Visual Storytelling: An Introduction for Directors, Writers & Producers

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Visual Storytelling: An Introduction for Directors, Writers & Producers

Date:
Sat, 11 Jan 2025 to Sun, 12 Jan 2025

Times: 10.30am-5.30pm
Duration: 2 days
Capacity: Approx. 20 participants
Fee: £325

How do you tell a story visually? What makes a film a film, and not TV? We could say a "real" movie is one that's mostly comprehensible with the sound turned off. But where do we start? In this 2-day workshop, director Josh Appignanesi takes participants shot by shot into the heart of cinema by introducing the following issues:

  • What choices make a shot tell the story your way? How do you use composition, framing, blocking of actors and their position to camera? Background, palette, costume, lenses, light, camera movement?
  • How do you juxtapose this shot with your other shots through editing, to create suspense and involvement?
  • How do you create a system of images that, by repetition and inversion, build tellingly into a moving and memorable visual story?
  • Audiences are already saturated in the visual grammar of other films - collectively known as "genres." How do you refer to and exploit the assumptions every audience brings to a film in advance?
  • What is it that makes a given filmmaker distinctive?
  • How do you apply these ideas practically in your prep and on your set, getting your ideal shots as well as your coverage?

With inspiring film examples, practical storyboarding exercises, and analysis of participants' own films, this workshop will give you the tools you need.

Taxi Driver exercise

Though introductory in nature, the workshop would also benefit those with some prior filmmaking experience. Part of the workshop will be dedicated to analysing participants’ own work. Participants are therefore encouraged to bring along an example of their own work - preferably a short film in DVD format with a maximum running time of 10 minutes. Josh will address as many projects as he can within the allotted time.

(Please note: It is by no means compulsory to bring a film for Josh to analyse. It's merely an option for those who'd like to get some feedback.)

Recent Feedback:

"Very solid foundational tracking on some directing fundamentals as well as how to incorporate them and even take them further. The entire workshop was wonderfully taught with a solid level of understanding."

Participant, 2024

"It was packed full of information that I have never had access to in any workshops I've done previously. It was so focused on and stuck to the themes of the workshop so well, that I felt like we had learnt a whole module from university after one weekend. We kept reapplying lessons that we had learnt throughout the workshop in different role plays and exercises so that the information really stuck, and the application of techniques continually evolved in our minds. The whole class was totally engaged and we all felt comfortable to idea share and collaborate in an open forum."

Participant, 2023

"The subject matter and the level was exactly as I'd hoped. Neither too technical nor too basic. I make ads and short films with no training and felt I needed to venture beyond instinct. I wanted an introduction to the vocabulary of directing, hoping to learn the basics of how composition, action, choice of angles, shots etc feeds into editing and storytelling, and the course delivered just what I wanted. Josh is a great teacher who kept us all engaged throughout. His depth of knowledge and understanding is worn lightly and shared keenly, and he enthused the class with his love of the subject. Great examples, insightful explanation, inspiring exercises and lots of energy. It was a diverse group but Josh included everyone and was sensitive to different people's needs. A great intro to the magic – and magic tricks – of telling stories with moving images." 

Frank, Participant 2019

Watch the trailer for Josh Appignanesi's latest feature, FEMALE HUMAN ANIMAL. 

“Unnerving, riveting, and mesmerising.... The unity of Appignanesi’s brilliant cinematic vision and Aridjis’ compelling and vulnerable performance makes Female Human Animal resonate.”  Hannah Clugston, Little White Lies

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Tutor profile: Josh Appignanesi, Writer, Director

Josh Appignanesi is a filmmaker whose work spans fiction, documentary and the space in-between. His six feature films were released theatrically in over thirty territories and online in over a hundred, with his work gaining festival Competition slots at Tribeca, Rotterdam, Cannes/ACID, Berlin and Sheffield, awards at London, Edinburgh, Turin, Kodak and BIFA and BAFTA nominations.

As director his features include acclaimed docufictions HUSBAND (2022) and the surrealist psychothriller and “feminist odyssey” FEMALE HUMAN ANIMAL (2018), the Wellcome-funded parenting documentary THE NEW MAN (2016), ethno-religious comedy THE INFIDEL (2010) scripted with David Baddiel, and religious psychodrama SONG OF SONGS (2006). He also co-wrote US rom-com ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME starring Sarah Jessica Parker.

Most recently, climate documentary MY EXTINCTION (2023) released in over 60 UK cinemas and screened at COP28.

He has directed talent including Tom Hiddleston, John Malkovich, David Tennant, Archie Panjabi, Omid Djalili, Claudia Jessie, Miranda Hart, and Richard Schiff, and collaborated with artist Martin Creed. Cultural figures like Zadie Smith, Mark Rylance, Hisham Matar, Slavoj Zizek, Chloe Aridjis, and John Berger appearing in his films, often playing ‘versions of themselves.’

Widely reviewed, with interviews on BBC Newsnight, BBC Radio, and in The Times, The Observer and The Guardian, his work has been shown on BBC TV, Channel 4, MUBI, and BFIPlayer. Funders have included BFI, BBC Films, Channel4, Film London, Arts Council England, WellcomeTrust, and AHRC.

He teaches internationally and is Associate Professor at Roehampton University.

