Television Directors play a vital role in casting, providing input to ensure the process aligns with their creative vision and the tone of their episode. However, the casting process has evolved over time and what used to be an in-person experience has now become increasingly virtual. On March 20, DGA members received tips on how to work efficiently with casting professionals in prep during the Director Development Initiative (DDI) lab, Casting in the Digital Age.
The online event featured Directors Neema Barnette (Reasonable Doubt), Nicole Rubio (Doc) and Shea William Vanderpoort (Harlem) in a conversation moderated by Director Carl Seaton (The Irrational) that explored the responsibilities that Directors have related to casting for television, how to contribute throughout the process, and how to navigate casting online.
Seaton set the stage for the conversation by providing foundational information about casting in episodic television and shared more about how Directors can navigate casting callbacks. Barnette and Vanderpoort noted that Directors are hired for their creative vision and emphasized the importance of them clearly communicating their vision and working collaboratively with casting professionals to make decisions. All the panelists shared tips for how to build trust on set and offered advice for how Directors can advocate for themselves, with Rubio highlighting how Producing Directors can also be instrumental in supporting Directors on casting decisions.
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:
 Neema Barnette
Barnette’s directorial credits include feature films such as Civil Brand, Woman Thou Art Loosed on the 7th Day and Spirit Lost; and 75 hours of television including episodes of Reasonable Doubt, Harlem, Kingdom Business, Naomi, The Equalizer, Paradise Lost, Luke Cage, Bosch, Raising Dion, Blind Spot, The Good Cop, All Rise, Queen Sugar and Midnight Express. She was nominated for a DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Shows - Daytime for her 1993 CBS Schoolbreak Special episode “Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love.” Barnette has been a DGA member since 1989. |
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 Nicole Rubio
Rubio’s directorial credits include episodes of Doc, Fire Country, CSI: Vegas, Chicago Med, A Million Little Things, Grey’s Anatomy, Council of Dads, Manifest, Grand Hotel, FBI, Station 19, The Resident, Code Black, For The People, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Being Mary Jane, The Originals, Secrets and Lies and Madam Secretary. Rubio has been a DGA member since 2013. |
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 Shea William Vanderpoort
Vanderpoort’s directorial credits include episodes of Harlem, Saturdays, First Wives Club, Kingdom Business, Larry & Lucy, True Friendship Society and The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Vanderpoort has been a DGA member since 2021. |
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 Carl Seaton (moderator)
Seaton’s directorial credits include the features Of Boys and Men, Sacred Is the Flesh and One Week; the movie for television Bad Dad Rehab; and episodes of Chicago P.D., The Equalizer, Cross, The Irrational, Power Book IV: Force, Godfather of Harlem, Reasonable Doubt, Naomi, Bull, Snowfall, Bel-Air, Batwoman, FBI, Legacies, Chicago Fire, The Chi, Supergirl, Chicago Med, The Originals, Dynasty, Rebel and Front Seat Chronicles. Seaton has been a member of the DGA since 2007 and currently serves as a co-chair of the DGA Diversity Task Force and previously served as a co-chair of the Guild’s African American Steering Committee. |
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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.