On January 17, the Women’s Steering Committee (WSC) virtual meeting was preceded by a panel discussion, Lookbooks, Pitch Decks and Sizzle Reels. In a conversation moderated by Director/ WSC Activities & Events Committee Co-Coordinator Mo Perkins (Manifest), Directors who have become very successful in the art of the pitch — Rachel Lee Goldenberg (Unpregnant), Lena Khan (The Tiger Hunter) and Maggie Kiley (Keep Breathing) — discussed how pitching a show/film differs from pitching oneself as a Director for episodic television.
During the visual and fun conversation, each of the speakers discussed their processes in creating their pitch decks via applications such as PowerPoint, Google Slides or Key Note and provided information on subjects such as sourcing images and videos, how to cut a reel for tone, and why some Directors hire people, while others make it themselves.
Goldenberg shared that many pitches are now done via Zoom which may sometimes be awkward. She said she tries as much as possible to engage the audience in questions to increase their participation in the presentation. She also shared that to her the pitch is 70% what you are saying and 30% the images.
Kiley revealed that her pitch decks are creatively useful not just in getting the job, but also after getting the job. She has used it during prep as a tool to share her vision with the executives of the network and studio.
Khan disclosed that she is intentional about strategies to keep her audience engaged and often tries to insert pieces that keep someone’s attention, such as a gif or a joke.
All of the speakers shared the opinion that when you pitch, remember that much of it is to demonstrate that you know what you are doing and that you have a particular point of view that separates you from the rest.
Following the moderated portion of the discussion, the panelists fielded questions from the online audience.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 Rachel Lee Goldenberg
Goldenberg’s directorial credits include the feature films Unpregnant and a musical remake of Valley Girl; the movie for television A Deadly Adoption; the pilots for the series Tiny Beautiful Things, Minx and I’m Sorry; and episodes of the series Lady Time, Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Divorce, Man Seeking Woman and The Mindy Project. Goldenberg has been a DGA member since 2015. |
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 Lena Khan
Khan’s directorial credits include the feature films The Tiger Hunter and Flora and Ulysses; and episodes of the series Never Have I Ever and The Mysterious Benedict Society. A DGA member since 2015, Khan is also one of the co-creators of the Women’s Steering Committee’s WSC Squad Mentorship Program which seeks to create a solid community of working Directors within the WSC and pairs mid-career Directors with well-established mentors. |
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 Maggie Kiley
Kiley’s directorial credits include episodes of the limited series Keep Breathing, What/If and Dr. Death; and episodes of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Dirty John, Katy Keene, Impulse, Riverdale, The Gifted, Nightflyers, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Insatiable, 9-1-1, Scream Queens, Caring and American Horror Story. Kiley has been a DGA member since 2016. |
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 Mo Perkins (moderator)
Perkins’s directorial credits include the feature films A Quiet Little Marriage and The Last Time You Had Fun; and episodes of the series Manifest, Futurestates and I Ship It. Perkins joined the DGA in 2019 and serves as a Co-Coordinator of the Women’s Steering Committee’s Activities & Events Committee. |
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ABOUT THE COMMITTEE:
The Women's Steering Committee (WSC) was created to advance the professional interests of its members, and to heighten their visibility and career opportunities in the entertainment industry. The WSC currently promotes diversity through sponsoring net-working events, screenings and seminars, and fosters relationships between the members to provide support, mentoring and networking opportunities. The WSC’s current Co-Chairs are Tara Miele, Shawn Pipkin-West and Liz Ryan.