Barbara Kopple

The DGA Interview

Barbara Kopple

The pioneering documentarian, with an uncanny ability to gain her subjects’ trust, has repeatedly put herself at risk while leaving no stone unturned.

DGA Quarterly Winter 2020 Music Legends
Far beyond the promo reels once popularized by MTV, the most penetrating documentaries underscore psychological insight and socio-political context.
DGA Quarterly Winter 2020 Man on Wire
Davis Guggenheim
In viewing Man on Wire, Davis Guggenheim marvels in director James Marsh's deft reenactments, inspiring use of score and ability to build suspense.
DGA Quarterly Winter 2020 Late Scripts
Late scripts affect everything from casting, editing and performances to overall cost and safety, and can make the difference between mere competence and genuine artistry.
DGA Quarterly Winter 2020 Network News
Network news directors Sarah Carlson Brooke, Brian Nalesnik, Rob Vint, Brent Holey and David Distinti must not only stay ahead of fast-breaking developments but also frame reporting in ways that underscore the human drama.
DGA Quarterly Winter 2020 Location Managers NYC
NYC location managers do more than scouting and securing permits: They also iron out the logistics while keeping city leaders and residents happy.

Scott Z Burns directing The Report
For directors of fact-based dramas, fighting the good fight means knowing when to fortify the storytelling and when to pull their punches.
DGA Quarterly Winter 2020 Patriot Act
With Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, director Richard Preuss and his team orchestrate and choreograph a show that gives new meaning to the term "multimedia."
Capturing Competition on Camera
For competition shows, directors still focus on the storytelling by concentrating on real people with relatable stories, whether it's an Iron Chef contestant or a singer on The Voice.
Thin Blue Line Directed by Errol Morris
The Thin Blue Line
In the opening sequence of The Thin Blue Line, Errol Morris enhances his quest for the truth with innovative, and controversial, style.
Lauren Greenfield
Lauren Greenfield
For photographer, documentarian and commercials director Lauren Greenfield, a picture is worth a thousand words.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Barry Sonnenfield
Barry Sonnenfeld wove together disparate elements into a unified vision for the fanciful TV series A Series of Unfortunate Events.
World Series 2019
History in the Making
The Nationals, held in check for most of Game 7 of the Fall Classic, broke it open within the span of three batters, while Matt Gangl and his gang caught every angle.
Gadgets Prime Lens
Prime Imagery
Large-Format Lenses Shape Visual Storytelling.
Little Mermaid Live Hamish Hamilton Alan Menken
Hamish Hamilton navigated uncharted waters for a broadcast of the reimagined Disney musical, blending live action with animation.
Love and Basketball
Michael Mann, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Ang Lee expound on their opening sequences for The Last of the Mohicans, Love & Basketball and Sense and Sensibility.
More
This issue trains the spotlight on directors of non-fiction programming, including documentaries, news, sports and reality programming. In this regard, the subject of our centerpiece DGA Interview is Barbara Kopple. The three-time DGA Award winner and recipient of two Oscars discusses her relentless quest for truth and her uncanny ability to get her subjects to bare their souls. Read about Kopple's career and more in our latest magazine.