On July 16, the Women’s Steering Committee’s (WSC) meeting included the panel discussion, Trailblazers: A Conversation with Director Debbie Allen. In a conversation moderated by Director Morenike Joela Evans (Grey's Anatomy), Allen discussed her expansive career in the entertainment industry and how her beginnings have been a substantial foundation to her continued success as a Director.
During the conversation the noted Director and Actress who began her career as a Dancer, revealed how music and movement have been influential in how she blocks and works with Actors to bring a story to life. She provided insights into her directorial process and shared how her approach to storytelling allows her to produce high quality work. Her note to all the Directors in the room was to remember that every story has a beginning, middle and an end, so they should be thinking about that arc from start to finish to ensure they capture what is necessary in the end. Asked about some of the most importance nuggets of advice she would want to share with people in the room, she noted the importance of “turning it off” — being present, meditating and making time for more than just work — a factor she attributes to the continued success of her career.
A DGA member since 1983, Allen’s directorial credits include the feature Out-of-Sync; the movies for television Christmas on the Square, Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story, The Old Settler, Stompin’ at the Savoy, Polly: Comin’ Home!; and multiple episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, The Ms. Pat Show, Scandal, Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends, All of Us, That’s So Raven, The Sinbad Show, A Different World, Quantum Leap, Family Ties and Fame. In a career that spans three decades, she has also earned six Emmy Awards®, a Golden Globe®, five NAACP Image Awards, a Drama Desk, an Astaire Award (for Best Dancer), and the Olivier Award for her vast body of work.
ABOUT THE COMMITTEE:
The Women's Steering Committee (WSC) was created to advance the professional interests of its members, and to heighten their visibility and career opportunities in the entertainment industry. The WSC currently promotes diversity through sponsoring net-working events, screenings and seminars, and fosters relationships between the members to provide support, mentoring and networking opportunities.