Staying connected in the West Midlands
24 November 2023
With the Royal Television Society Midlands Awards taking place tonight in Birmingham, nominee Tenisha White looks back on her career journey so far…
I am thrilled and humbled to be considered for the prestigious New Director Awards by the Royal Television Society (RTS) for Deep Fake Neighbour Wars. The journey into the world of directing has been a whirlwind of excitement and growth, and I am still in awe of the strides I've been able to make while staying in my home region.
My directorial debut was with the film Spite, a project commissioned through the BACK IN film development program led by Create Central Member Daniel Alexander, who was also the Director of Photography for the entire series of Deep Fake Neighbour Wars. My experience through the BACK IN programme paved the way for my first comedy short film, Stranded, which I wrote and directed. Currently, I am in the process of transforming Stranded into a feature film, with production set to commence in the coming year.
Through the connections I made on BACK IN and at Create Central networking events I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with David Simpson, the Head of Comedy at Tiger Aspect. He told me they were seeking female comedy directors in the Midlands, and he had heard of my work through Create Central and suggested that I put myself forward to be considered. This marked the beginning of my exhilarating journey with Deep Fake Neighbour Wars and I’m so very grateful for the chance to have that conversation and demonstrate my passion for my work.
The opportunity to shoot in the Midlands, my home region, was an added bonus. I was thrilled to contribute to the local talent pool by involving individuals I've previously worked with and trust implicitly. That is really important to me. It really is one of my favourite things to be able to provide opportunities for local cast and crew without them having to feel like they have to go outside of the region to get work.
The six-month journey with Deep Fake Neighbour Wars was a career highlight for me, marking the first time deep fake/AI technology was used in such a capacity. The exceptional crew attached to the series made the process seamless and enjoyable.
Balancing my directorial duties with my role as a mother was made easier by the proximity of the shoot to my home. The ability to return to my daughter after long days on set was invaluable. This experience underscored the importance of local productions in providing opportunities for local talent and the benefits they bring to the community.
Following Deep Fake Neighbour Wars, I was shortlisted for the Directors Programme for Doctors in December 2022, a fantastic way to round off a year of directing. This was followed by an invitation from Mike Hobson, the Executive at Doctors, to direct a couple of short films for The Break series on BBC iPlayer.
Tenisha with Create Central member Daniel Alexander and on the set of Deep Fake Neighbour Wars
This journey has been both empowering and enlightening. Create Central’s work to bring new talent to industry and to bridge that gap between new entrants and established industry professionals in the region is so important. It’s been a vital step in my career journey and it's heartening to see organisations like Create Central committed to nurturing emerging filmmakers and facilitating their transition to larger projects. I am excited about the future and the potential it holds for me and the West Midlands' film industry.