NFTS students today enjoyed a masterclass with Lord Michael Grade (CBE)– one of the most influential figures in British broadcasting whose career encompasses London Weekend Television, the BBC, over nine years as Chief Executive of Channel 4 TV and most recently as Executive chairman of ITV.
Introducing an episode of the hit TV series Borgen titled ‘Divide and Rule’, Michael Grade described it “…a fantastically compelling and intricate drama.”
The Danish one-hour political drama television series, whose name translates as ‘Government’ was a surprise foreign language hit in the UK broadcast on the BBC. It tells the story of charismatic politician Birgitte Nyborg who becomes the first woman Prime Minister of Denmark and has received critical acclaim for the intelligent way it covers issues such as politics, gender and power.
Following the screening, Michael Grade invited students to look at it from the perspective of the choices made by both the programme makers in terms of script, casting, music, lighting etc., as well as the choices that the characters make.
“This is about principles and the choices the characters make in terms of holding on to those principles in the face of desperate odds, or compromising them. There is a sub text about what happens when you are not a team player,” he commented.
Since the TV series was broadcast in Denmark, a woman head of state has been elected, promoting questions from NFTS students about gender politics and whether the writers set out to change society?
In response, he said: “…writers don’t tend to set out to change society, they are usually more concerned about developing a storyline and character. Is this really about gender politics? Why did they chose to make the Prime Minister a woman? Why cast this actress with these features. She is a brilliant actress but ask yourself, could a man have played that role?”
Asked whether he thought a ‘nuanced and adult drama like Borgen could have been made in Britain’, he replied: “Borgen is an incredibly courageous drama for me…When I worked in television there were two rules about programme making: never make a TV show about politics and never make a show about backstage in TV…because it was thought no one cares about what goes on behind the scenes.
“Yes we have had great TV series such as The Politician’s Wife but this wasn’t about politics, it was about the husband and wife relationship. The House of Cards is a study in evil. It’s not really about politics; it’s not about the nitty gritty of political decision making.”
In answer to questions about the quality of screenwriting on British television, he replied: “Where America has had Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Wire and the Scandinavian countries have had The Bridge, The Killing, Borgen, we have had popular TV series - but British drama has been somewhat pedestrian in recent years; we’ve not seen the authorship coming through in British television.”
After a lively debate, he concludedby saying: “Borgen is a thought provoking show that invites discussion, which is why the show is so compelling to watch. Despite the fact that it’s a foreign language production, no one ever mentions the sub-titles; it so engrossing that the audience soon forgets them. That is a real achievement.”
Following the Q&A, NFTS Director Nik Powell took the opportunity to present Lord Grade with an award from the British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society (BKSTS) - an organization which serves the technical and craft skills of the film, sound and television industries. www.bksts.com
NFTS students recently enjoyed 4 other masterclasses this month with Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Director Justin Chadwick; Director Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, Internal Affairs, Timecode); Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy whose film work includes Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours and The Full Monty and Writer/Director Steven Knight and producers Paul Webster and Guy Heeley who's new independent British road thriller Locke is released this spring.
Picture: (L- R) Chris Auty (NFTS Head of Producing), David G Croft (Head of Television Entertainment), Lord Michael Grade ( next to a photo of his uncle Lord Lew Grade) and Nik Powell (NFTS Director).
Source: Reabetswe Moeti
