Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Ollie George Clark, novelist and screenwriter, about the art, discipline, and challenges of writing fiction. From developing unforgettable characters to crafting compelling plots, Ollie shares what it really takes to turn an idea into his finished novel "Youngest Faircrest and the Search for a Sorcerer".

But HOW do you actually start writing a novel?

How do you build believable characters and keep readers hooked from the very first page?

What’s the publishing journey really like, from finishing your manuscript to seeing your book on the shelves?

From plotting and world-building to editing and finding your unique voice, Ollie reveals the creativity, persistence, and passion behind bringing a story to life.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Manav Kher, a re-recording mixer who brings together dialogue, music, Foley, and sound effects to create the final soundtrack audiences hear in film and television. From intimate character moments to blockbuster action sequences, Manav reveals how sound is shaped in post-production to elevate every scene.

But WHAT exactly does a re-recording mixer do?

How is re-recording mixing different from production sound recorded on set?

How do you balance dialogue, music, and sound effects without audiences even noticing?

What happens when the production audio isn’t perfect, and how much can be fixed in post?

What’s it like collaborating with directors to find the perfect emotional balance for a film?

From immersive surround sound to the subtle details that audiences never consciously hear, Manav shares the creativity, technical expertise, and storytelling behind one of the most important and least understood roles in filmmaking.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Lauren Sequeira, writer and showrunner whose work spans television development, writers’ rooms, and creating original series. From pitching ideas and developing characters to leading a team of writers, Lauren has first-hand experience navigating the complex journey of bringing a TV show from concept to screen.

But WHAT exactly does a SHOWRUNNER do?

How do you turn an idea into a television series that gets commissioned?

What really happens inside a writers’ room?

And how do you balance creativity, collaboration, and leadership when you’re responsible for an entire show?

From breaking stories and writing scripts to managing production and working with broadcasters, Lauren takes us behind the scenes of television development and reveals what it takes to build a career as a writer in today’s TV industry.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Nathan Theys, commercial director and filmmaker whose work spans branded content, documentaries, and digital storytelling. Most recently, Nathan directed a documentary series for Jamie Oliver’s YouTube channel, crafting engaging stories that connect with audiences across the world while navigating the unique challenges of online content creation.

But WHAT exactly goes into directing a COMMERCIAL or BRANDED FILM?

How do you tell compelling stories while working with a client’s vision and objectives?

What makes a successful documentary series for YouTube?

And how do filmmakers adapt their storytelling techniques for an audience with endless content at their fingertips?

From pitching ideas and working with major brands to collaborating with Jamie Oliver and his team, Nathan takes us behind the scenes of modern filmmaking and reveals what it takes to build a career in the ever-evolving world of commercial content.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Kiff McManus, a production sound recordist with nearly 30 years of experience capturing audio for film and television. From high-speed car chases on Top Gear to intense one-shot dramas like Adolescence, Kiff has worked across some of the most demanding environments in the industry.

But WHAT exactly goes into recording sound on set?

How do you capture clean dialogue in noisy, unpredictable environments?

What’s it like collaborating with directors, actors, and busy film crews while staying invisible behind the scenes?

And how do you balance technical precision with the chaos of real-world locations?

From hidden microphones to on-set problem-solving, Kiff shares the expertise, adaptability and sharp ears needed to make every moment sound just right.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with Ségolène Veyre, professional animal handler who specialises in training and working with dogs for film and television. From emotional performances to high-energy action scenes, Ségolène helps bring some of the screen’s most lovable—and talented—canine stars to life.

But WHAT exactly goes into training a dog for the screen?

How do you get consistent performances from animals across multiple takes?

What’s it like working on set with directors, actors, and unpredictable four-legged co-stars?

And how do you ensure animal welfare while still capturing those perfect cinematic moments?

From behind-the-scenes tricks to heartwarming stories, Ségolène reveals the patience, skill, and creativity needed to turn dogs into true screen performers.

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas chat with script supervisor Lucy Hatherly (28 Years Later, A Thousand Blows, Snow White, The Marvels, Ted Lasso), whose role is essential in keeping film and television productions running smoothly behind the scenes. From tracking continuity to supporting directors and editors, Lucy is the bridge between script and screen.

