Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1497702
M A Y 2 0 2 3 I 1 9 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup On March 22, the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee hosted the online event, Illustrating a Vision: Utilizing Animation in Documentary Filmmaking. In a discussion moderated by Director Susanna Styron, Directors Geeta Gandbhir, Alex Gibney and Alison Klayman were joined by Animators Nick Gibney, Nikon Kwantu and Kelli Miller for a exploration of how Directors utilize animation to supplement and enhance their filmmaking. Director Geeta Gandbhir explained she uses when there is no archival for something, a recreation may not fit. "Animation really allows us to push boundaries. The idea of it being a wonderful device to sort of fill in blanks and illustrate things in a way that really bring out the imaginative part of filmmaking process." Animator Nikon Kwantu thought that the serious nature of documentaries called for a more 'sketchy' type of animation. "You want something that feels a little more textured. If you have, like a straight-line quality, that feels like the cartoons that you might see on the weekend." Director Alex Gibney spoke about collaborating with Animator Nick Gibney, on the documentary Crazy, Not Insane. "I find it easy to work with Nick because he's an animator who has a great story sense. The interesting part of this was it was an organic process." Animator Nick Gibney discussed the advantages of using animation in sequences where it might seem inappropriate. "Animation brings you into an imagined space. It gives you an opportunity to get into the more psychological elements and go from the real into the surreal." Director Alison Klayman shared her approach to the look of the motion graphics in her film White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch. "The photography of Abercrombie and Fitch is iconic, so having something that was not animated, but rather working with manipulating photographs, felt kind of natural. The collage effect really became a nod to the subject with the Abercrombie and Fitch catalogue being such a big thing." Animator Kelli Miller added, "This is not really like your traditional cell animation. This film was so much about that nostalgia of the print materials of Abercrombie and that brand aesthetic. That's where design really shines when you're trying to visualize the information and use that to add to the story and lead people through." Image: (Top Row) Directors Geeta Gandbhir, Alex Gibney, Alison Klayman and Susanna Styron (moderator). (Bottom Row) Animators Nick Gibney, Nikon Kwantu and Kelli Miller and Eastern Region Special Projects Committee Chair Raymond De Felitta. Eastern Region Special Projects Committee Hosts Panel Discussion — Illustrating a Vision: Utilizing Animation in Documentary Filmmaking Nearly 400 DGA members seeking ways to better prepare for their next episodic directing assignment received valuable information on March 30 when the DGA Director Development Initiative (DDI) hosted the conversational lab, Strategic Branding: Marketing Yourself for Directorial Success. The online event featured Directors Maureen Bharoocha, Tara Miele and Salli Richardson-Whitfield in a conversation moderated by Director Linda Mendoza, where they shared insights on how to use modern tools and techniques to make your brand memorable in a crowded field, and offered tips on connecting with potential employers in a way that personalizes your approach. Sharing how she transitioned into directing from acting, Richardson- Whitfield revealed that she went through the Sony studio program to help better prepare her for establishing a career behind the camera. She encouraged the attendees to think strategically about the use of publicists and added that it is important that Directors take on projects that move them towards the type of work they would like to direct. Bharoocha suggested that new Directors utilize social media to their advantage — but strategically. Leaning on a point made by other panelists about being intentional about your directorial choices, she disclosed how her work on Jimmy Kimmel Live! aided in her carving out a lane for herself in single-cam comedy directing in the episodic world. Miele pointed out that much of her own journey was informed and inspired by the path that fellow Director, Hanelle Culpepper, took into the industry. Early on, she was encouraged to go shadow the Director on Hawaii Five-0 so that she could get more experience directing action. That shadowing opportunity led to her directing on that production — creating a productive opening into episodic directing. All the panelists noted the importance of building relationships, going to different events and connecting with new people. They said that everyone should remember that every meeting, no matter how small, is an important meeting and consistently meeting with new people, no matter what level that studio person may be on, can be beneficial because you never know where someone in this industry will land. Image: (Clockwise) Directors Maureen Bharoocha, Tara Miele, Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Linda Mendoza (moderator). Director Development Initiative Hosts Virtual Lab — Strategic Branding: Marketing Yourself for Directorial Success