On Thursday, Disney Entertainment Television (Det) announced that it has selected the latest cohorts for the company’s Scripted Directing and Writing Programs, two of the entertainment industry’s most successful talent development initiatives.
After expanding into daytime television just last year, three program participants will direct episodes for ABC’s “General Hospital,” with other individuals positioned across Disney-owned 20th Television, ABC Entertainment and ABC Signature-produced programs as directors or writers.
“General Hospital”
ABC
Joining the “General Hospital” team are Erica Eng, Nina Kramer and Aubrey Smyth, each of whom will be shadowing and directing episodes of the daytime drama series, which recently won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series at “The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards” in December. The team was represented by directors Tina Keller, Robert Markham, Allison Reames Smith, Gary Tomlin, Frank Valentini (the show’s executive producer), Denise Van Cleave and Phideaux Xavier,...
After expanding into daytime television just last year, three program participants will direct episodes for ABC’s “General Hospital,” with other individuals positioned across Disney-owned 20th Television, ABC Entertainment and ABC Signature-produced programs as directors or writers.
“General Hospital”
ABC
Joining the “General Hospital” team are Erica Eng, Nina Kramer and Aubrey Smyth, each of whom will be shadowing and directing episodes of the daytime drama series, which recently won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing Team for a Daytime Drama Series at “The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards” in December. The team was represented by directors Tina Keller, Robert Markham, Allison Reames Smith, Gary Tomlin, Frank Valentini (the show’s executive producer), Denise Van Cleave and Phideaux Xavier,...
- 2/29/2024
- by Errol Lewis
- Soap Opera Network
Disney Entertainment Television has selected its latest cohorts for its Directing and Writing Programs, talent development initiatives which nurture creatives on the cusp of television episode directing and staff writing.
“It’s an honor to welcome these exceptional directors and writers into the Det Directing and Writing Programs,” said Tim McNeal, senior vice president, Creative Talent Development and Inclusion, Det. “It’s clear that this group of talented creatives will have a lasting impact not only on Disney but on the industry at large. We’re proud to be part of their journey to shape the future of storytelling.”
2023-2024 Det Directing Program – Scripted Cohort
The Det Directing Program guarantees participants the opportunity to direct an episode of a Disney scripted series or a segment of a Disney unscripted series, and offers professional and career development through mentorship, on-set shadowing experience, and networking opportunities with the company’s creative executives and program alumni.
“It’s an honor to welcome these exceptional directors and writers into the Det Directing and Writing Programs,” said Tim McNeal, senior vice president, Creative Talent Development and Inclusion, Det. “It’s clear that this group of talented creatives will have a lasting impact not only on Disney but on the industry at large. We’re proud to be part of their journey to shape the future of storytelling.”
2023-2024 Det Directing Program – Scripted Cohort
The Det Directing Program guarantees participants the opportunity to direct an episode of a Disney scripted series or a segment of a Disney unscripted series, and offers professional and career development through mentorship, on-set shadowing experience, and networking opportunities with the company’s creative executives and program alumni.
- 2/29/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
It certainly isn’t true to how history really happened, but “The Great” is one of the most inventive, entertaining series out there right now. Billed by Hulu alternately as “an occasionally true story” and “an almost entirely untrue story,” it takes the real-life relationship between Catherine the Great and Peter III and twists it into something that makes for maddeningly watchable comedy and drama. Season 3 begins with a new reality for Catherine and Peter as they examine how their marriage can work with the empress in power and Russia’s former leader by her side, and things only get wilder and more chaotic from there.
“The Great” has not received the warmest reception from Emmy voters, with six nominations total and just one win over the course of its first two seasons. The pilot episode was cited for directing and writing, and Season 1 merited a production design mention. Lead...
“The Great” has not received the warmest reception from Emmy voters, with six nominations total and just one win over the course of its first two seasons. The pilot episode was cited for directing and writing, and Season 1 merited a production design mention. Lead...
