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Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back

April 13, 2017

A DGA Director Development Initiative Lab

DGA members looking for ways to improve and help themselves get ready for their next episodic job, gathered in the Guild’s Los Angeles Atrium on April 12, for the DGA Director Development Initiative’s first interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back. 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 and this event featured veteran Directors and other industry professionals teaching the participants how to navigate a career as an episodic television director and key strategies for networking.

The evening began with “Elevator Pitch” sessions where participants shared their personal story pitches in 60 seconds with DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland, Directors Norberto Barba, Bob Koherr, Linda Mendoza, Rosemary Rodriguez, and Ken Whittingham, Producer Andrea Simon, MTV VP Dana Gotlieb-Carter, Warner Brothers Television Workshop/Current Programming VP Christopher Mack, and Agents Toochis Morin, Eric Pertilla and Brant Rose.

In the next part of the event, Whittingham, Gotlieb-Carter, Morin, Pertilla Rose and Simon were the panelists for the discussion, “Getting the Job.” In a conversation moderated by Holland, the panelists explored the relationship between directors, agents and managers and how directors can put their best foot forward to acquire representation and jumpstart their careers.

Following a break, the event continued with the panel discussion, “Getting Asked Back.” With Holland once again serving as moderator, Barba, Koherr, Mendoza, Rodriguez, and Mack discussed their careers, how they got their start and delved into the relationship they have to maintain with the studio or Executive Producer when working on various projects.

The final part of the evening featured a third “Elevator Pitch” session where the participants could immediately put to test the information they had received during the lab.

ABOUT THE PANELSTS:

Director Todd Holland (moderator)
A DGA member since 1986, Holland broke into the industry after Steven Spielberg saw his short film, Chicken Thing, and hired him to write and direct for the series Amazing Stories. Since that start, he has directed three feature films and more than 170 episodes of television spanning the gamut of genres from dramas like Twin Peaks, My So Called Life, and Shameless to comedies like Tales of the Crypt, Friends and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in comedy. His work has earned him three Emmy Awards and eight nominations; five CableAce Awards; a DGA award and six DGA nominations; and a WGA nomination. He was a key creative force behind The Larry Sanders Show, Malcolm in the Middle, and co-creator of Wonderfalls. His recent work includes executive producing and directing the pilots for the series The Real O’Neals and Furst Born.
 

Director Norberto Barba
Barba has directed over eighty hours of television including episodes of The Bridge, Fringe, In Treatment, Law & Order: SVU, Numb3rs, and Suits; as well as the feature film credits Blue Tiger starring Virginia Madsen and Harry Dean Stanton and Solo. He also serves as the Executive Producer and Director on the series Grimm and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. He has been a DGA member since 1994.
 
VP Dana Gotlieb-Carter
Gotlieb-Carter is Vice President of MTV Scripted Development and Current and has covered shows including Awkward, Teen Wolf, Scream, The Shannara Chronicles, Faking It, Finding Carter, Loosely Exactly Nicole, and I Just Want My Pants Back. Prior to MTV, Gotlieb-Carter worked at ABC on shows including Scrubs, Miss Guided, and Notes from the Underbelly.
 
Director Bob Koherr
Koherr started as a sketch and improv comedy performer before launching his episodic television directing career with an episode of The Drew Carey Show and becoming one of the regular directors of that series. Since joining the DGA in 2000, he has been directing half-hour multi-cam comedies including: Anger Management, Bunk'd, Jessie, Hannah Montana, Wanda at Large, and Good Luck Charlie. He also directed four pilots to date, all of which went to series.
 
VP Christopher Mack
Mack is a Senior Vice President at Warner Bros. Television and has headed the studio’s Television Workshop for the past nine years. He has also covered shows like Two and a Half Men and Smallville for the Current Programs Department. He has been at the forefront of launching Stage 13, a digital initiative for the studio. Previously, he worked as a writer on various one-hour dramas including ER, The Practice and the new The Twilight Zone. He began his career in television at NBC Studios where he oversaw a varied list of shows including The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, In the House, Homicide: Life on the Street, and The Pretender.
 
