Fact sheet, Autumn Term 2026 Drawing from Film

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About 

Drawing from film is a unique opportunity to experience a movie as if you were editing the rushes frame by frame.
As we stop to draw from stills a wholly new experience of cinema is revealed where the subtleties of composition, tone, and texture of the narrative arc are visible in granular detail. Three distinct films selected by our tutors make up a curated programme ranging from the early revolutionary filming of Dziga Vertov to the classic postwar Italian New Wave of Antonioni and Pasolini up to contemporary filmmakers such as Jane Campion.  
Each week a new approach or set of materials will be introduced to enable responses to evolve alongside the range of directors’ eyes. At the start of the evening there will be a short introduction to each film covering its historical period, cinematography, and narrative points of interest. At the end of the session, or during a midway break, there will be a brief overview of works produced with tutor direction. 
Please note that the films can contain difficult subjects that can at times elicit difficult feelings for some. 

When 

Fridays. 18 September to 20 November, 6-8.30pm

Who

Mark Cazalet & Charlotte Mann

Where & how to find us

Studio 12.  

Royal Drawing School Shoreditch, 19 -22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG 

Charlotte Road is a narrow street with three/four storey Victorian warehouses on each size. The School is marked on the outside of the building along with our sister charities. 

Tube

The nearest underground station is Old Street (Northern Line City Branch). The School is a five-minute walk away. The School is a ten-minute walk or a five-minute taxi or bus ride from Liverpool Street (Central, District, Circle, Metropolitan, Elizabeth and Hammersmith and City lines).

Train

The nearest mainline station is Liverpool Street. Kings Cross and Euston are 2 and 3 stops away on Northern line. There are also overland trains to Old Street and Moorgate, both within walking distance.

Bus

26, 35, 48, 149 and 242 run along Shoreditch High Street. Buses 43, 76, 141, 214 and 271 run along City Road south of Old Street. Buses 55 and 243 run along Old Street.

Bicycle

There are no places for bicycle parking immediately outside the building. There are racks further up Charlotte Rd, on Old Street, the top of Curtain Road and people also use Hoxton Square. It is advisable not to leave anything easily detachable or overnight. There are Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations on Shoreditch High Street at the corner of Rivington Street.

Car or Taxi

Car parking is extremely limited, so we recommend using public transport where possible. There are a small number of Blue Badge parking spaces available on Shoreditch High Street. After 5.30pm and on Saturdays street parking is free off Shoreditch High Street near Arnold Circus. Please note, Charlotte Road and Rivington Street are in the Ultra Low Emission Zone, meaning petrol, diesel or older hybrid vehicles which aren’t registered for an exemption aren’t permitted to enter the streets during the operating times (Monday to Friday, 7-10am and 4-7pm).

It is easy to flag a taxi at either end of Charlotte Road throughout the day and in the evening.

Weekly film schedule & suggested materials for each

Week One

Aparajito, Satyajit Ray, 1956

Materials to bring:

Black ink and a white chalk or white pencil or crayon (paper will be provided but will need to be torn down into A5 sheets). Please bring your own ink and brushes and crayons.

This is slightly last minute so we will provide materials if you don’t have time to purchase these specific ones.

Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
Week Five
Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight
Week Nine
Week Ten
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Charcoal, easels and drawing boards will be provided in the studio.

Paper 
There will be newsprint, Snowdon cartridge, and some watercolour paper in the studios. You are welcome to bring alternative types of paper along with you. 

Students are welcome to bring their own materials for personal use and are encouraged to bring a range of their preferred coloured and monochrome drawing materials, wet or dry. Our suggestions are listed below.

Optional materials 

  • Drawing pencils: H, HB, 2B, and 4B 
  • Conté crayons 
  • Pastels 
  • Ink pens 
  • Coloured pencils 
  • Putty and hard erasers 
  • Pencil sharpener 
  • Sketchbook 
  • Ink or watercolours. If you wish to use these, please bring your own water pots and brushes. 
  • Bull-dog clips to attach paper to the drawing board. 
  • Charcoal. Free charcoal will be provided.
  • Paper. Students are welcome to bring their own paper or pay a one-off paper fee for use of the studios paper stock. 

Please note, sharp blades such as Stanley knives, Swiss pocket knives, and other carving tools are not permitted in the studios. 

Studio etiquette & facilities

  • Please arrive promptly for every session. If you arrive late you may need to wait for a break until you are able to enter the studio. You will be able to arrive up to 15 minutes before the start of the session.

  • To access the studios, please sign-in at reception by scanning the QR code sent to you before the course. Please remember to sign-out using the same QR code when leaving the premises. 

  • A health and safety talk is given at the start of each course. 
  • Studios have a strict no phone and no photography policy within our studios. 
  • There is step free access up to the 4th floor studios. 

What to expect 

There will be breaks throughout the evening.

Hot and cold water stations will be available. Please bring your own reusable cups or water bottles, as disposable cups will not be available.  

Contact 

If you are unable to attend a class or know that you will be delayed, please email admin@royaldrawingschool.org or call 020 7613 8568 (option 1) in as far advance as possible.