- 6/28/2023
- by Abe Friedtanzer
- Gold Derby
“The talent is all there. Every person is hitting that rhythm. It’s almost like we’re doing a play with some cool camera moves here and there,” reveals Jaffar Mahmood about directing “The Great.” Watch our exclusive video interview above. Warning: This interview and article contain large spoilers for the third season.
“The Great” is billed as “an occasional true story” about the rise of Catherine the Great (played by Elle Fanning) in Russia during the 18th century. The third season of the comedy was released on Hulu a few weeks ago. It is created by the Oscar-nominated writer of “The Favourite,” Tony McNamara. Mahmood says, “I was blown away by the tonal balance the show achieves. The fact it can be as hysterical as it can be heartbreaking. It’s constantly balancing these high stakes with levity. Not a lot of shows can pull that off. It’s Tony McNamara’s genius writing.
“The Great” is billed as “an occasional true story” about the rise of Catherine the Great (played by Elle Fanning) in Russia during the 18th century. The third season of the comedy was released on Hulu a few weeks ago. It is created by the Oscar-nominated writer of “The Favourite,” Tony McNamara. Mahmood says, “I was blown away by the tonal balance the show achieves. The fact it can be as hysterical as it can be heartbreaking. It’s constantly balancing these high stakes with levity. Not a lot of shows can pull that off. It’s Tony McNamara’s genius writing.
- 6/15/2023
- by Matt Noble
- Gold Derby
The participants for Disney General Entertainment Content (Dge) have been selected for the 2022-2023 Dge Directing Program.
“We’re pleased to once again guarantee episodes to talented, first-time television directors via our Directing Program,” said Tim McNeal, senior vice president, Creative Talent Development & Inclusion. “We continue to be grateful for the ongoing support and partnership of our participating Disney productions, showrunners and producers, and our creative executives and senior leaders, who remain committed to fostering and championing diverse directing talent at our company.”
Launched in 2001 and run by Dge’s Creative Talent Development & Inclusion (Ctdi) department, the Dge Directing Program previously provided access, mentorship, shadowing assignments and advanced professional development to directors on the cusp of episodic television directing.
In partnership with participating Disney series, this year’s program will commit episodes to directors on the following shows: Bunk’D (Disney Branded Television), The Chi (20th Television), General Hospital (ABC), The Good Doctor...
“We’re pleased to once again guarantee episodes to talented, first-time television directors via our Directing Program,” said Tim McNeal, senior vice president, Creative Talent Development & Inclusion. “We continue to be grateful for the ongoing support and partnership of our participating Disney productions, showrunners and producers, and our creative executives and senior leaders, who remain committed to fostering and championing diverse directing talent at our company.”
Launched in 2001 and run by Dge’s Creative Talent Development & Inclusion (Ctdi) department, the Dge Directing Program previously provided access, mentorship, shadowing assignments and advanced professional development to directors on the cusp of episodic television directing.
In partnership with participating Disney series, this year’s program will commit episodes to directors on the following shows: Bunk’D (Disney Branded Television), The Chi (20th Television), General Hospital (ABC), The Good Doctor...
- 11/15/2022
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Warner Bros. Discovery will be shutting down its long-running writers’ and directors’ television workshops at the end of the current 2022-23 season, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
While they were not specifically diversity programs exclusively for participants from historically excluded backgrounds, the Warner Bros. Television Workshop was regarded as an important pipeline of opportunity for such artists looking to break into the business. The writers’ workshop had been in existence for more than 40 years, with more recent notable alumni including Akela Cooper (Luke Cage, Blumhouse’s upcoming M3GAN), Zak Schwartz (Wu-Tang: An American Saga, TNT’s Snowpiercer) and Latoya Morgan (The Walking Dead, Into the Badlands). Alumni of the directors’ workshop include Jude Weng (Only Murders in the Building, Finding ‘Ohana), Jaffar Mahmood (Reboot, Young Sheldon) and Regina King.
Last month, Wbd restructured its diversity, equity and inclusion group, with senior vice president Karen Horne,...