Director Linda Mendoza
A DGA Member since 1987, Mendoza started her directing career on The Chris Rock Show and The Bernie Mac Show. Her work has included episodes of 30 Rock, Men at Work, Scrubs, Gilmore Girls, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. She earned an ALMA Award for her “Betty’s Baby Bump” episode of Ugly Betty. Mendoza also earned DGA Award nominations for her specials Smithsonian Salutes Ray Charles: In Performance at the White House (2015) and Paul McCartney: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in Performance at The White House (2010).
 
Agent Toochis Morin Rose
Morin Rose worked with Monty Python’s Eric Idle on the Broadway musicals Spamalot and The Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch prior to joining Brant Rose Agency as an agent. She also worked in Business Affairs at Mandalay Pictures. Morin Rose studied Filmic Writing and Still Photography at USC School of Cinematic Arts and prior to film school, performed off-Broadway and worked in TV and film as an actor.
 
Agent Eric Pertilla
Originally aiming to be a sports agent, an internship at New Line Cinema led Pertilla to a love for the movie business. After several years of temp jobs, internships, assistant, and executive positions for companies like CBS and Disney, and in working talent management at Mosaic, he is currently an agent at Paradigm Talent Agency.
 

Director Rosemary Rodriguez
Rodriguez began her directorial career by writing and directing the Independent Spirit Award-nominated feature Acts of Worship. Her second feature, Silver Skies, won “Best Feature” at Manhattan Film Festival. Rodriguez’s episodic television work includes The Walking Dead, Jessica Jones, Sneaky Pete, Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll, Empire, Hawthorne, Third Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Rescue Me, and 18 episodes of The Good Wife including the 100th. A DGA member since 2004, Rodriguez also serves as the Fourth Vice President of the Guild.
 
Agent Brant Rose
As an agent who represents writers, directors and producers in television, film and new media, Rose has helped shape the careers of a number of DGA, Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, WGA and Independent Spirit Award winners and nominees. He has served on the Sundance Producers Conference, the American Cinematheque board, and the I Have A Dream Foundation-LA. Prior to the entertainment business, Rose worked in brand management/marketing at Procter & Gamble after graduating Dartmouth College with a degree in Government.
 

Producer/Manager Andrea Simon
Simon began Andrea Simon Entertainment after a successful career as a literary agent. Some of her clients’ credits include Fear the Walking Dead, The Americans, House of Cards, Shameless, Masters of Sex, Scandal, The Blacklist, Grey’s Anatomy, This Is Us, Jane the Virgin, Community, Hung, Big Love, The Good Wife, and The Sopranos. As a producer, she has set up projects at HBO, Amazon Studios, Lifetime, Corus and OddLot Entertainment.
 
Director Ken Whittingham
During his over 25 years in the industry Whittingham has directed episodes for television series including black-ish, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Survivor’s Remorse, Parenthood, The Mindy Project, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Entourage, Everybody Hates Chris, King of Queens, and The Bernie Mac Show. Whittingham won NAACP Image Awards for his work on Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock and The Office. He has been a DGA member since 1987.
About the Director Development Initiative:

The Director Development Initiative is a DGA Diversity program focusing on education, networking, and career development for DGA Members. The program features curriculum-based labs designed to provide current information on the Director’s craft and focus on preparation for the marketplace.

