via Ellie Kahn, Broadcast.co.uk
Warner Bros Discovery has launched a Waterloo Road directors initiative aimed at women based in the North of England.
Delivered in partnership with the BBC, the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Access X Waterloo Road Directors Programme aims to boost the female talent pool in the region.
It will be led by WBD Access, the US company’s talent development division for under-represented creatives, alongside Waterloo Road co-producers Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North.
The five-strong cohort will be given the opportunity to develop their skills on the set of the youth-skewing continuing drama set in Manchester.
They will work under the guidance of industry professionals including Waterloo Road exec producer and Rope Ladder chief Cameron Roach, series producer Lindsay Williams and director Jesse Quinones, as they take part in workshops, masterclasses and industry standard training covering essential skills. They may also have the opportunity to shadow respected directors.
It comes as the latest Diamond data highlighted only a quarter (25.3%) of UK director roles are held by women, with men holding three in four (74.5%) roles available.
Director of diversity equity and inclusion programmes at WBD Access Jennifer Sobol said: “As data continues to show a lack of diversity behind the camera, targeted programmes and collaboration are vital if we’re to support new and emerging talent breaking into the industry.
“Gaining access to a much-loved, high-profile BBC hit such as Waterloo Road is great exposure for the Directors and fantastic opportunity to celebrate and showcase talent in the North of England.”
Rope Ladder Fiction founder Cameron Roach said: “We have openly committed to a 50:50 directing team on the show, and we want to ensure the pipeline of talent is active and energised for the future.
“Angela Griffin is now in prep for her fifth episode of Waterloo Road, we have really loved working with her as a director; she has demonstrated that as an actor, observing directors over many years, we should encourage those with clear and tangible transferrable skills which we can further enable with technical masterclasses and match individuals with strong mentors.”
Wall to Wall managing director Leanne Klein added: “Baked into our thinking when we started producing Waterloo Road in Manchester in 2022 was the intention to train and grow creative talent in the region, and this scheme is another brilliant way to deliver on this.”
Since it relaunched last year, after an eight-year hiatus, Waterloo Road has run a separate production training scheme, with all 20 of the industry entrants who took part in the first round of six-month paid placements going on to work in other productions.