ACCLAIM FOR MY EXTINCTION
“Skewers middle-class attitudes to impending apocalypse” – Catherine Bray, THE GUARDIAN
"Jaunty, funny film-making" - Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN
''Reminds us working together is empowering'' - Susie Orbach, THE OBSERVER
“My Extinction is about the limits of language to address imminent catastrophe, but also the necessity of finding words to describe what’s happening, to tell stories that will convince and move and make a difference.” Lauren Elkin, ARTFORUM
“If you feel you should be doing more to limit climate change but never seem to get round to it, this British documentary will speak to you” - Ed Potton, SUNDAY TIMES
“… confronts the imperfect nature of being a climate activist” - Henry Bird, TIMES ENVIRONMENT NEWSLETTER
“An excellent look into the step-by-step process of realising and understanding climate change and its impact on everyday people” - Mae Trumata, THE UPCOMING
“Is Josh Appignanesi transforming into the next great documentarian? My Extinction reads like the opening chapters of an unfinished novel from an intellectual-turned-radical: heavy sociopolitical context, rich character development and instructions for the path forward. Essential viewing.” Quinn Hough, VAGUE VISAGES

ACCLAIM FOR HUSBAND
"Complex, subtle... A rich new seam of autofictional docucomedy." Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN
"Pointed, self-reflexive critique of a modern marriage... peppered with insight." Ben Nicholson, SIGHT & SOUND
"Genre-defying Freudian docudrama... I couldn't take my eyes off it." Josh Glancy, SUNDAY TIMES CULTURE
"Discomforting, hilarious portrayal of the reactionary feelings that stubbornly endure in supposedly reconstructed relationships." JEWISH CHRONICLE
"Jostles into the burning house of heterosexuality without any desire to extinguish the flames." LITTLE WHITE LIES
"Deeply watchable... documents the fragility of the male spirit." DIRTY MOVIES
"Husband is in equal part hilarious, painful to watch and moving, replete (as it is) with middle-class/middle-age neuroses, hang-ups and anxieties, topped with a good dollop of love and affection." BUSINESS DOC EUROPE

ACCLAIM FOR FEMALE HUMAN ANIMAL
“Near-uncategorisable. It punctures the pretentiousness of the art world-- and it's a triumph.” Charlie Phillips, THE OBSERVER
“The most original film of 2018, and possibly the creepiest.” Jason Solomons, BBC LONDON
"Remarkable... A thrillingly strange adventure." Mark Kermode, BFIPlayer
“Unnerving, riveting, and mesmerising.... The unity of Appignanesi’s brilliant cinematic vision and Aridjis’ compelling and vulnerable performance makes Female Human Animal resonate.” Hannah Clugston, LITTLE WHITE LIES
“Boldy defies categorisation. Darkly fascinating and surprisingly funny.” Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, METRO
"A feminist odyssey" Erik Morse, ARTFORUM
“Like a micro-budget Don’t Look Now crossed with a rogue episode of The South Bank Show, and all the better for that.” Ed Potton, THE TIMES
“Understands its place in cinema history… The aesthetic of uncertainty perfectly underscores the suspense of the film’s action” Kate Webb, The TLS
“An unearthly adventure... Female Human Animal breaks open a genre and emerges as something entirely new." Sabina Stent, THE F-WORD
“Sui Generis… You’ve got to admire Appignanesi’s total disregard for marketability” THE GUARDIAN
“Appignanesi & Aridjis' extraordinary hybrid documentary fuses surrealism and reality.. A remarkable & surprising portrait.” Kaleem Aftab, CINEUROPA
"What a truly remarkable film." Mike Pinnington, THE DOUBLE NEGATIVE
“Deliriously experimental.. Strange and illuminating.” Dave Calhoun, TIME OUT
“Social Surrealism… Moves between scenes of quiet profundity and sincerity into a kind of schlock horror.” Jennifer Higgie, FRIEZE
“Beguiling hybrid… less a profile than a tribute to the feral spirit in which Carrington lived and worked.” RADIO TIMES
"Dazzling… A living work of art that leads us to the conclusion that we must not hand over our our female human animal to some 'half-arsed male'.” DIRTY MOVIES

ACCLAIM FOR THE NEW MAN
“Lovely, personal and abjectly honest… Very funny and poignant.” Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN
"Very, very moving and revealing.. told with great honesty and love" Mark Kermode, BBC5, Top 5 Pick
“Moving, insightful and beautifully crafted.” David Calhoun, TIME OUT

ACCLAIM FOR THE INFIDEL

“Cracking, joyful and instructive, the film is certain to be the summer’s funniest film. Appignanesi jumps, in one beautifully executed move, to join the front rank of new British directors. His timing is perfect, his feel for the rhythm of moral action is bracing, and I hope he goes on to make a ton of interesting movies." —Andrew O’Hagan, THE EVENING STANDARD

"Startlingly, for this second project, [Appignanesi] shifts gear for something more confrontational and taboo-busting... a broad comedy that gleefully and repeatedly stamps on the tender toes of liberal correctness." —Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN

"Baddiel's script is well served by an excellent cast, and the director, Josh Appignanesi, whose only previous feature was a deadly serious look at an Orthodox Jewish family... has directed with a light touch." —Philip French, THE OBSERVER

"A terrific odd couple: there’s a real bromantic spark between Djalili and Schiff... a perfectly pitched buddy dynamic." —TIME OUT

"Great laughs in this sweet comedy…. Djalili is delightful." —THE NEW YORK TIMES

"It’s very funny; even metaphysical... Sight gags abound." —VARIETY

"The two leads make a terrific comic team, with Djalili’s deadpan style of physical humor perfectly complementing Schiff’s hilarious, fast-paced wisecracking." —HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

ACCLAIM FOR SONG OF SONGS
"A cinematic milestone… a challenging, unashamedly intellectual rigour to it. In both style and content, the film reveals a distinctive and bold new voice in British cinema." THE OBSERVER
"A daringly original debut." Wendy Ide, THE TIMES
"A powerful and confident work and shows that Appignanesi is seriously committed to cultivating a real cinematic language." Peter Bradshaw, THE GUARDIAN
UK Agent: Matthew Bates at Sayle Screen
www.joshappignanesi.com