Julie Anne Robinson
Encyclopedia
Julie Anne Robinson is a British theatre, television
, and film director
perhaps best known for her work on British television. She earned BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for directing the first half of the BBC
miniseries Blackpool
. In 2009, Robinson completed work on her first feature film, the American Touchstone Pictures
film The Last Song
.
' Sheridan Morley wrote that "Julie-Anne Robinson's production never quite manages to hold it all together [...] what might have made for a highly dramatic 50 minutes on television seems sprawling even as a short evening in the theater." However, Robinson received favorable reviews for the play Yard, which she directed later the same year. Scriptwriter Kaite O' Reiley earned the Peggy Ramsay Award for writing the play, which takes place in a butcher shop. The Daily Telegraph
wrote that under Robinson's direction, "the cast's constant work with flopping slabs of flesh is both fascinatingly naturalistic and humorously gruesome." Robinson followed with Blagger in 2000; The Daily Telegraphs Charles Spencer remarked that it was "notably well-acted under Julie-Anne Robinson's direction" in his review. In 2000, Morley reviewed the play A Place at the Table as "tightly directed by Julie-Anne Robinson".
Robinson began directing television episodes in 2000, when she helmed an episode of the British soap opera Doctors. From 2001 to 2004, she directed two more episodes of Doctors, along with episodes of Cutting It
, No Angels
, and Holby City
. In 2004, Robinson directed the first half of the miniseries Blackpool. For this, she earned a BAFTA nomination for "Best Drama Serial". When the series was released to American audiences the following year under the name Viva Blackpool, Robinson was among the nominees for the Golden Globe for "Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television". Robinson and Blackpool writer Peter Bowker
planned to create a spin-off of the miniseries that would take place in Funny Girls
, a burlesque cabaret featuring male drag
performers located in the town of Blackpool
; However, this never materialized. Also in 2004, Robinson directed the play How Love Is Spelt, which Dominic Cavendish of The Daily Telegraph reported "risk[ed] becoming at once disjointed and schematic, but, in Julie Anne Robinson's full-bodied production, it keeps ringing painfully true to life."
From 2005 to 2006, Robinson directed two more episodes for Holby City and the first three episodes of Goldplated
. Also in 2006, she began directing episodes for the American television series Grey's Anatomy
, beginning with "Band-Aid Covers the Bullet Hole
". The episode, which aired on March 12, was seen by 22.51 million Americans. She also directed the season 3
episode "From a Whisper to a Scream
", which aired on November 23, 2006. Robinson's first film, the made-for-television movie Coming Down the Mountain
aired on September 2, 2007 on BBC. The movie earned Robinson her second BAFTA nomination, this time for "Best Single Drama". Following this, Robinson directed episodes of more American television series. Episodes she had directed for Weeds
, Private Practice and Samantha Who?
aired in 2007 and 2008. Robinson's Grey's Anatomy episodes "Wishin' and Hopin'
" and "The Becoming" also aired during this time.
and Pushing Daisies
aired. In addition, Robinson entered a blind directing contract with ABC Studios, which broadcasts Grey's Anatomy. She directed the pilot episode for the ABC series The Middle
; The sitcom was picked up on October 8, 2009 and Robinson's pilot aired on September 30, 2009 to an audience of 8.71 million Americans.
Notably in 2009, Robinson accepted her first feature films. She was signed on in May to make her motion picture debut directing Disney's The Last Song
, a coming of age drama starring Miley Cyrus
and Greg Kinnear
based on a novel
by Nicholas Sparks
. The movie was filmed throughout the summer of 2009 and was released under the Touchstone Pictures banner on March 31, 2010. In August 2009, Warner Brothers announced that Robinson would direct The Last Summer (of You and Me), an adaptation of Ann Brashares
' novel by the same name
.
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
, and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
perhaps best known for her work on British television. She earned BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for directing the first half of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
miniseries Blackpool
Blackpool (TV serial)
Blackpool is a British television musical comedy drama serial, produced in-house by the BBC. It was screened on BBC One as six one-hour episodes on Thursday nights at 9pm from 11 November to 16 December 2004...
. In 2009, Robinson completed work on her first feature film, the American Touchstone Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Touchstone Pictures is an American film production label and is one of several film labels of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. Established in 1984, its releases typically feature more mature themes and darker tones than those that are released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner.Touchstone...
film The Last Song
The Last Song (film)
The Last Song is a 2010 American coming of age drama film developed alongside Nicholas Sparks novel by the same name. The film was directed by Julie Anne Robinson in her feature film directorial debut and co-written by Sparks and Jeff Van Wie...
