Mike Leigh Key Notes

• Mike Leigh was born February 20th 1943.
• He is a English writer and director of film and theatre. 
• He studied at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts). 
• He started as a theatre director and playwright in the mid 60's. 
• In the 70's and 80's he focused more on theatre work and making films for BBC Television, many of which were characterized by a gritty 'kitchen sink realism' style.

Mike Leighs work is very original and particular as he focuses on using improvisation to build characters and story lines for his film  s. He begins by allowing the actors chosen to focus on the people in their lives, whether it's somebody they've passed in the street, or a close family member, and focus on key characteristics that person may have. They'd use this to create a new character and slowly be introduced to other actors using the same methods and expected to improvise together in given settings that Mike Leigh would provide them with. From this, they would come up with a plot and story line, each scene will be done and the best will be filmed and used.