May 31, 2024
The DGA’s Director Development Initiative (DDI), committed to providing resources and opportunities for members to enhance their skills and further their careers in the entertainment industry, has unveiled the 2024 edition of its Television Mentorship Program. This program is designed to offer professional development pathways for DGA members interested in pursuing episodic television directing.
Through this eight-month program, DGA members who aspire to be episodic television Directors (protégés) are matched with experienced episodic television Directors (mentors). The interactive setting exposes protégés to the latest skillsets in preparation for a career in directing episodic television.
“The DGA’s Television Mentorship Program is a testament to our dedication in developing the next wave of episodic Directors,” said DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter. “By pairing aspiring members with experienced industry veterans, we are empowering them to hone their craft and gain invaluable insights that will help them for years to come. I extend my gratitude to all of the mentors who have generously shared their expertise, helping to cultivate, nurture and support a vibrant and inclusive future of storytelling.”
The selection process for the 2024 program was highly competitive, running from August 2023 to March 2024. Over 200 DGA members applied, with over 75 experienced episodic Directors volunteering their time for the vetting process.
The 2024 Television Mentorship Program Protégés and Mentors and are as follows (in alphabetical order):
Western Region:
Eastern Region:
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 mission to increase the diversity of the industry.
The DGA has been pressing studios, networks, and producers to be more inclusive in hiring for four decades. The Guild’s efforts include: collective bargaining gains requiring television studios to operate TV director diversity programs; ongoing meetings with studios, networks and individual series regarding their hiring records; and publicized reports detailing employer hiring patterns. In addition, the Guild itself has initiated a variety of TV director mentorship and educational programs to support the career development of its members.
photos by Quintin Lundy (Los Angeles) and Marcie Revens (New York)