Shona Charlton

she/her

BACKGROUND: Known for award-winning short films, documentaries and promos, I was born in India and went to Film School in New Delhi. I've directed factual TV for Star TV Asia, DD National, Discovery, PSBT and worked for Discovery and the BBC. Since 2016, I've made 4 shorts, two 16mm and two Super 8 films including one for ARRI’s Trinity challenge. The films won awards and screened at Oscar/Bafta-qualifying festivals. Currently developing a feature script and directing plays by new writers for the Directors Cut Theatre company in London.

ABOUT ME:
- I believe in telling stories that make a difference, impacting the audience in some profound life-changing way. Most evident in the documentaries I made.
- I like being able to tell powerful, moving stories without being defined by where I’m from or what I believe. Just because I was born in India doesn't mean I can only tell stories about curry houses or the partition!
- As an artist (published illustrator), I consider myself a visual Director, crafting a densely layered world where a great deal of thought goes into the image presented. As a woman of colour, lighting is crucial to me in how we light brown/black skin in different settings. I love world-building, including global cultures in a way that both decolonialises and represents.
- This late in my career I have discovered a joy in theatre, in the immediacy of the connection with the audience and the visceral pleasure of wild creation with a bunch of gifted actors. I would love a chance to explore this further, along with my interest in global cultures, with the Young Vic.

Credits

THEATRE:

ROLE: Director
PLAY: Circle (by John Yates)
Encompass Theatre Workshop
Park Theatre, for Directors Cut Theatre Co,
1 Day, 2023

ROLE: Director
PLAY: Paper Hammer (by John Yates)
Encompass Theatre Workshop
Park Theatre, for Directors Cut Theatre Co,
1 Day, 2023

ROLE: Director
PLAY: A Not So Silent Night
A collection of short plays
Southwark Playhouse, for Directors Cut Theatre Co,
December, 2023 (in rehearsal)

ROLE: Playwrite
PLAY: Damask Rose
A single act play for a British Asian cast
Kali Theatre, Performed Reading
Theatre Royal Stratford East
December, 2023 (in rehearsal)

FILM (SCRIPTED)

ROLE: Writer-Director
FILM: The Applicant
a short film about combat trauma
CLIENT: Harmless
Produced/screened: 2021

ROLE: Writer-Director
FILM: The Sacrifice
a single take short film
CLIENT: ARRI, Directors UK
Produced/screened: 2020

ROLE: Writer-Director
FILM: The Guard
a psychological horror short
Crowdfunded
PRODUCER: Tamara Day
Produced/screened: 2019

ROLE: Writer-Director-Camera
FILM: Blackbird (super 8mm)
CLIENT: straight8
Produced/screened: 2019

ROLE: Writer-Director
FILM: The Ghost in the Kamera
a short ghost story for children
Produced/screened: 2018

ROLE: Director
FILM: afterimage
a 16mm black and white horror short
Northern Media School, Sheffield.
Produced/screened: 2000

Training

- Film London Labs - Vanguard Writers Sessions May - June 2023
- Film London Labs - The Directors Sessions May - June 2022
- Raising Films, Making it Possible, London edition Workshop on returning to work in the Film/TV industry after a break as a parent/carer. Oct-Nov 2019.
- Directors Inspire, Directors-UK London, 2019. Being mentored by Director Indra Bhose on working in high end TV and films as a BAME Director.
- Think-Shoot-Distribute Programme, BFI London Film Festival, 2006. One of 25 Filmmakers from across the UK selected for this week-long training and seminar.
- Mentoring Scheme, DGGB (Directors Guild of Great Britain) London, 2006. Shadowed Directors Maurice Phillips on ‘Silent Witness’ and Indra Bhose on ‘Holby City’.
- Directing Workshop, DGGB (Directors Guild of Great Britain) London, 2004. How to Communicate and Work Effectively with Actors
- BBC Academy Training at Media Trust, London. 2004. Shooting on DV camcorders (PD150/170). Editing on Final Cut Pro