Warner Bros. Discovery will be shutting down its long-running writers’ and directors’ television workshops at the end of the current 2022-23 season, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
While they were not specifically diversity programs exclusively for participants from historically excluded backgrounds, the Warner Bros. Television Workshop was regarded as an important pipeline of opportunity for such artists looking to break into the business. The writers’ workshop had been in existence for more than 40 years, with more recent notable alumni including Akela Cooper (Luke Cage, Blumhouse’s upcoming M3GAN), Zak Schwartz (Wu-Tang: An American Saga, TNT’s Snowpiercer) and Latoya Morgan (The Walking Dead, Into the Badlands). Alumni of the directors’ workshop include Jude Weng (Only Murders in the Building, Finding ‘Ohana), Jaffar Mahmood (Reboot, Young Sheldon) and Regina King.
Last month, Wbd restructured its diversity, equity and inclusion group, with senior vice president Karen Horne,...
- 10/11/2022
- by Lesley Goldberg and Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Warner Bros. Television Group has announced the seven directors selected for the 2022 Wbtv Directors’ Workshop.
The 2022 edition will be the first in-person class of the workship since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Wbtv Directors’ Workshop launched in 2013 with the aim to discover new and innovative talent, to prepare directors from other creative fields for the transition to television, and to provide increased opportunities for women helmers and those from underrepresented groups. Since its founding, the Directors’ Workshop has helped to launch or further the TV directing careers of more than 60 women and/or people of color, according to Wbtv.
This year’s class was instructed by directors Bethany Rooney and Stacey K. Black.
Prior Directors’ Workshop graduates include Bola Ogun, Stacey Muhammad, Pamela Romanowsky, Marcus Stokes, Jennifer Phang, Alexis Ostrander, Sherwin Shilati, Michael Goi, Antonio Negret, Jude Weng, and Jaffar Mahmood, among many others.
The following participants, culled from more than 650 applicants, comprise the Class of 2022:
Kayla Compton is set to direct an episode of Warner Bros. Television/The CW’s DC drama The Flash. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, she has been writing and directing since the age of 8 and acting professionally in Los Angeles for 12 years. Kayla recently wrote and directed the short film In Training, which is currently on the festival circuit. She also currently plays the role of DC Super Hero Allegra Garcia on The Flash.
Claire Fowler, a Welsh writer and director, is set to direct an episode of Wbtv/Netflix’s Manifest. After studying at Oxford University, she made several documentaries focused on human rights before attending Columbia University’s M.F.A. program in film on a Fulbright scholarship. She has since participated in AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, the Ryan Murphy Half program, and the Sony Directing program. Her short films have screened at more than 200 international film festivals, including Tribeca, London, Palm Springs and Outfest. In 2020, she won a BAFTA Cymru award for her short film Salam.
Tiffany Frances, a Taiwanese American writer and director, will direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s Kung Fu. She is an alum of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, a Blackmagic Collective fellow, and a SeriesFest + Shondaland Women Director Mentorship Finalist. She wrote and directed an original film for Elle and Lexus that screened at the Elle Women in Hollywood event in October 2021. Her short Dot was selected for the Caz Matthews Fund. Her short film Hello from Taiwan won the Grand Jury Prize at the Taiwanese American Film Festival, Best Drama and Best Director at SeriesFest, and screened at MoMA. She has worked with Levi’s, Vogue, Citibank, Acura, Lancome, National Geographic, and more. She is currently developing two TV series as well as two feature films. Tiffany received her BA from Ucsd and her Mfa in Directing from the Art Center College of Design.
Calvin “Jai” Jamison Jr., a writer/director from Richmond, Va, will direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s Superman & Lois. He is an alum of Almanack Screenwriters (fka Nantucket Screenwriters Colony), is a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellow, and a graduate of Hampton University, and American University’s Mfa Film program. His feature film Tri led to his selection for the Shoot Magazine New Director’s Showcase. Slave Cry, his most recent short film, won The Commonwealth Award at the Virginia Film Festival and screened at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival. He is currently a story editor on Superman & Lois.
