On May 28, the DGA’s Director Development Initiative hosted an online discussion with Director Michael Robin, UPM Ronnie Chong and 1st AD Jennifer Reiss regarding their fully quarantined episode of the CBS network drama series, All Rise.
Co-hosted by DGA Diversity Taskforce Co-Chairs Todd Holland and Bethany Rooney, the discussion covered how Robin, Chong and Reiss planned and executed the episode as the global COVID-19 pandemic is changing our industry and requiring directors and their teams to successfully manage never before imagined limitations to their storytelling for the foreseeable future.
During the discussion, the panelists covered subjects including: prepping and directing the actors remotely, dealing with the budgets and limitations of actors working from home, and if this new technique will have a place once production is resumed after the constraints of the current pandemic are lifted. Following the panel discussion, the panelists took questions from the audience.
You can watch video highlights from the discussion in the gallery below.
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ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 Director Michael M. Robin
A DGA member since 1990, Robin began his career as a production assistant on the hit series L.A. Law, where he worked his way up to producer in the fourth season. He made his directorial debut on the series Cop Rock. In addition to his work on All Rise, Robin’s directorial filmography includes the pilots for C-16, The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Dallas, Major Crimes and Valor. In 1993, Robin earned an Emmy Award nomination for his direction of the “Guns 'N Rosaries” episode of NYPD Blue.
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 UPM Ronnie Chong
In addition to his work on All Rise, Chong’s production manager credits include movies for television such as Ruben Fleischer's Spaced Out, Ron Shelton's Hound Dogs and Randy Zisk's Uncle Nigel; and multiple episodes Magnum P.I., Wrecked, Major Crimes, Angie Tribeca and The Closer. Chong has been a DGA member since 1990 and served as an alternate on the Western AD/UPM Council from 2005-2007.
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 1st AD Jennifer Reiss
Reiss began her career as a production assistant on features including Barry Sonnenfeld’s Men in Black, Chris Columbus’ Bicentennial Man and Spike Jonze’s DGA Award-nominated Being John Malkovich. In addition to her work on All Rise, Reiss’ AD resume includes episodes of For the People, Wrecked, The Last Ship, Major Crimes, Rizzoli & Isles and Monk. She has been a DGA member since 2000.
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About the Director Development Initiative:
The Director Development Initiative 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.