We’ve been nominated for 3 TV BAFTAs, including the all-important Best Drama Series. This is a huge honour, and a massive congratulations have to go not only to Adeel and Lesley, but the entirety of team SHERWOOD!
SHERWOOD is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer
My new show SIX FOUR will be released on ITVX on 30th March 2023! It’s written by Gregory Burke and produced by Clare Kerr, and was my second collaboration with House Productions, executive produced by Juliette Howell and Molly Bolt.
I was exceedingly lucky to be involved in SHERWOOD, directing episodes 4 to 6 of James Graham’s latest drama. It’s produced by Rebecca Hodgeson for Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross and Harriet Spencer of House Productions. I was ably assisted / constantly rescued by DoP Simon Archer BSC and First AD Alexander Szygowski. It’s airing Mondays and Tuesday from today on BBC1 at 9pm!
I’ve just wrapped the shoot for four episodes of WAR OF THE WORLDS 2 for Canal + and Fox / Disney. We managed to shoot in the 12 week gap between Covid waves without losing a day. On to the edit now, for a speedy delivery.
I’m organising two paid directing internships for BAME candidates.
Each placement will take place over a five day week of shooting the Fox / Canal+ WAR OF THE WORLDS in Cardiff, Bristol or London, followed by a day in the edit in London later this year.
This is being organised by me personally, but with the blessing of the production.
You’ll receive a grant of £500 for your time, plus travel and accommodation.
To apply, please send me your CV and covering letter to ben@contourfilms.com before 10pm Sunday 9th August 2020.
Update: I’d originally put an age range on this scheme, but I’ve decided to remove it.
Channel 4 released a trailer for BAGHDAD CENTRAL yesterday. The series kicks off on Monday 3rd February. Above are some shots in the trailer that came from my episodes, filmed by the wonderful Dale McCready and coloured by Jet Omoshebi.
I’ve just arrived home from three months in Morocco. I’ve been shooting a block of BAGHDAD CENTRAL, which will air next year on Channel 4. I’m directing the last three episodes, all of which were written by Stephen Butchard and produced by Euston Films. And yes, I seem to only take photos of slates on 30th November…!
I’ve just wrapped episodes 5 and 6 of the third series of HUMANS for AMC and Channel 4. It’s produced by Kudos / Wild Mercury and will start to air in the spring. Can’t wait for you to see them…!
I’ve been nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Outstanding Debut Feature, alongside John Donnelly, for THE PASS. Read all about it here. Thank you very much to BAFTA for the nomination, and I look forward to meeting all the other nominees!
THE PASS is still playing in cinemas, and there’s a list of screens at our Facebook group.
Here are some of the reviews for THE PASS:
“Russell Tovey delivers a career-best performance in Ben A Williams’s sexy, disturbing and poignant film”
4 stars – Total Film
“an intimate, intelligent drama”
4 stars – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“This is a truly refreshing film”
Little White Lies
“Ben A Williams does a brilliant job of making cinematic the spectable of two people talking in a room. It’s passionate, sinewy, a little bit heartbreaking… and I thought it was really good”
Mark Kermode – Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review Show
“Director Ben Williams’s wrenching yarn dissects various betrayals and offers a useful reminder: when it’s all about the brand, we’re all fair game
“THE PASS turns from playful comedy to dark mind games, while cleverly – and heartbreakingly – exploring the psychological damage of living a lie”
4 stars – Charles Gant, Heat
And some older ones while we’re at it:
“This directorial debut for Ben A. Williams provides a knockout showcase for Russell Tovey”
Variety
“this is a low-budget, intense film, characterised by the strength of the performances and the crackle of the dialogue. It’s like the bristling, in-your-face brother of Andrew Haigh’s softly contemplative Weekend… It’s fascinating.”
Screen Daily
We’ve just returned from an amazing week in the US where THE PASS went coast to coast, opening New York’s NEWFEST festival and closing Seattle’s TWIST.
Screenwriter John Donnelly and I had a brilliant time.
BEN A. WILLIAMS 