Leon Lozano, an Oakland native, will direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s acclaimed drama All American: Homecoming. He is the founder of Son of Oakland Productions. His directing credits include Renée, an episode of Tales set to premiere this summer on BET Network, and the short film My Father Belize, which premiered at the 2021 Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner. Lozano is currently in post-production on his feature film A Little Hope for Chicago and his documentary short Prom Night Flex.
Geeta Malik will be directing an upcoming episode of the breakout Wbtv/ABC hit comedy Abbott Elementary. Malik is an award-winning writer and director whose accolades include the inaugural Academy Gold Fellowship for Women and the Academy Nicholl Fellowship. She won the Austin Film Festival Comedy Screenplay Award for her feature script Dinner with Friends, later retitled to India Sweet and Spices, which she also directed. Starring Bollywood superstar Manisha Koirala, Adil Hussain, Sophia Ali, and Rish Shah, India Sweet and Spice premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, was released theatrically by Bleecker Street, and is currently streaming on Hulu.
Alvaro Ron is set to direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s Superman & Lois. He is an award-winning filmmaker and environmentalist, and an alum of UCLA, Nalip’s Latino Lens Program, the Sony TV Diverse Directors Program and the Berlinale Talents. Some of his short films include Swimming in the Desert and The Red Thunder (with more than 300 film festival selections). Alvaro Ron has directed critically acclaimed international TV series like Hernán for Amazon, and Palomares and Velvet Collection for Netflix, for which he received a Platino Award nomination.
The 2022 edition will be the first in-person class of the workship since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Wbtv Directors’ Workshop launched in 2013 with the aim to discover new and innovative talent, to prepare directors from other creative fields for the transition to television, and to provide increased opportunities for women helmers and those from underrepresented groups. Since its founding, the Directors’ Workshop has helped to launch or further the TV directing careers of more than 60 women and/or people of color, according to Wbtv.
This year’s class was instructed by directors Bethany Rooney and Stacey K. Black.
Prior Directors’ Workshop graduates include Bola Ogun, Stacey Muhammad, Pamela Romanowsky, Marcus Stokes, Jennifer Phang, Alexis Ostrander, Sherwin Shilati, Michael Goi, Antonio Negret, Jude Weng, and Jaffar Mahmood, among many others.
The following participants, culled from more than 650 applicants, comprise the Class of 2022:
Kayla Compton is set to direct an episode of Warner Bros. Television/The CW’s DC drama The Flash. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, she has been writing and directing since the age of 8 and acting professionally in Los Angeles for 12 years. Kayla recently wrote and directed the short film In Training, which is currently on the festival circuit. She also currently plays the role of DC Super Hero Allegra Garcia on The Flash.
Claire Fowler, a Welsh writer and director, is set to direct an episode of Wbtv/Netflix’s Manifest. After studying at Oxford University, she made several documentaries focused on human rights before attending Columbia University’s M.F.A. program in film on a Fulbright scholarship. She has since participated in AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, the Ryan Murphy Half program, and the Sony Directing program. Her short films have screened at more than 200 international film festivals, including Tribeca, London, Palm Springs and Outfest. In 2020, she won a BAFTA Cymru award for her short film Salam.
Tiffany Frances, a Taiwanese American writer and director, will direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s Kung Fu. She is an alum of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, a Blackmagic Collective fellow, and a SeriesFest + Shondaland Women Director Mentorship Finalist. She wrote and directed an original film for Elle and Lexus that screened at the Elle Women in Hollywood event in October 2021. Her short Dot was selected for the Caz Matthews Fund. Her short film Hello from Taiwan won the Grand Jury Prize at the Taiwanese American Film Festival, Best Drama and Best Director at SeriesFest, and screened at MoMA. She has worked with Levi’s, Vogue, Citibank, Acura, Lancome, National Geographic, and more. She is currently developing two TV series as well as two feature films. Tiffany received her BA from Ucsd and her Mfa in Directing from the Art Center College of Design.
