On November 29, the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC) virtual meeting featured the discussion, Wearing Two Hats, a conversation with Director-Writers Laurie Collyer (Sunlight Jr.), Crystal Moselle (Skate Kitchen) and Gillian Robespierre (Landline) expounded on the similarities, differences, and challenges of both writing and directing film and television projects during a conversation moderated by Director-Writer Jan Eliasberg (Sisters).
Following an introduction which featured clips from their work, the panelists covered a variety of related topics that included finding the balance between writing and/or directing on a project, how each role helps and hinders when shooting, and the difference when shooting a project they did not script.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 Laurie Collyer
Collyer’s directorial credits include the feature films Furlough, Sunlight Jr. and Sherrybaby; episodes of the mini-series The Me You Can’t See; and episodes of the series Billions and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She was nominated for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series for The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe and previously nominated in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary category for Nuyorican Dream. She has been a DGA member since 2014 and has served as an alternate of the Eastern Directors Council. |
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 Crystal Moselle
Moselle’s directorial credits include the feature films Sophia and Skate Kitchen, the documentaries Our Dream of Water and The Wolfpack; and episodes of the documentary series Untold and the narrative series Betty. She has been a DGA member since 2019. |
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 Gillian Robespierre
Robespierre’s directorial credits include the feature films Obvious Child and Landline; episodes of the mini- series Mrs. Fletcher and A Teacher; and episodes of the series Silicon Valley, Casual, Crashing, Shrill, Only Murders in the Building, And Just Like That... and Everything’s Trash. She has been a DGA member since 2015 and has served as an alternate of the Eastern Directors Council. |
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 Jan Eliasberg (moderator)
Eliasberg’s directorial credits include the feature film, Past Midnight; and episodes of the series Gone, Bull, The Magicians, Nashville, Unforgettable, NCIS: Los Angeles, Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, Supernatural, Ghost Whisperer, Strong Medicine, Dawson’s Creek, Party of Five, Sisters, Wiseguy, Booker, L.A. Law, Miami Vice and Cagney & Lacey. She has been a DGA member since 1985 and has served as a member and as an alternate of the Eastern Directors Council.
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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.