New Engagement Guidelines for Producers & Directors Agreed

Pact, Directors UK, BBC Studios and ITV Studios have published Engagement Guidelines for Ways of Working Between Producers and Directors, a new set of agreed guidelines laying out how production companies work with directors across all genres of production.

Developed and agreed by representatives from the Directors UK membership, Pact members, BBC Studios and ITV Studios, the guidelines set out nine key principles. These principles provide a baseline of good practice for how directors and producers can work together.

The
Principles

1. Effective communication at an early stage is vital.
2. The Director has a right to consultation.
3. The Director's creative role is to be respected.
4. Prep time is vital.
5. Health and Safety and Safeguarding are paramount.
6. Producers and Directors must comply with policies addressing respectful working conditions.
7. The Director has a right to the appropriate credit.
8. Producers and Directors will collaborate to deliver sustainability on production.
9. Producers and Directors will work together to deliver the production's commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and production training.

Going
Forward

The Directors and Producers Forum (which consists of Pact, Directors UK, BBC Studios and ITV Studios) has agreed the guidelines to ensure the director's role is clear and respected. The guidelines will be used as a reference point by directors working for UK broadcasters, to ensure they are being treated in a manner that reflects the agreed practices.

Reflecting the essential creative nature of the role of a principal director, the guidelines demonstrate best practice and will be reviewed by the Directors and Producers Forum periodically.