On December 6, nearly 40 participants from the 2014 Television Diversity Director Programs gathered in the Guild’s Los Angeles Atrium for a welcome workshop. The workshop was designed to provide practical and timely information about episodic TV directing to the participants of the various studio diversity directing programs.
After a networking breakfast, DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director G. Bryan Unger welcomed the participants and introduced DGA President Paris Barclay (Sons of Anarchy), who spoke about the Guild’s coordinated diversity efforts and the desire to help this new group of television directors make their mark in the business.
The workshop then commenced with the first of three panel discussions, Lessons from the Set about Shadowing. Directors Zetna Fuentes (Forever) and Millicent Shelton (Awkward) discussed the “do’s and don’ts” of shadowing directors on the set in a conversation moderated by Barclay.
The second panel discussion, The Secrets of Success for Episodic Television Directors, featured Directors Eric Appel (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Rebecca Asher (Blackish), and Ken Whittingham (The Mindy Project) in an exploration of what it means to be well prepared and an effective television director. DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland (Shameless) served as moderator.
After lunch, the workshop continued with the final panel discussion, Finding the Keys to Better Networking, with Directors Karen Gaviola (Gotham), Gail Mancuso (Modern Family), Seith Mann (The Walking Dead), and Rosemary Rodriguez (The Good Wife) revealing how they successfully drove their prolific television directing careers forward in a conversation moderated by DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Betty Thomas (Audrey).
The Workshop concluded with a “Speed Dating” meet and greet where program participants were able to network with Producer/Directors Lesli Linka Glatter (Homeland), Todd Holland (The Pro), Michael Spiller (New Girl), Lawrence Trilling (Parenthood), and Rick Wallace (Major Crimes).