Warner Bros. Discovery Access x Waterloo Road Directors Program

The program will be delivered through workshops and industry standard training. It will cover insights into all facets of television, including developing episodic television, prep expectations and working collaboratively with the cast and crew.

As the latest Diamond data currently shows, women are far under-represented in Director roles in the UK and we are aiming to redress this balance through this training scheme. We welcome and encourage women from an intersection of identities including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and class.​

The program will be led by WBD’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Access team in partnership with Wall to Wall North (WBITVP), Rope Ladder Fiction and the BBC.

PROGRAM CRITERIA

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be over 18 at the time of application.
• Identify as a woman.
• Have directed no more than one episode of broadcasted scripted television at the time of application.
• Have the right to work in the UK.
• Not be in full time education.
• Have their main residence in the North of England – defined as Yorkshire and Humber, North-West and North-East England.
• Must be available to attend anticipated program dates (TBC November).

Selection criteria

To be selected for the program, you will need to further demonstrate through video submissions and directing samples that you have:

• An enthusiasm and knowledge of scripted television; specifically with an awareness of Waterloo Road.
• Long term career aspirations for directing.
• A creative track record in directing for narrative film, commercials, documentary, or theatre.

NOTE: Those applying as professional theatre directors without screen directing samples will need to provide professional theatre credits.

The program’s submission period will run across July and August 2024 with 2 selection rounds:

• Round 1: Submission of CV, bio, and video responses to the individual prompts.
• Those who move forward to the second round will be invited to interview.

Below is a summary of dates for the submission period.

If you have further questions about the submission period or application process, please visit the FAQ section below or contact us at [email protected].

• Submissions Open: Monday 29th July 2024
• Application Submission Deadline: Monday 19th August 2024 at 11.59pm BST
• Successful Applicants Notification: September 2024

Dates subject to change.

Following final selection, the program kicks off in November 2024 (Exact dates TBC).

PROGRAM TIMELINE

Programme Timeline:

• July – 19th August 2024: Application window open
• August – September 2024: Applications reviewed and interviews take place
• September 2024: Successful participants notified
• November/December 2024: Virtual Curriculum, followed by in-person workshops in Manchester (all travel and expenses will be covered for the in-person workshops).

The program will include the following key areas:

• Virtual Masterclasses: over the course of 2 full days, a trainer will cover essential skills for episodic directing following the procedure that an episodic director goes through to prepare for shooting an episode or episodes. Between week one and two, the directors would be expected to block and shot list a recent Waterloo Road script.
• In person workshops: one week in person at the Waterloo Road site; 3 to 4 days of practical training; sessions with editors; casting director; actors; crew members and producing and story team for Waterloo Road. This week will cover prep; working with actors; blocking scenes; coverage; the edit process.
• Coaching sessions: all five individuals will have a personal coaching session with a member of the producing team at the end of the initial training phase.

FAQ’s