Pictures & Video

photos by Elisa Haber

View slideshow
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director Rosemary Rodriguez explains the benefits of visiting the set before directing an episode of a show in order to get to know the cast and crew before the pressure of directing sets in.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director Linda Mendoza talks about her extensive process for preparing to direct a new television show.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director Norberto Barba finds the script to be his most valuable tool in preparing for a new project.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director Bob Koherr talks about his enjoyment of blocking and brings up a specific incident where he had to handle a conflict with an actor.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Director Ken Whittingham speaks about his early career and how he broke into the film industry.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Senior Vice President, Warner Bros. Television Christopher Mack gives tips on how to make the right impression on a show in order to get asked back.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Vice President of Scripted Development, MTV Dana Gotlieb-Carter encourages new directors to show their passion and enthusiasm during a meeting in order to stand out in a competitive, talented landscape.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Agent Eric Pertilla coaches his clients to know their "narrative" and be able to network so that they can create opportunities for establishing their identity within the industry.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Agent Andrea Simon teaches her clients how to focus on expanding and capitalizing on their network of contacts.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Agent Toochis Morin Rose explains the role of an agent and the benefits of obtaining representation.
Watch Highlight
HIGHLIGHT: Agent Brant Rose recommends two books to directors for learning about networking.
Front Row: Producer/Manager Andrea Simon, Director/DGA Fourth Vice President Rosemary Rodriguez, Brant Rose Agency’s Toochis Morin Rose, Director Linda Mendoza, and Brant Rose Agency’s Brant Rose. Back Row: Director Norberto Barba, DGA Executive In Charge of Diversity Programs and Committees Frank Bennett Gonzalez, Director Bob Koherr, Warner Brothers Television Workshop/Current Programming VP Christopher Mack, Director Ken Whittingham, Director/DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland (moderator), and Paradigm Talent Agency’s Eric Pertilla. (Not pictured: MTV VP Dana Gotlieb-Carter)
DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland welcomes the participants to the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
DGA members and Industry professionals engage in an “Elevator Pitch” session during the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Bob Koherr leads DGA members in an “Elevator Pitch” session during the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Warner Brothers Television Workshop/Current Programming VP Christopher Mack gives his input to DGA members during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Ken Whittingham lends his expertise to his fellow DGA members during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director/DGA Fourth Vice President Rosemary Rodriguez shares her knowledge about the art of networking during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Dianne Bartlow asks a question during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Agents Toochis Morin Rose and Brant Rose give pointers during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director/DGA Women’s Steering Committee Co-Chair Mary Lou Belli listens in on an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Regina Ainsworth asks a question during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
MTV VP Dana Gotlieb-Carter hears sample pitches during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Ken Whittingham, Agents Brant Rose and Eric Pertilla, MTV VP Dana Gotlieb-Carter, Producer/Manager Andrea Simon, Agent Toochis Morin Rose and DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland (moderator) conduct the panel discussion “Getting the Job” during the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Paradigm Talent Agency’s Eric Pertilla gives tips about how directors can put their best foot forward to acquire representation and jumpstart their careers during the panel discussion “Getting the Job” at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Producer/Manager Andrea Simon of Andrea Simon Entertainment speaks about the relationship between directors, agents and managers during the panel discussion “Getting the Job” at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
DGA members learn from the experts during the panel discussion “Getting the Job” at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director/DGA Fourth Vice President Rosemary Rodriguez, Directors Norberto Barba and Linda Mendoza, Warner Brothers Television Workshop/Current Programming VP Christopher Mack, Director Bob Koherr and DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland (moderator) conduct the panel discussion “Getting Asked Back” during the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Norberto Barba speaks about the relationship directors maintain with the studio or Executive Producer during the panel discussion “Getting Asked Back” at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Linda Mendoza speaks about how she got her start during the panel discussion “Getting Asked Back” at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
DGA members learn more about “Getting Asked Back” from experts like Director/DGA Fourth Vice President Rosemary Rodriguez during the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chair Todd Holland (moderator) asks another informative question during the panel discussion “Getting Asked Back” at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Directors Ted Lange and Moses Edinborough attend the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Brian Spitz learns more about career navigation strategies during the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Linda Mendoza gives feedback during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
DGA Latino Committee Co-Chair Alejandro Treviño and Director Angel Garcia pick up valuable tips about networking during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.
Director Norberto Barba adds the benefit of his experience during an “Elevator Pitch” session at the DGA Director Development Initiative interactive lab, Career Navigation: Getting the Job and Getting Asked Back.

Calendar

5/30/2025 - 6/5/2025

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DGA Announces New TV Director Mentorship Program and Inaugural Participants
The Art & Craft of Episodic TV Directing
A DGA Director Development Initiative Workshop
The Movie You Cut: Editing and the Magic that is Post
A Director Development Initiative Event
Mise-en-Scène: Staging & Camera
A Director Development Initiative Event
Unstuck: Get the Job & Get Asked Back
A DGA Director Development Initiative Career Workshop
Storytelling: What’s the Story?
A DGA Director Development Initiative Event