02/06/2008

British director Miranda Bowen will spend the next few months shadowing Hollywood director Joe Johnston on the sets of werewolf horror film The Wolf Man, under the Direct Access scheme.

Direct Access is an observer scheme for up and coming British film directors run by the Directors Guild Trust in association with Skillset and Film4 that grants candidates the opportunity to observe the interactions between an experienced director and his cast and crew. Bowen will get to observe Johnston’s working methods at close quarters as he directs the likes of Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Hugo Weaving and Emily Blunt.

The remaining three Direct Access candidates are still awaiting placements. Supporters of the scheme include Sir Richard Eyre, Mike Hodges, John Madden, Bharat Nalluri, Phillip Noyce and David Yates.

Eyre said, “The only way to learn about directing is to direct, but the next best thing is watching somebody else do it.”

“Witnessing the real thing is worth more than all the books on theory,” said Hodges while Noyce added, “Film is a collective art, being able to be part of that process is the best film school that anyone could ever have.”

Yates said, “Sharing our craft with others is one route to help make us all better directors.”

Janine Marmot, Skillset’s Director of Film, said, “On set experience and learning through observation is invaluable and Skillset is delighted to support the development of talented directors like Miranda Bowen and is very grateful to prestigious directors like Joe Johnston who generously support this upcoming talent by allowing access to their sets.”