.
1998-2008: Theater and television
Robinson's career began with theater. In 1998, she directed the play Terms of Abuse; The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
wrote that under Robinson's direction, "the cast's constant work with flopping slabs of flesh is both fascinatingly naturalistic and humorously gruesome." Robinson followed with Blagger in 2000; The Daily Telegraphs Charles Spencer remarked that it was "notably well-acted under Julie-Anne Robinson's direction" in his review. In 2000, Morley reviewed the play A Place at the Table as "tightly directed by Julie-Anne Robinson".
Robinson began directing television episodes in 2000, when she helmed an episode of the British soap opera Doctors. From 2001 to 2004, she directed two more episodes of Doctors, along with episodes of Cutting It
Cutting It
Cutting It was a popular BBC television programme set in Manchester, England, which ran for four series between 2002 and 2005.- Series 1 :...
, No Angels
No Angels (TV series)
No Angels is a critically acclaimed British television comedy drama series, produced by the independent production company World Productions for Channel 4, which ran for three seasons from 2004 to 2006. It was devised by Toby Whithouse.-Premise:...
, and Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
. In 2004, Robinson directed the first half of the miniseries Blackpool. For this, she earned a BAFTA nomination for "Best Drama Serial". When the series was released to American audiences the following year under the name Viva Blackpool, Robinson was among the nominees for the Golden Globe for "Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television". Robinson and Blackpool writer Peter Bowker
Peter Bowker
Peter Bowker is a British playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for the television serials Blackpool , a musical drama about a shady casino owner; Occupation , which follows three military servicemen adjusting to civilian life after a tour of duty in Iraq; and Desperate Romantics , a...
planned to create a spin-off of the miniseries that would take place in Funny Girls
Funny Girls
Funny Girls is a burlesque cabaret showbar on the North Shore of Blackpool, Lancashire, the cast comprise male dancers, and drag performers, and are part of In The Pink Leisure, owned by Basil Newby....
, a burlesque cabaret featuring male drag
Drag queen
A drag queen is a man who dresses, and usually acts, like a caricature woman often for the purpose of entertaining. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once. Drag queens also vary by class and culture and...
performers located in the town of Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
; However, this never materialized. Also in 2004, Robinson directed the play How Love Is Spelt, which Dominic Cavendish of The Daily Telegraph reported "risk[ed] becoming at once disjointed and schematic, but, in Julie Anne Robinson's full-bodied production, it keeps ringing painfully true to life."
From 2005 to 2006, Robinson directed two more episodes for Holby City and the first three episodes of Goldplated
Goldplated
Goldplated is an eight-part drama series from World Productions which made its debut on Channel 4 on Wednesday 18 October 2006 at 10.00pm. It follows self-made businessman John White , as he struggles to complete a business deal that could be compromised by past indiscretions...
. Also in 2006, she began directing episodes for the American television series Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
, beginning with "Band-Aid Covers the Bullet Hole
Band-Aid Covers the Bullet Hole
"Band-Aid Covers the Bullet Hole" is the 20th episode of the second season of the ABC series, Grey's Anatomy. The episode was written by Gabrielle Stanton and Harry Werksman and was directed by Julie Anne Robinson. It originally aired on March 12, 2006, running for 43:03 min.-Starring:*Ellen Pompeo...
". The episode, which aired on March 12, was seen by 22.51 million Americans. She also directed the season 3
Grey's Anatomy (season 3)
Season three of Grey's Anatomy, an American medical drama television series developed by Shonda Rhimes, began airing on September 21, 2006 on ABC. The season concluded on May 17, 2007, after 25 episodes aired. Season three regular cast members include Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl,...
episode "From a Whisper to a Scream
From a Whisper to a Scream
"From a Whisper to a Scream" is the ninth episode of the third season of the ABC series, Grey's Anatomy. The episode was written by Kip Koenig and was directed by Julie Anne Robinson. It originally aired on November 23, 2006, running for 50:11 min, about 7 minutes more than the usual episode. In...
", which aired on November 23, 2006. Robinson's first film, the made-for-television movie Coming Down the Mountain
Coming Down the Mountain
Coming Down the Mountain is a 2007 British television movie which was shown on BBC One, written by Mark Haddon and directed by Julie Anne Robinson. The television movie was based on a radio play also written by Haddon.-Plot:David and Ben Philips are teenage brothers who live in London. Ben has...
aired on September 2, 2007 on BBC. The movie earned Robinson her second BAFTA nomination, this time for "Best Single Drama". Following this, Robinson directed episodes of more American television series. Episodes she had directed for Weeds
Weeds (TV series)
Weeds is an American television comedy created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. The central character is Nancy Botwin , a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family after her husband dies suddenly of a...
