In the current digital age, it is important for Directors to create and maintain a professional online presence. Social media can be a tool they use to showcase their skills, build a personal brand and share their unique vision as a creative, and broaden their social networks. On February 27, DGA members seeking tips on how to do this received valuable information when the Director Development Initiative (DDI) hosted the lab, How to Make Social Media Work for You: Cultivating a Professional Online Presence.
The online event featured Directors Amy Aniobi (Rap Sh!t) and Shadae Lamar Smith (The Resort) in a conversation that explored various approaches to how television Directors use social media as well as strategies for how to engage and connect with others online.
Both Aniobi and Smith noted that social media is the new business card and can provide opportunities for Directors to display their distinct creative perspectives and aesthetics. Aniobi revealed the importance of Directors having an online presence as a strategy to share that they are relevant and creating things now and Smith gave examples of how Directors can use social media to grow their "visual eye" and experiment.
Their discussion also covered topics including platform features and external apps Directors can use to assist them with posting professional content and building positive engagement, best practices for how to curate social media pages, and advice about deciding which type of content to post. In closing the conversation, they encouraged Directors to ask themselves how social media can best serve them and reiterated the importance of being authentic and professional online.
Video from this event coming soon to the gallery below.
DGA Members can watch the full video from other
Director Development Initiative events by clicking here.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
|
 Director Amy Aniobi
Aniobi’s directorial credits include episodes of Rap Sh!t, Survival of the Thickest, Insecure and Lisa and Amy Are Black; the podcast Looking for LaToya; and the short film Honeymoon. Aniobi has been a DGA member since 2019.
|
| |
 Director Shadae Lamar Smith
Smith’s directorial credits include a segment of the anthology film, The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards; the short films, Miss Famous, Divine Rite and The Resort; and music videos for the group The Black Eyed Peas. Smith became a DGA member in 2022. |
| |
About the Director Development Initiative:
The Director Development Initiative is designed to provide current information on the Director’s craft in order to further the Guild’s goal to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry.