On October 21 following the Western AD/SM/PA Council meeting, the Council’s Mentorship Committee hosted the event, The More You Know: A Scheduling Seminar for AD/SMs. Held both online and in the Guild’s Los Angeles Boardroom, Stage Manager Andy Nelson (Baking It) moderated a conversation and demonstration of how to effectively schedule projects with a panel comprised of Associate Directors Brad Duns (The Masked Singer) and Nicole Gauthier Tominberg (Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards) and Stage Managers Mickel Picco (FBoy Island) and Dan Shepard (Project Runway).
Following a welcome from Western AD/SM/PA Council Chair Gary Natoli, Mentor Committee Chair Sean Callahan spoke about the mission of the Mentor Committee, then introduced the moderator and panelists.
In a discussion that covered the areas of scheduling in Variety/Live productions, Reality shows, Hybrid productions and Post-Production, the panelists shared their knowledge and techniques of what keeps productions together on a daily basis whether the challenges are talent with limited availability, working with kids, or crazy locations.
Utilizing actual schedules from their productions, Duns shared how he helps keep the music flowing on The Masked Singer and gave an insight to how they make the broadcast of the Superbowl looks super smooth. Tominberg did a similar explanation of the effort behind the magic of Dancing with the Stars and the challenges of dealing with minors on the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards. When the discussions turned to reality and competition show scheduling, Shepard revealed how to construct a call sheet and schedule for a reality program and Picco shared schedules from her work on 12 Dates of Christmas and Master Chef Jr.
Each of the presentations included a brief Q&A session where attendees could direct their questions to the sources, and all the panelists engaged in a final in a Q&A at the end of the seminar.
Video highlights from this event available in the gallery below.
About the panelists:
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 Associate Director Brad Duns
Duns has worked on some of the biggest shows on TV, including 15 Super Bowl halftime shows, 23 seasons of Dancing with the Stars, and hundreds of other variety specials and award shows. He also became a Director in 2019 and has helmed episodes of The Masked Singer and America’s Most Wanted. Duns has been a DGA member since 2010 and has served five terms on the Western AD/SM/PA Council as a member or alternate. |
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 Associate Director Nicole Gauthier Tominberg
Tominberg’s Associate Director credits include episodes of shows and specials such as Summer Game Fest, MTV Movie & TV Awards, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, Critics’ Choice Awards, The Game Awards, Global Citizen Live Festival and Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans. Tominberg has been a DGA member since 2019. |
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 Stage Manager Mickel Picco
Picco’s Stage Manager credits include episodes of shows and specials such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, CMT Music Awards, World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, Project Runway, The Final Table, 12 Dates of Christmas, The Voice, Beat Shazam, Titan Games, America’s Next Top Model, Domino Masters, World of Dance, FBoy Island and FGirl Island. Picco has been a DGA member since 2017. |
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 Stage Manager Dan Shepard
Shepard’s Stage Manager credits include episodes of shows and specials such as Making It, Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, The Biggest Loser, Cosplay Melee, Making the Cut, The Masked Singer, Lego Masters and Project Runway. Shepard has been a DGA member since 2011. |
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 Stage Manager Andy Nelson (moderator)
Nelson’s Stage Manager and/or Associate Director credits include episodes of shows and specials such as The Masked Singer, The Biggest Loser, The Titan Games, World of Dance, Ultimate Tag, Eco Challenge, Domino Masters, Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer, Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars and Baking It. Nelson has been a DGA member since 2007 and has served three terms on the Western AD/SM/PA Council as a member or alternate. |
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About the Council:
The Western AD/SM/PA Council is the elected body that represents the Guild members who reside in the Western region and work in television as Associate Directors, Stage Managers or Production Associates.