, Private Practice and Samantha Who?
Samantha Who?
Samantha Who? is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from October 15, 2007 to July 23, 2009. The series was created by Cecelia Ahern and Don Todd, who also served as producers...
aired in 2007 and 2008. Robinson's Grey's Anatomy episodes "Wishin' and Hopin'
Grey's Anatomy (season 3)
Season three of Grey's Anatomy, an American medical drama television series developed by Shonda Rhimes, began airing on September 21, 2006 on ABC. The season concluded on May 17, 2007, after 25 episodes aired. Season three regular cast members include Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl,...
" and "The Becoming" also aired during this time.
2009-2010: ABC contract and films
In 2009, episodes Robinson had directed for Big LoveBig Love
Big Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy...
and Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies is an American comedy-drama television series created by Bryan Fuller that aired on ABC from October 3, 2007 to June 13, 2009. The series stars Lee Pace as Ned, a pie-maker with the ability to bring dead things back to life with his touch, an ability that comes with stipulations...
aired. In addition, Robinson entered a blind directing contract with ABC Studios, which broadcasts Grey's Anatomy. She directed the pilot episode for the ABC series The Middle
The Middle (TV series)
The Middle is an American situation comedy television series that premiered on ABC on September 30, 2009. The show features Frances "Frankie" Heck , a working-class, Midwestern woman married to Mike Heck who resides in the small fictional town of Orson, Indiana. They are the parents of three...
; The sitcom was picked up on October 8, 2009 and Robinson's pilot aired on September 30, 2009 to an audience of 8.71 million Americans.
Notably in 2009, Robinson accepted her first feature films. She was signed on in May to make her motion picture debut directing Disney's The Last Song
The Last Song (film)
The Last Song is a 2010 American coming of age drama film developed alongside Nicholas Sparks novel by the same name. The film was directed by Julie Anne Robinson in her feature film directorial debut and co-written by Sparks and Jeff Van Wie...
, a coming of age drama starring Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
and Greg Kinnear
Greg Kinnear
Gregory "Greg" Kinnear is an American actor and television personality who first rose to stardom in 1991. He has appeared in more than 20 motion pictures, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in As Good as It Gets.-Early life:Kinnear was born in Logansport, Indiana, the son of...
based on a novel
The Last Song (novel)
The Last Song is a 2009 novel by American author Nicholas Sparks. The Last Song is Sparks' fourteenth published novel , and was written specifically as the basis for the film adaptation by the same name. It was released on September 8, 2009 by Grand Central Publishing...
by Nicholas Sparks
Nicholas Sparks (author)
Nicholas Charles Sparks is an internationally-bestselling American novelist and screenwriter. He has 16 published novels, with thematic ideas that include cancer, death and love. Six have been adapted to film, including Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, Nights in Rodanthe,...
. The movie was filmed throughout the summer of 2009 and was released under the Touchstone Pictures banner on March 31, 2010. In August 2009, Warner Brothers announced that Robinson would direct The Last Summer (of You and Me), an adaptation of Ann Brashares
Ann Brashares
Ann Brashares is an American writer of young adult fiction. She is best known as the author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series of books....
' novel by the same name
The Last Summer (of You and Me)
The Last Summer is a novel by Ann Brashares. Her first novel for adults, and her first outside of her acclaimed Traveling Pants series, was released on June 6, 2007 by Riverhead Books.-Plot:...
.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | BAFTA | TV Award Best Drama Serial | Blackpool Blackpool (TV serial) Blackpool is a British television musical comedy drama serial, produced in-house by the BBC. It was screened on BBC One as six one-hour episodes on Thursday nights at 9pm from 11 November to 16 December 2004... |
||
| 2006 | Golden Globe 63rd Golden Globe Awards ----Picture - Drama: Brokeback Mountain ----Picture - Musical or Comedy: Walk the Line ----TV Series - Drama: Lost ----TV Series - Musical or Comedy: Desperate Housewives ----Miniseries or TV Movie: Empire Falls ... |
Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television | Viva Blackpool | ||
| 2008 | BAFTA | TV Award Best Single Drama | Coming Down the Mountain Coming Down the Mountain Coming Down the Mountain is a 2007 British television movie which was shown on BBC One, written by Mark Haddon and directed by Julie Anne Robinson. The television movie was based on a radio play also written by Haddon.-Plot:David and Ben Philips are teenage brothers who live in London. Ben has... |