Calvin “Jai” Jamison Jr., a writer/director from Richmond, Va, will direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s Superman & Lois. He is an alum of Almanack Screenwriters (fka Nantucket Screenwriters Colony), is a Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellow, and a graduate of Hampton University, and American University’s Mfa Film program. His feature film Tri led to his selection for the Shoot Magazine New Director’s Showcase. Slave Cry, his most recent short film, won The Commonwealth Award at the Virginia Film Festival and screened at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival. He is currently a story editor on Superman & Lois.
Leon Lozano, an Oakland native, will direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s acclaimed drama All American: Homecoming. He is the founder of Son of Oakland Productions. His directing credits include Renée, an episode of Tales set to premiere this summer on BET Network, and the short film My Father Belize, which premiered at the 2021 Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner. Lozano is currently in post-production on his feature film A Little Hope for Chicago and his documentary short Prom Night Flex.
Geeta Malik will be directing an upcoming episode of the breakout Wbtv/ABC hit comedy Abbott Elementary. Malik is an award-winning writer and director whose accolades include the inaugural Academy Gold Fellowship for Women and the Academy Nicholl Fellowship. She won the Austin Film Festival Comedy Screenplay Award for her feature script Dinner with Friends, later retitled to India Sweet and Spices, which she also directed. Starring Bollywood superstar Manisha Koirala, Adil Hussain, Sophia Ali, and Rish Shah, India Sweet and Spice premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, was released theatrically by Bleecker Street, and is currently streaming on Hulu.
Alvaro Ron is set to direct an episode of Wbtv/The CW’s Superman & Lois. He is an award-winning filmmaker and environmentalist, and an alum of UCLA, Nalip’s Latino Lens Program, the Sony TV Diverse Directors Program and the Berlinale Talents. Some of his short films include Swimming in the Desert and The Red Thunder (with more than 300 film festival selections). Alvaro Ron has directed critically acclaimed international TV series like Hernán for Amazon, and Palomares and Velvet Collection for Netflix, for which he received a Platino Award nomination.
- 6/23/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Comedy Central announced its annual 31-day holiday extravaganza, featuring two new movies: “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” debuting Dec. 4, and “Hot Mess Holiday,” premiering Dec. 11.
Both of these movies will air at 7 p.m. The network will announce additional titles for its”31 Days of Going Home for the Holidays” programming slate at a later date.
“A Clüsterfünke Christmas” stars Vella Lovell, Cheyenne Jackson, Ryan McPartlin, Nils Hognestad, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer and follows the story of real estate executive Holly who heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a resort. While meeting the owners, Holly finds herself distracted by their handsome nephew Frank. It is a parody of more traditional holiday rom-coms.
Anna Dokoza directs “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” which was written by Dratch and Gasteyer, who also executive produce alongside Meghan Hooper, Trevor Rose, Josh Van Houdt, Danielle von Zerneck, Jamie Goehring and Shawn Williamson.
Both of these movies will air at 7 p.m. The network will announce additional titles for its”31 Days of Going Home for the Holidays” programming slate at a later date.
“A Clüsterfünke Christmas” stars Vella Lovell, Cheyenne Jackson, Ryan McPartlin, Nils Hognestad, Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer and follows the story of real estate executive Holly who heads to a small town to buy the quaint Clüsterfünke Inn and transform it into a resort. While meeting the owners, Holly finds herself distracted by their handsome nephew Frank. It is a parody of more traditional holiday rom-coms.
Anna Dokoza directs “A Clüsterfünke Christmas,” which was written by Dratch and Gasteyer, who also executive produce alongside Meghan Hooper, Trevor Rose, Josh Van Houdt, Danielle von Zerneck, Jamie Goehring and Shawn Williamson.
- 10/29/2021
- by Katie Song and Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Disney General Entertainment’s directing program is putting its money where its Mouse is: on the actual screen. For the first time, participants in the Disney Directing Program will be given guaranteed slots to direct episodes of some of the studio’s biggest shows, including ABC’s “Black-ish,” Freeform’s “Good Trouble” and FX’s “Snowfall.”
That’s in addition to the program’s offerings of mentorship, shadowing assignments and advanced professional development. Aspiring directors in the program, which launched in 2001, have never before additionally been promised such directing slots. The announcement was made by Tim McNeal, senior vice president, creative talent development and inclusion.
“We are proud to evolve our directing program this season into a dedicated pipeline that will guarantee episodes to first-time TV directors, a critical stepping stone for professional advancement and opportunity,” McNeal said. “We are grateful for the support and partnership of our participating Disney productions,...
That’s in addition to the program’s offerings of mentorship, shadowing assignments and advanced professional development. Aspiring directors in the program, which launched in 2001, have never before additionally been promised such directing slots. The announcement was made by Tim McNeal, senior vice president, creative talent development and inclusion.
“We are proud to evolve our directing program this season into a dedicated pipeline that will guarantee episodes to first-time TV directors, a critical stepping stone for professional advancement and opportunity,” McNeal said. “We are grateful for the support and partnership of our participating Disney productions,...
- 9/2/2021
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
NBCUniversal has selected the directed the 2020-2021 classes for the Female Forward and the Emerging Director Program. The scripted directing initiatives aim to increase representation of female and ethnically diverse male and non-binary directors, respectively, by creating a pipeline into scripted television. The announcement was made by Janine Jones-Clark as Executive Vice President, Inclusion – Talent & Content, NBCUniversal Film, Television and Streaming.
Both initiatives remain unique within the industry in that they are the only network programs to guarantee that participating directors will helm an episode of primetime television by the conclusion of the program. Program directors shadow on up to two episodes of their assigned NBC scripted series before receiving an in-season assignment to helm an episode of the same series.
Female Forward and the Emerging Director Program will become building blocks for a cross-functional directors initiative under the Global Talent Development & Inclusion team that will service the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group,...
Both initiatives remain unique within the industry in that they are the only network programs to guarantee that participating directors will helm an episode of primetime television by the conclusion of the program. Program directors shadow on up to two episodes of their assigned NBC scripted series before receiving an in-season assignment to helm an episode of the same series.
Female Forward and the Emerging Director Program will become building blocks for a cross-functional directors initiative under the Global Talent Development & Inclusion team that will service the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group,...
- 10/22/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros Television Group on Tuesday revealed the 12 directors selected for the 2020 Warner Bros Television Directors’ Workshop, which will be held virtually this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The redesigned program has been condensed into two weeks (from the usual nine) of online learning, with lectures led by co-teachers Bethany Rooney and Mary Lou Belli along with various showrunners, directors, cinematographers and editors. The practical directing work normally done on Warners’ sets will now be done using co-habitating actors, with the directors work with them remotely.
The program launched in 2013 with the aim to directors from other creative fields for the transition to TV, and to spur equity and inclusion by providing opportunities for female helmers and those from underrepresented groups. It has seen 100% of the graduates from the past four classes go on to direct episodes of Warner Bros–produced series. Alums include Pamela Romanowsky, Marcus Stokes, Jennifer Phang,...
The redesigned program has been condensed into two weeks (from the usual nine) of online learning, with lectures led by co-teachers Bethany Rooney and Mary Lou Belli along with various showrunners, directors, cinematographers and editors. The practical directing work normally done on Warners’ sets will now be done using co-habitating actors, with the directors work with them remotely.
The program launched in 2013 with the aim to directors from other creative fields for the transition to TV, and to spur equity and inclusion by providing opportunities for female helmers and those from underrepresented groups. It has seen 100% of the graduates from the past four classes go on to direct episodes of Warner Bros–produced series. Alums include Pamela Romanowsky, Marcus Stokes, Jennifer Phang,...
- 7/7/2020
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
NBC’s push for diversity and inclusion continues as it unveils the 2019-2020 classes for Female Forward and the Emerging Director Program, two pioneering scripted initiatives to increase the representation of female and ethnically diverse directors by creating a pipeline into scripted television. The initiatives stand out as the only programs in the industry that give participating directors an in-season guarantee to direct at least one episode.
