, Diploma 15.
“The masterclass with Stephen was fantastic! Being able to ask questions to one of Britain’s most valued talents was a great honour. He was honest and wiling to talk about several different experiences of his, which was invaluable. Stephen has a great respect for the next generation of artists. Simply showing up, let alone speaking so candidly with us about his career, shows that he believes in the film-school experience.” Elyse Meena, Diploma 15.
Stephen began his career working as an Assistant Director with two of the British New Wave’s best-known Directors, Karel Reisz and Lindsay Anderson. He worked on the BBC’s acclaimed drama series Play For Today and won his first BAFTA for the BBC Playhouse production of ‘Going Gently’, starring Judi Dench. Stephen has made some of the most acclaimed British films of the past few decades, including ‘My Beautiful Laundrette’, ‘Dirty Pretty Things’ and the TV drama ‘The Deal’, about the relationship between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, for which he won his second BAFTA. He has also helmed some of Hollywood's most popular hits, such as ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, ‘High Fidelity’ and ‘The Grifters’. He was the President of the Cannes jury in 2007 and currently holds the David Lean Chair in Fiction Direction at the National Film and Television School (NFTS).
Currently in pre-production for the graphic-novel adaptation 'Tamara Drewe', starring Gemma Arterton, Stephen took a break to come in to LFA and give the students a very personal overview of his wide-ranging experience and to discuss his unique approaches to filmmaking. As well as setting out his career trajectory, he explained the importance of collaboration with writers as someone who is not a Writer-Director, how he balances his time between working in the US and Britain, and the gut instincts that lead to a Director’s individual vision.
It was an honest and insightful, not to mention humorous, session, covering everything from making short films and getting that first break to working with some of the most successful actors in the world and surviving in the competitive film & TV industry.
* * *
More about the LFA Filmmaking Diploma at: www.londonfilmacademy.com/courses/diploma_in_filmmaking.asp?id=16.
|
