Multi-award-winning writer and director Sheila Nortley has landed a unique deal with national broadcaster, Sky which will see her developing three new television shows.
Nortley, who we recently featured as the director of the emotive short film, JOY, will spend the next 12 months exploring new ideas for the television giant. This is her first solo development deal for television, typically focusing her talents on the silver screen.
The Black British Muslim female director, who founded Kingdom Drama School in 2011, now run by Ashley Walters, has an impressive list of credits, including the internationally renowned shorts Victim, Zion and the feature film David is Dying.
In 2018, feature film The Strangers was shot and principal photography for feature film A Game Of Two Halves began in November 2019 both penned by Nortley. She ended the year in Writer’s Rooms for an exciting new Netflix comedy and a Channel 4 drama. Her latest short film Sometimes I Feel was selected for the Oscar qualifying PAFF festival in LA 2020.
“I’m looking forward to bringing more of our unique perspective on character and story to television audiences.”
This new deal with Sky came ahead of a recent survey by The Creative Diversity Network which revealed that less than 2% of writers in TV identify as Black and spoke to the need for more diverse faces in the film and television industry. The message to amplify Black talent is particularly potent in the wake of the death of the American, George Floyd.
Speaking about her new project, Nortley said: “I’m really pleased to be working with the team at Sky. I’m looking forward to bringing more of our unique perspective on character and story to television audiences.”
Sheila’s next projects include the forthcoming music video for former The Noisettes singer, Shingai, to be released later in the year and the short film, I Am Mary due for release next month.
