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Edgar Wright’s New BBC Maestro Filmmaking Course Is Available To Take Now
The Wright Stuff
Prepare for the ultimate director’s cut into the kinetic mind behind acclaimed works such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, and Last Night in Soho. Edgar Wright is one of British cinema’s most celebrated and innovative filmmakers. Now, for the first time ever, he’s turning the camera onto his own production process, covering everything from his signature stylized edits and soundtrack selection to how he approaches his first day on set. Hard-won filmmaking secrets gathered from Edgar’s extensive career are given a starring role with lessons dedicated to The Craft of Writing, Storyboards & Animatics, Casting & Directing Actors, Shooting Action Sequences, and the all-important Getting Your Film Seen…
“In doing this filmmaking course, I hope I am able to impart some wisdom along with a few helpful tools that will aid in your first steps to becoming the filmmaker you know you can be.”
The BBC Maestro platform features a series of extended, in-depth lessons filmed in 4K with an eclectic mix of prestigious experts, and allows participants to indulge in new areas of learning from the comfort of their own home. The commercial online education platform developed and operated by Maestro Media Ltd offers individual courses which can be purchased for £80.
Edgar Wright’s BBC Maestro course on Filmmaking offers a rare opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to benefit from frank advice on the realities and pitfalls that can occur throughout each step of the process; whether it’s a low-budget short film, a TV series, or a studio-backed feature with multiple A-list stars. “I can promise you that every filmmaker from the big action directors to the first-time indie darlings approach each film they make with a daunting sense of uncertainty”. Throughout the course, Edgar arms viewers with the tips and techniques needed to ensure each day of filming, and the ensuing weeks of editing, run as smoothly as possible.
“There’s no race to the finish line with filmmaking. Hone your craft in whatever amount of time it takes you, and you’ll make your dreams a reality eventually.”
Spanning over 4 hours, Filmmaking brings into focus the idea that the craft is not simply for a chosen few. “I’d assumed wrongly that all directors were born in Hollywood and that Steven Spielberg was dropped off by a stork at Universal Pictures.” Instead, those hoping to hone their practical skills can get started with, and complete an entire project, with nothing more than a smartphone. “That’s the amazing thing about filmmaking. Everyone who works in the craft is able to define the art form on their own terms.” Included within Edgar’s BBC Maestro course is an AMA with filmmaking questions submitted by members of the public and a Q&A with students from the National Film & Television School. Edgar Wright has won over 19 film and TV awards, including Empire Magazine’s Visionary Award (2018), the Audience Award at SXSW for Baby Driver(2017) and a BIFA for Shaun of the Dead (2004).
“I think it’s important for filmmakers to always be challenging themselves and questioning the decisions they are making stylistically. In doing so, your style will be refined and your filmmaking will become stronger.”
Filmmaking is the latest addition to BBC Maestro’s selection of world-class courses. It is the ideal supplement to any filmmaker’s toolkit. Edgar’s course consists of 27 lessons and is designed for viewers to learn at their own pace. Lessons are accompanied by extensive course notes filled with Edgar’s own musings, viewing recommendations, and practical exercises to help sharpen individual filmmaking skills.
sign up here for it
And watch a little taster of it here
About Edgar Wright
Growing up in the UK, Edgar Wright began crafting his distinct visual style at a young age directing super 8 films starring his school friends. At 20, he directed the no-budget western A Fistful of Fingers which had a limited theatrical release. This led to a foray into television where he directed a handful of comedy shows including both seasons of the award-winning cult classic Spaced. It was here that Wright began his iconic collaboration with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as well as his producing partner, Nira Park, who he has worked with on everything he has directed since.
Spaced served as a launching pad for the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead which became a sleeper box office hit. This was followed by Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. These films became known as the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, of which all were co-written by Wright and Pegg. In-between Fuzz and World’s End, Wright co-wrote and directed the acclaimed Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Wright has also collaborated with many acclaimed filmmakers: he co-wrote The Adventures of Tintin for director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson and directed the faux trailer for Don’t, which played between Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s Grindhouse. As an executive producer, Wright championed Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block and Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers.
Wright’s 2017 film, Baby Driver, grossed over $220 million worldwide at the box office and went on to receive three Academy Award nominations as well as two BAFTA nominations, winning Best Editing.
In 2018, Wright and Park set up Complete Fiction Pictures with long-time collaborators Joe Cornish and Rachael Prior.
His first documentary, The Sparks Brothers, covering the entire 50-year legacy of Ron and Russell Mael of California pop band Sparks, premiered at Sundance in January 2021 and was released in cinemas summer 2021.
Wright’s latest film, Last Night in Soho, premiered at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. It was released in cinemas worldwide on October 29th of that same year.
Wright was a member of the Dramatic Jury at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, a juror for the Main Competition at the 2017 Venice Film Festival, and a judge for the 2011 and 2014 Independent Spirit Awards. In his spare time he has presented films for the TCM Film Festival as well as programmed film series for the New Beverly Cinema in LA, the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, and at the BFI Southbank, Prince Charles Cinema, and Picturehouse Central in London.
In 2022, Wright became a Governor of the British Film Institute where he will help support and seek out the next generation of UK storytellers.
About BBC Maestro
BBC Maestro launched in October 2020 to phenomenal success. The first four courses attracted more than one million people to the service, with thousands signing up to learn from their favourite Maestro. Whether you are a novice or an amateur enthusiast, BBC Maestro allows you to indulge in your area of passion from the comfort of your own home and learn from the experts. Each course is beautifully filmed in 4K and offers several hours of content, broken down into 18 to 40 easily digested lessons accompanied by downloadable course notes filled with hints, tips and a breakdown of each course. Edgar Wright is the latest Maestro, joining Mark Ronson, Alan Moore, Jancis Robinson, Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson, Peter Jones, David Walliams, Gary Barlow, Marco Pierre White, Vineet Bhatia, Pierre Koffmann, Richard Bertinet and Line of Duty creator, Jed Mercurio. And coming soon are Lee Child, Doreen Lawrence, Sir Billy Connolly and more – all imparting wisdom, expertise and industry secrets.
BBC Maestro taps into the fast-growing space of e-learning – because of the way technology has revolutionised teaching and learning, lessons no longer must be confined to the classroom. In 2020, the number of people using online learning videos rose dramatically, with an estimated 200 million users worldwide. The global ‘Mass Open Online Courses’ market size is expected to increase from $3.9 billion in 2018 to $20.8 billion by 2023.
BBC Maestro is a commercial platform developed and operated by Maestro Media Ltd under license from BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. BBC is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation and is used under license.
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