Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1413959
1 6 I D G A M O N T H L Y See more detailed descriptions, additional photos, podcasts and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup DGA members seeking ways to better prepare for their next episodic directing assignment received valuable information on August 26 when the DGA Director Development Initiative (DDI) hosted its third interactive lab of 2021, The Shoot: Blocking, Staging and Setting a Tone of Leadership. The online event featured a curated panel of Directors who laid out the elusive keystones to establishing leadership through designing blocking and staging intended to maximize the unique visual style of the show while infusing their own "secret sauce." Following a welcome from DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chairs Michael Goi and Bethany Rooney, the Co-Chairs were joined by Directors Mary Lou Belli, Mel Damski, Kimberly McCullough, Joe Menendez, Ron Underwood, Valerie Weiss, Ken Whittingham and Andy Wolk for a short panel discussion on the prep process — how Directors block and shot-list and why it is necessary. The assembly then broke into ten breakout rooms, moderated by one of the panelists above where the participants explored the art and craft of blocking and staging for episodic television. Each pod worked with a sample script and floor plan that was provided by the moderator prior to the lab. The participants then had the opportunity to share their Ideas of blocking and shot listing the given scene, followed by remarks and advice by the moderators. After each participant shared their version, the moderator then screened the actual scenes from the sample scripts as they were originally shot. During these breakout sessions, the moderators also guided the attendees on how to set a tone of leadership on the set. Image: (L-R Top Row) DGA Diversity Task Force Co-Chairs Michael Goi and Bethany Rooney and Directors Mary Lou Belli, Mel Damski, (Second Row) Kimberly McCullough, Joe Menendez, Ron Underwood, Valerie Weiss (Third Row) Ken Whittingham and Andy Wolk. Director Development Initiative Hosts Virtual Lab — The Shoot: Blocking, Staging and Setting a Tone of Leadership About the Program — The orientation was codified in the 2017 Basic Agreement and the program was launched in July of that year. In each course, the participants also learned about the standards of the craft, their creative rights as directors and the Guild resources available to them. The attendees also received valuable advice and learned the best practices to help them succeed from some of the top directors working today. For more information about these courses and photos from previous sessions, visit their webpage in the Employer's section of www.dga.org. DGA Holds Orientation Course for First-Time Episodic Directors On August 28, the DGA's Orientation Course for Episodic Television Directors held another online session. Directors Mary Lou Belli (NCIS: New Orleans), Fred Savage (The Conners) and Andy Wolk (Manifest) were the instructors who provided training for the attending first-time episodic television directors on their role, responsibilities and obligations.