Anatomy of a Scandal: Q&A with SJ Clarkson, Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery and Melissa James Gibson

Join WFTV for an insider's look into Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal.

We are joined by some of the team behind Anatomy of a Scandal including Director and Executive Producer S.J. Clarkson, Writer Melissa James Gibson as well as actors Sienna Miller and Michelle Dockery. Hosted by film critic and host of the Girls on Film Anna Smith, the panel will be talking about their roles in the making of the series and their journey from commission to production.

There will also be time at the end of the discussion for Q&A.

Set in London, Anatomy of a Scandal is the long awaited television adaptation of the international bestselling novel of the same name, by Sarah Vaughan. Starring Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Rupert Friend, Naomi Scott and Josette Simon, Anatomy of a Scandal is a psychological thriller and gripping courtroom drama, the series infiltrates Britain's elite through personal and political scandal, where the truth lies between justice and privilege. James and Sophie Whitehouse live in a blissful and rarefied world. A Minister in Parliament, a loving family at home, James' trajectory appears without limits. Until a scandalous secret suddenly comes to light. Barrister Kate Woodcroft has a trajectory of her own, and her prosecution threatens to tear into Westminster, the Whitehouse marriage, and her own personal esteem.

Event Schedule:

17:55: Please join the webinar waiting room 18:00: Panel discussion with team behind the series  18:45: Attendee Q&A opens 19:00: Finish

SJ Clarkson, Director and Producer

Named by the Guardian one of the top 50 most powerful women in film and tv, SJ Clarkson is the director and executive producer of this spring’s highly anticipated Anatomy of a Scandal, based on the bestselling book by Sarah Vaughan, for Netflix.

Clarkson is the executive producer and directed the pilot of the popular series Made For Love now in its second season for HBO MAX. Other shows Clarkson has executive produced and directed include Collateral for BBC 2, Marvel’s The Defenders, Jessica Jones and Nick Hornby’s five-part adaptation of Love Nina for See-Saw Films and the BBC.

Clarkson directed six episodes of the BAFTA and International Emmy Award-winning show Life on Mars, the Emmy-winning series Succession (“Prague”) and HBO’s Vinyl, (executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger) and the pilots of USA’s Dig. Other credits include episodes of Turn, The Bridge, Hostages, Orange is the New Black, Smash, Bates Motel, Heroes, Dexter, Ugly Betty, House and Alan Ball’s HBO/Cinemax series Banshee.

She co-created Mistresses for the BBC and directed the opening run of the UK episodes. She directed the award-winning Toast for Ruby Films/BBC based on the best-selling, autobiographical novel by renowned food writer and chef Nigel Slater.

Melissa James Gibson, Writer

Melissa James Gibson is a New York City based playwright and screenwriter. With David E. Kelley, she was co-creator, co-showrunner and Executive Producer on Netflix’s Anatomy of a Scandal. Prior to that, she was co-showrunner and EP on Netflix’s House of Cards. She also wrote for the first two seasons of FX’s The Americans. All is Bright, a feature for which she wrote the script, premiered at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival. Honors include Guggenheim, Lucille Lortel and Macdowell Colony fellowships; OBIE, Whiting, Kesselring and Steinberg Playwright awards; and Emmy and WGA nominations. She is currently creating a series for Apple and in an overall deal at Endeavor Content.

Anna Smith, Host

Anna Smith is a broadcaster and one of the UK’s top film critics. She is the host of the Girls On Film podcast and the former President of the UK Critics’ Circle. She is a regular film critic for BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio, Deadline Hollywood, Time Out, Metro, The Guardian, Sight & Sound, Empire and more.

She has spent over a decade interviewing major actors and directors on stage, on screen and in print. A former magazine editor, Anna decided to go freelance in 2000, and has since enjoyed stints as Acting Film Editor of both Time Out London and Metro UK Newspaper.

How will the online event work?

This event will be live streamed via Zoom.us. Viewing details will be sent via your confirmation.

Attending participants will not be visible to others and will be muted throughout the session. After the talk, there will be an opportunity for audience members to ask their questions to the panel by using the Q&A feature.

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