On June 18, the Women’s Steering Committee’s (WSC) meeting included the panel discussion, Directing a Pilot. In a conversation moderated by WSC Co-Chair Shaz Bennett, Directors Susanna Fogel (A Small Light), Maggie Kiley (Grosse Pointe Garden Society) and Natalia Leite (Black Cake) discussed their experiences and approach to the preparation and execution of directing a pilot.

During the conversation, the speakers revealed the various ways they got connected with their initial pilot directing project. They also engaged in a robust discourse about the impact of women directing pilots, the tone it sets for the show and the openings it creates from a hiring perspective across multiple roles behind-the-scenes. They also reflected on the unique opportunity afforded to pilot Directors to establish the “look and feel” of a new show and why having more diverse perspectives at the beginning really matters in the long run.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS:

Director Susanna Fogel In addition to her work on A Small Light, Fogel’s directorial credits include the features Winner, Cat Person and The Spy Who Dumped Me; and episodes of The Wilds, Utopia, Amazing Stories, Play by Play, Famous in Love and Chasing Life. She won the 2020 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for her episode of The Flight Attendant, “In Case of Emergency.” She has been a DGA member since 2015.

Director Maggie Kiley In addition to her work on Grosse Pointe Garden Society, Kiley’s directorial credits include episodes of the mini-series What/If and Keep Breathing; and episodes of American Horror Story, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale, Katy Keene, Dr. Death and Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. She has been a DGA member since 2016.

Director Natalia Leite In addition to her work on Black Cake, Leite’s directorial credits include the feature M.F.A.; and episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale, In the Dark, Minx, Ordinary Joe, Be Here Nowish and Love Life. She has been a DGA member since 2018.

Director Shaz Bennett (moderator)  Bennett’s directorial credits include the feature film, Alaska is a Drag — based on her short of the same name — as well as episodes of the series Billions, Queen Sugar, Animal Kingdom, Ordinary Joe and Bosch; and the short films Desert Rats, Top of the Circle and Tunnels. She has been a member of the Guild since 2019 and currently serves as a Co-Chair of the DGA Women’s Steering Committee.

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.

• For more information about the WSC, click here to visit their webpage.