On February 28, the Asian American Committee’s (AAC) meeting included the event, Roll With It: A Directorial Team Discussion. In a conversation moderated by Director Kevin Berlandi (NCIS: Los Angeles), 1st ADs TK Shom (The Rookie), Liz Tan (Nope) and Robyn Willey-Pratt (Danger Force) — directorial team members who have held multiple positions in different genres — shared their expertise and gave advice on getting hired and maneuvering up in the industry.
During the conversation Tan spoke about her entry into the industry offered the opinion that ADs should look for different opportunities and take the ones before you because you don't know where they may take you, saying, “Go for the adventure.” She also discussed working around the world and experiencing how diverse teams created much stronger directorial team.
Shom emphasized how working at different budget levels gave him opportunities to build his experience and network with colleagues he would otherwise not have had relationships with. Those relationships later produced better opportunities.
Willey-Pratt discussed the importance of having strong work ethics and importance creating a work-life balance. She revealed that in her journey of breaking into industry, she had to overcome stereotypical images of Asian women as meek. Now thanks to her body of work, she is able to shift that stereotype.
Following the moderated portion of the discussion, the panelists took questions from attendees.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 1st AD TK Shom
Shom’s assistant directing credits features such as Cory Finley’s Landscape with Invisible Hand, Mark Polish’s Headlock, Sean Hanish’s Saint Judy and Po-Chih Leong’s The Jade Pendant; and episodes of The Rookie, Grown-ish, Sorry for Your Loss and Trial & Error. He has been a DGA member since 2005. |
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 1st AD Liz Tan
Tan’s assistant directing credits include feature films such as Jordan Peele’s Nope, Niki Caro’s Mulan and Jon Watts’s Spider-Man: Homecoming; and episodes of Reservation Dogs, What We Do in the Shadows and Marco Polo. She was also part of Barry Jenkins’s DGA Award-winning mini-series, The Underground Railroad. She has been a DGA member since 2005. |
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 1st AD Robyn Willey-Pratt
Willey-Pratt’s assistant directing credits include movies for television such as Leonard R. Garner Jr.s New to This Planet, James Widdoes’s The Beast and Simon West’s The Man; and episodes of Danger Force, Henry Danger, Hot in Cleveland, The Soul Man, 'Til Death and ER. She has been a DGA member since 2002. |
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 Director Kevin Berlandi (moderator)
Berlandi’s directorial credits include episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles, Walker, NCIS: Hawai’i, Bull and Criminal Minds. He also has assistant directing credits including features such as Randall Miller’s Bottle Shock; series such as Rush Hour and Blue; and mini-series such as Farmed and Dangerous and Dakota. A DGA member since 2007, Berlandi served as a Co-Chair of the Asian American Committee from 2016 to 2018. |
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About the Asian American Committee:
The Asian American Committee (AAC) was created as a networking group to provide a forum for interests and issues that concern Asian-American Guild members. Through outreach efforts in the entertainment industry that emphasize career development and skills enhancement, the committee provides a variety of networking opportunities as well as screenings, seminars and discussions with industry professionals. The current AAC Co-Chairs are Directors Kabir Akhtar, Maureen Bharoocha and Kai Kim.