On October 25, the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC) hosted a discussion with Director and DGA National Vice President Laura Belsey.
Following a viewing of clips from her work, Belsey engaged in a Q&A about her career moderated by with Director Liz Hinlein. During the conversation Belsey spoke about how she began her career in the Director’s chair.
“I started as a commercial Director, and I shadowed for a long time 10 years. Watching how people work taught me so much. Watch. Learn. Best advice I have is preparation. There are two parts, visuals and performance. Start with a solid plan. Prep thoroughly which allows for flexibility which allows for discovery. I also have such an awe of actors and want to give them space for feeling their own instincts.”
Asked what kept her pursuit of her dreams for a decade, Belsey answered, “I knew episodic was my world.”
She also noted that her start as a commercials Director taught her the value of every shot and when asked a question about directing action and fight scenes she revealed, “I am a 2nd degree black belt. I get along with stunt people. Action is so visceral. If you have an idea let folks know immediately to allow for coordination for all the different departments. They take time to set up.”
Belsey’s directorial credits include the documentary Katrina’s Children; episodes of American Horror Story, Shadow and Bone, Moonhaven, S.W.A.T., The Walking Dead, Arrow, Blindspot, Bull, Chicago Med, Criminal Minds, NCIS New Orleans, Stitchers, Unforgettable and hundreds of commercials. A DGA member since 1993, Belsey was elected as the Guild’s National Vice President in 2023. She also serves as the presiding officer of the Eastern Directors Council and as a member of the Focus on Women Committee.
See video from this event in the gallery below.
About the Committee:
Originally a sub-committee of the Eastern Directors Council, in 2020 the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC) was designated an official and permanent committee of the DGA National Board for women members residing in the Eastern Region. The Committee would like to remind members that while their events are designed with a special focus on women directors, all DGA members are welcome to attend.