Female Forward, which aims to achieve gender parity in the director’s chair, ushers in its second year with seven directors helming episodes of NBC shows. The new class of Female Forward directors and the NBC series they will direct include Kris Lefcoe (Superstore), Brenna Malloy (Chicago Fire), Sj Main Muñoz (Chicago Med), Kim Nguyen (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Sara Zandieh (Good Girls).
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Emerging Director Program, which is the network’s first pipeline program for ethnically...
Female Forward, which aims to achieve gender parity in the director’s chair, ushers in its second year with seven directors helming episodes of NBC shows. The new class of Female Forward directors and the NBC series they will direct include Kris Lefcoe (Superstore), Brenna Malloy (Chicago Fire), Sj Main Muñoz (Chicago Med), Kim Nguyen (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Sara Zandieh (Good Girls).
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the Emerging Director Program, which is the network’s first pipeline program for ethnically...
- 8/14/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s that time of year again: Submissions are open for the 2019 class of the Warner Bros. Television Group Directors’ Workshop. The deadline to apply is February 9.
Established in 2013, the workshop’s mandate is to discover new and innovative talent, prepare directors from other creative fields — motion pictures, commercials, music videos, shortform video, etc. — for the transition to television and provide increased opportunities for female directors and directors from ethnic minority groups.
The Wbtvg Directors’ Workshop has helped to launch or further the TV helming careers of more than 40 women and/or people of color. Every member of the graduating classes from the past three sessions have been booked to direct episodes of Warner Bros.–produced TV series.
Among the recent graduates are Regina King, Jaffar Mahmood, Alexis Ostrander, David Rodriguez, Sherwin Shilati and Jude Weng, among many others.
Established in 2013, the workshop’s mandate is to discover new and innovative talent, prepare directors from other creative fields — motion pictures, commercials, music videos, shortform video, etc. — for the transition to television and provide increased opportunities for female directors and directors from ethnic minority groups.
The Wbtvg Directors’ Workshop has helped to launch or further the TV helming careers of more than 40 women and/or people of color. Every member of the graduating classes from the past three sessions have been booked to direct episodes of Warner Bros.–produced TV series.
Among the recent graduates are Regina King, Jaffar Mahmood, Alexis Ostrander, David Rodriguez, Sherwin Shilati and Jude Weng, among many others.
- 1/10/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: WeForShe has called “Action!” on the 2018 participants for its DirectHer Program. The women’s advocacy group, which is focused on creating practical ways to establish more gender equality in television, today named nine breakout female helmers and the veteran episodic helmers with whom they will be paired.
Directors with experience outside of episodic are identified through the WeForShe Program. They then are partnered with veteran episodic directors who guarantee their work during key parts of production and shooting. The inaugural program for DirectHer placed nine female directors who collectively have gone on to direct 65 episodes of TV so far.
Here is the list of participants and their teammates are Lynn d’Angona (paired with Jonathan Frakes), Paige Morrow Kimball (Todd Holland), Jen McGowan (Mary Lou Belli), Sj Main Munoz (David Rodriguez), Melissa Oren (Tamra Davis), Bola Ogun (Tawnia McKiernan), Mo Perkins (Gail Mancuso), Amber Sealey (Daisy Von Schlerer Mayer...
Directors with experience outside of episodic are identified through the WeForShe Program. They then are partnered with veteran episodic directors who guarantee their work during key parts of production and shooting. The inaugural program for DirectHer placed nine female directors who collectively have gone on to direct 65 episodes of TV so far.
Here is the list of participants and their teammates are Lynn d’Angona (paired with Jonathan Frakes), Paige Morrow Kimball (Todd Holland), Jen McGowan (Mary Lou Belli), Sj Main Munoz (David Rodriguez), Melissa Oren (Tamra Davis), Bola Ogun (Tawnia McKiernan), Mo Perkins (Gail Mancuso), Amber Sealey (Daisy Von Schlerer Mayer...
