• Facebook Share
  • Twitter Share

Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity

March 24, 2016

A DGA Director Development Initiative Event

On March 23, 2016, more than 120 members gathered in the Guild’s Los Angeles Theater 2 for Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity, the initial offering of the DGA Director Development Initiative’s new curriculum-based speaker series. The series is designed to provide current information on the Director’s craft in order to further the Guild’s mission to increase the diversity of the industry.

The event opened with an introduction from DGA Assistant Executive Director/Director of Diversity Frank Bennett Gonzalez, after which Director/DGA Fourth Vice President Rosemary Rodriguez (The Good Wife), Director/Executive Producer Michael M. Robin (Major Crimes), Equitable Stewardship for Artists Representative Paul Alan Smith, WME Agent Andrew Wang, and CBS Executive Vice President of Current Programs Bridget Wiley engaged in a panel discussion that broke down the fundamental qualities of leadership and creative vision, and revealed how these things translate into empowerment and ultimately success. Moderated by Director/DGA Women's Steering Committee Co-Chair Mary Lou Belli, the conversation also covered topics such as the attributes of successful directors and the related tools and resources that are key to career empowerment.

Also attending the event were representatives from studios and production companies including:

  • Valor Entertainment Partner/Producer/Manager Carlos Bobadilla
  • Producer/Executive Consultant Lucia Cottone
  • Paramount Executive Vice President Nicole Gustafson
  • CBS Vice President of Entertainment Diversity Jeanne Mau
  • NBCUniversal Entertainment Diversity Manager Grace Moss
  • Ryan Murphy Productions Executive Tananse Popa
  • Writ Large Partner/Manager/Producer Greg Shepherd
  • Madhouse Entertainment Manager Kendrick Tan
  • GMT Films Executive Producer Michael German Torres
  • FOX Audience Strategy Vice President Stephen Wong

Following the panel discussion, all attendees were invited to a reception in the DGA atrium.


You can watch video highlights in the gallery below. DGA members, CLICK HERE to watch the full discussions from each of the Director Development Initiative Speaker Series events.


Pictures & Video

photos by Elisa Haber

View slideshow
Watch Highlight
FULL TALK (1:08:51): Director Mary Lou Belli moderates a panel featuring Michael Robin, Paul Alan Smith, Bridget Wiley, Andrew Wang, and Rosemary Rodriguez discussing the hiring climate for directors and sharing advice from both sides of the desk on how directors can get hired.
Watch Highlight
Introduction (6:20): DGA Assistant Executive Director/ Director of Diversity Frank Bennett Gonzalez kicks of the night and introduces moderator Mary Lou Belli.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director Rosemary Rodriguez shares a story about how her perseverance to try to direct an episode of Rescue Me eventually led her to directing 18 episodes of The Good Wife.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: TV literary agent Andrew Wang describes the "agent of change," a person who can lend credence to a prospective director hire.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director/Producer Michael Robin advises directors to remain current and relevant with what happens in the industry.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Executive Vice President Bridget Wiley gives advice on how a director should present himself or herself in a meeting with a studio executive.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: TV literary agent Paul Alan Smith recommends that directors focus on establishing an identifiable tone in a short film when directing material early in their careers.
DGA Assistant Executive Director/Director of Diversity Frank Bennett Gonzalez, CBS Executive Vice President of Current Programs Bridget Wiley, Director Rosemary Rodriguez, Director/Executive Producer Michael M. Robin, DGA Women's Steering Committee Co-Chair Mary Lou Belli (moderator), WME Agent Andrew Wang, and Equitable Stewardship for Artists Representative Paul Alan Smith at Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity, a DGA Director Development Initiative event.
DGA Assistant Executive Director/Director of Diversity Frank Bennett Gonzalez welcomes the participants to Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.

DGA Women’s Steering Committee Co-Chair Mary Lou Belli (moderator) introduces the Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity panelists.

Director/Executive Producer Michael M. Robin, Director Rosemary Rodriguez, Equitable Stewardship for Artists Representative Paul Alan Smith, WME Agent Andrew Wang, CBS Executive Vice President of Current Programs Bridget Wile, and DGA Women’s Steering Committee Co-Chair Mary Lou Belli (moderator) discuss leadership qualities and related tools and recourses key to career empowerment.
TV literary agent Paul Alan Smith recommended that directors focus on establishing an identifiable tone in a short film when directing material early in their careers.
Director/Producer Michael Robin advises directors to remain current and relevant with what happens in the industry.
DGA members learn the attributes of successful directors during the panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
Director Rosemary Rodriguez shares a story about how her perseverance to try to direct an episode of Rescue Me eventually led to directing 18 episodes of The Good Wife.
DGA members learn about the attributes of successful directors during the panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
CBS Executive Vice President of Current Programs Bridget Wiley gives advice on how a director should present himself or herself in a meeting with a studio executive.
TV literary agent Andrew Wang describes the "agent of change," a person who can lend credence to a prospective director hire.
DGA members learn about the attributes of successful directors during the panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
DGA members enjoy the reception following Director Development Initiative’s panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
CBS Executive Vice President of Current Programs Bridget Wiley (right) speaks with a DGA member following the Director Development Initiative’s panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
Director Rosemary Rodriguez (left) speaks with a fellow DGA member following the Director Development Initiative’s panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
DGA members enjoy the reception following Director Development Initiative’s panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
DGA members enjoy the reception following Director Development Initiative’s panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
DGA members enjoy the reception following Director Development Initiative’s panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.
DGA members enjoy the reception following Director Development Initiative’s panel discussion Making It Happen: Accountability and Opportunity.