1. About Andrew Higgs

Having established myself as an award-winning, international, television drama director over the last fifteen years, I am currently developing several feature film projects, the first of which I have written myself. However, directing remains my passion as I love working with actors. During recent writing phases, I have established strong links with several top drama schools, workshopping their final year actors on screen techniques, with the result that a number of them are currently making names for themselves in both film and television. Therefore, in casting terms, I have an almost unique access to up-and-coming young talent. Although one of my main strengths is getting truthful and realistic performances, I also pride myself on meeting tight schedules and maintaining high morale on set by knowing what I want and communicating that effectively to my crew. I have found that with the requisite amount of homework and forethought, problems on set can be radically reduced and valuable time saved for those few unforeseeable crises that inevitably can occur.

2. Directing Credits

UNTERSTADT (filmwerk berlin) 35 mm pilot / trailer for forthcoming television series. Film.
DIE WACHE (Endemol Entertainment for RTL) 10 x 50 min episodes
THE BILL (Thames Television) 10 x 25 min episodes
JUPITER MOON (Primetime-Andromeda for BSkyB) 12 x 30-min episodes
BLIND DATE (LWT) Location director
BROOKSIDE (Mersey TV for Channel 4) 30 x 25 min episodes
MACHEATH (The London International Film School) Short film featuring John Hurt. Winner 1987 Fuji Scholarship Award (Best Overall Production) and 1988 BP Award. Also writer.

3. In Development

WATERLOO DAY Feature film set in 1982 about one day in the life of an Army unit in Belfast. Tradition conflicts with operations during an emergency tour. Why the Northern Ireland Peace Process must succeed. Commissioned by the BBC. Workshopped at MEDIA II PILOTS, Barcelona.

4. Teaching

Acting for Camera Workshops at The Actors' Centre, London and with students at The Academy of Live & Recorded Arts, Birmingham School of Speech & Drama, E15 Acting School, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and at numerous other drama schools.
Visiting tutor (television directing) at Leeds University (BBC Production Training Course) and The University of Central England.

5. Articles

I have written a number of lead articles and reviews for 'Direct' (the Magazine of The Directors Guild of Great Britain):

Lead Articles

"Mr Polanski's 'doing fine'" (Roman Polanski and 'The Pianist') www.dggb.co.uk/publications/article11_100.html
"Bond Like No Other" (Michael Apted and 'The World Is Not Enough') www.dggb.co.uk/publications/article 1_4.html
"Madden in Love... with directing" (John Madden and 'Shakespeare In Love') www.dggb.co.uk/publications/madden.pdf

Book Reviews

"It's A Mystery" ("Aristotle in Hollywood" by Ari Hiltunen) www.dggb.co.uk/publications/article11_112.html
"So You Wanna Be A Director?" (Ken Annakins' autobiography) www.dggb.co.uk/publications/article8_76.html
"The Gap And How To Create It" ("Story" by Robert McKee) www.dggb.co.uk/publications/article3_33.html

Obituary

Roy Boulting (1913-2001) www.dggb.co.uk/publications/article9_80.html

6. Contact

My email address is: andrew@macheath.u-net.com. All feedback is very welcome.