- 10/23/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Zachary Levi and guest on the Oscars' Red Carpet Zachary Levi at the Academy Awards Pictured above is Zachary Levi and a guest on the 83rd Academy Awards' Red Carpet this past Sunday, Feb. 27, just outside the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. At the Oscar ceremony, Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore performed "I See the Light," a Best Original Song nominee – music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater – from the animated feature Tangled. The 2011 Best Song winner turned out to be Randy Newman's "We Belong Together," from another animated feature, Toy Story 3 – last year's biggest domestic box office hit. Zachary Levi movies Below is a partial list of Zachary Levi films.* His movie debut took place in Mark Douglas Miller's comedy short Reel Guerrillas (2005), while his feature film debut was in a supporting role in John Whitesell's comedy Big Momma's House 2 (2006). Thor: The Dark World (2013). Director: Alan Taylor.
- 4/26/2015
- by D. Zhea
- Alt Film Guide
The Anniversary has dialog that is a cross between Kevin Smith and Mike Judge, an adult comedy about life, love and being single in your 30s, this is nicely done indie comedy from newcomer, John Campea. Well written and well shot, this comedy brings up the complication of relationships in such a realistic way many can identify with it.
One of the best things about having a movie website is meeting people just like you who love movies. John Campea is someone I have admired for a long time in the movie blogosphere, the founder of The Movie Blog and now Senior Editor of AMC Entertainment, Campea also dabbles in making films. The Anniversary is the first comedy about life and love written and directed by Campea.
When I first heard about The Anniversary it was a small Facebook status post from Campea leading me to a trailer for the film,...
One of the best things about having a movie website is meeting people just like you who love movies. John Campea is someone I have admired for a long time in the movie blogosphere, the founder of The Movie Blog and now Senior Editor of AMC Entertainment, Campea also dabbles in making films. The Anniversary is the first comedy about life and love written and directed by Campea.
When I first heard about The Anniversary it was a small Facebook status post from Campea leading me to a trailer for the film,...
- 2/28/2010
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
In Jaffar Mahmood’s “Shades of Ray,” American-born Ray Rehman comes home one night to find his Pakistani father on his doorstep. Ray’s Caucasian mother threw him out. It’s an awkward time for his father to move in as Ray just proposed to his Caucasian girlfriend—who hasn’t given him an answer. While trying to get his parents back together, Ray meets a South Asian girl of mixed descent, just like him, and …...
- 3/30/2009
- indieWIRE - People
In “Shades of Ray,” American-born Ray Rehman comes home one night to find his Pakistani father on his doorstep. Ray’s Caucasian mother threw him out. It’s an awkward time for his father to move in as Ray just proposed to his Caucasian girlfriend—who hasn’t given him an answer. While trying to get his parents back together, Ray meets a South Asian girl of mixed descent, just like him, and must decide …...
- 3/30/2009
- indieWIRE - People
In “Shades of Ray,” American-born Ray Rehman comes home one night to find his Pakistani father on his doorstep. Ray’s Caucasian mother threw him out. It’s an awkward time for his father to move in as Ray just proposed to his Caucasian girlfriend—who hasn’t given him an answer. While trying to get his parents back together, Ray meets a South Asian girl of mixed descent, just like him, and must decide …...
- 3/30/2009
- indieWIRE - People
I know you're looking to watch one of those under-the-radar gems this weekend while the rest of your friends devour Nicolas Cage and uncomfortable bromances, and so that's why we're here -- to show you your many options. One film that hasn't received much press -- but is cute and quirky and totally something you might want to snuggle up next to -- is Shades of Ray, which stars Zachary Levi (Chuck on, well, Chuck) as a half-Caucasian, half-Pakistani whose life turns upside down when his Pakistani father comes to visit. Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard, Freaks and Geeks) executive produced, while Jaffar Mahmood wrote and directed.
Shades of Ray is now available through Amazon VOD over here, and I definitely recommend for those looking to kill some time (and share some laughs) over the weekend. Check out two teasers for the film below, with one embedded after the jump --...
Shades of Ray is now available through Amazon VOD over here, and I definitely recommend for those looking to kill some time (and share some laughs) over the weekend. Check out two teasers for the film below, with one embedded after the jump --...
- 3/20/2009
- by Erik Davis
- Cinematical
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