Creativity is a Transferable Skill with Ed Bazalgette

Camera Ready & Abel

Creativity is the ability to create, produce, or develop original work theories, techniques, thoughts and ways of seeing. You are creative, whether you tap into it or not, and you take your creativity wherever you go, and I think it's often overlooked how valuable creativity is as a transferable skill: the abilities you take from job to job.

Here to discuss is BAFTA-nominated television director, Ed Bazalgette, who exemplifies creativity as a transferable skill, having first found success as a musician, then editor, and now director and producer. I first met Ed when he was the lead guitarist for The Vapors, supporting their global hit, Turning Japanese, and I've been a super fan ever since. Please do yourself a favor and check out the power-pop majesty of their full albums, New Clear Days and Magnets.

Ed's directing credits include Dr. Who, Poldark, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, and The Witcher.

Ed opened my eyes in so many ways:

• stay humble
• there's room for more than one person's creativity on a project
• creating an environment that fosters sharing creative ideas serves the project
• leadership, communications and soft skills are essential
• never stop learning and questioning what's in service of the story
• combine a let's try it! mentality with discipline
• the ripple effect of creativity as a transferable skill because the more you put out there, the more everybody working with you takes with them to the next thing they do

Ed's currently in post-production on Marie Antoinette for PBS.

For more on creativity, listen to Maria Brito discuss how Creativity Rules the World.

For more on breaking into directing, listen to Mike Simon discuss Directing Talent.