But WHAT exactly does a Script Supervisor do?

How do you keep track of every detail—from performances to props—across multiple takes and shooting days?

What happens when continuity goes wrong?

And how does this role shape the final edit of a film or TV show?

From meticulous note-taking to spotting the smallest on-set inconsistencies, Lucy reveals the hidden craft that ensures everything you see on screen makes perfect sense—even when it’s shot completely out of order.

Host Dan Allen chats with Eleri Jones, director on the long-running hit soap Hollyoaks. Working at an intense pace, Eleri is responsible for bringing compelling drama to life on screen, often shooting multiple episodes across tight schedules while maintaining strong performances and visual storytelling.

But WHAT exactly goes into directing a SOAP?

How do you balance speed with creativity on such a fast-moving production?

What are the unique challenges of working with long-running characters and evolving storylines?

And how does directing soaps compare to other areas of television, film and theatre?

From rapid-fire shooting days to shaping emotional, character-driven moments, Eleri gives us a behind-the-scenes look at one of TV’s most demanding and exciting directing roles.

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Eleri is a theatre and film director, originally from North Wales. She achieved a full scholarship to the University of Manchester to study Drama and Screen Studies, gaining a 1st Class Degree before training at Drama Centre London (Leverhulme Scholarship). After working as an actor and 1st AD across TV, film and theatre for 8 years, Eleri moved into directing under the guidance of BAFTA winning director Carol Wiseman and was selected as one of the first recipients of the Carne Traineeship for Directors in Wales, based at Theatr Clwyd and mentored by Tamara Harvey. 

Eleri’s previous directing credits include CELEBRATED VIRGINS (Theatr Clwyd) which she also co-created, SPRINKLES (Dirty Protest), the WOMEN REDISCOVERED Film Series (Theatr Clwyd), GWYL GAEAF (Theatr Clwyd) and A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Charles Dickens Museum). Eleri’s work as Assistant Director includes ISLA (dir. Tamara Harvey, Theatr Clwyd/BBC 4), GOING THE DISTANCE (dir. Felicity Montagu, LBT/The Dukes, Lancaster) and MOLD RIOTS (dir. Katie Posner, Theatr Clwyd).

Hosts Dan Allen and Ellen Thomas reflect on the incredible Young Film Academy Awards All Stars event last month and listen to exclusive interviews with students and industry professionals who attended the awards and also judged the categories, including Top Gun Maverick & Mission Impossible editor Eddie Hamilton, film critic and Girls on Film podcast host Anna Smith, along with film animal trainer and handler Grace Dickinson. 

About YFA Awards ALL STARS:

On Saturday 28th February 2026, Young Film Academy hosted a once-in-a-generation showdown, bringing together standout filmmaking talent from across our programmes since 2016. Nominees and their guests joined us for a spectacular evening of red-carpet glamour, industry insiders, show-stopping prizes and an afterparty to remember — all at the historic Genesis Cinema in London, where Charlie Chaplin famously performed. The best films and performances from 10 years of the annual YFA Awards went head-to-head to claim an ALL STAR title, and the million-dollar question was finally answered – what is the best YFA film EVER made?

10 years, 10 categories — judged by star-studded industry professionals, including Jamie Campbell, Executive Producer of Netflix smash-hit Sex Education and an Audience Award for Best Comedy, decided by YOU.

 Students past and present had the opportunity to reconnect, network and meet their next filmmaking collaborators. This milestone event was testament to YFA’s commitment to inspire the next generation of filmmakers and a showcase of the astounding work they produce.

Host Dan Allen chats with Sue Quinn, acclaimed Locations Manager whose work includes the Harry Potter films, Fantastic Beasts, Love Actually and numerous major film and television productions. Sue has helped transform real-world places into some of the most iconic locations in modern cinema.

But WHAT exactly does a Locations Manager do?

How do you find locations that feel magical, cinematic, and authentic—while still working in the real world?

What goes into securing, managing, and protecting locations on huge productions like Harry Potter?

And what are the unexpected challenges of filming in castles, historic buildings, and public spaces?

From spellbinding sets to logistical nightmares, Sue takes us behind the scenes of one of the most vital roles in filmmaking—where creativity meets coordination, and every location tells a story.