An interview with Caroline Jeffries, EiMTV director
Where are you from?
I was born and brought up in London.
What was your first job?
I was a dancer in Aladdin at the Arts Theatre, Cambridge, but my first job in TV was as an assistant floor manager on Grange Hill for the BBC.
Can you speak any languages?
I speak French, with an odd Swiss accent I'm told, as I lived in Geneva for a while.
When and how did you become a director?
I used to direct my friends in shows at my local youth group, from the age of 15, so I have always loved directing. I directed a few things in the theatre before joining the BBC. I trained on a BBC Directors course about six years ago.
What's the hardest part of your job?
The hours are very long and it is quite pressured. My friends and family don't see much of me when I am filming.
What's the most enjoyable part of your job?
I love working with actors and helping them to give a good performance. One of the first things I was taught was how to think in pictures and I get a great thrill when a complicated scene I have been planning actually works the way I had envisioned it.
What qualities do you need to be a good director?
You need to have a clear head at all times, be sure about what you are trying to achieve creatively, and be able to make decisions quickly. The cast and crew take their lead from the director, so you need to be able to communicate well with people. Actors get very nervous in front of the camera, even experienced, famous ones, so you have to be patient and encouraging. I've never found shouting at people achieves anything.
What programmes or films have you directed?
I have mostly worked on dramas and comedies, such as EastEnders, Byker Grove, Grange Hill, Family Affairs and several sitcoms for the BBC. These programmes are popular in the UK.
Can you describe a typical day when filming?
Filming usually starts around 8–8.30 am so I arrive up to an hour before and talk through the day with the assistant director, whose job it is to make sure that everyone is in the right place at the right time. I also discuss the first scene with the camera operator so that he or she can get the lights ready. When the actors have been to costume and makeup, everyone arrives on the set and I rehearse the scene with the actors. Then we rehearse it with the camera and check everyone's positions and then we film it. A scene is often filmed several times from different angles, using different shot sizes. People are always surprised by how long it takes me to make a programme, but it is a very complicated process. Filming usually goes on for up to 11 hours, and then I go home and plan my shots for the next day. It is a very tiring job, but great fun.
What is your favourite film or TV programme? Why?
I really loved the BBC's version of Bleak House in 2006. It is a modern, dark, very exciting version of a wonderful classic story. Recently, Little Miss Sunshine made me laugh loads.
Did you enjoy making the EiMTV videos? Why / Why not?
I really enjoyed making the EiMTV videos. We had a great cast and crew. It was a challenge to make The Hub feel really exciting and dramatic while making the language clear. I also travelled around the country filming The Mag and Life Swap programmes, meeting all kinds of interesting people, which I really enjoyed.
Was it difficult to direct an English Language video? Why / Why not?
It wasn't difficult to direct an English language video. I was aware that the most important thing was to make sure students watching would understand everything that was said. I think it was harder for the actors, trying to stick exactly to the written script, even if it sometimes sounded unrealistic to them. I am very pleased with the finished videos and they were great fun to make.
How was it different from the other directing work you've done?
I approach all my directing work in the same way. I want to do the best, most professional job I can and make programmes that people will enjoy watching. The only difference was that we often had to film things several times to make sure the words were clear.
Which is your favourite EiMTV programme? Why?
I loved The Hub. We had loads of talented young people in the cast and I think the audience will really care about the characters.
Which programme type (It's All About Me, Life Swap, The Hub, The Mag) was the most challenging/enjoyable to direct? Why?
The most challenging programmes were the ones that involved members of the public who found it very difficult to remember their lines. They had lots of interesting things to tell us, but got very nervous whenever the camera started rolling.
EiMTV has four levels from beginner to intermediate. Was making each video a very different experience?
Not really. The only difference was the kind of language we could use. People had to speak a little more slowly in the lower levels, but it wasn't a problem.
