Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1507954
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 3 I 2 3 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos, podcasts and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup Western AD/UPM Council 1st AD & 2nd AD Committees Host Panel Discussion Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: The Dynamics of Successful AD Teams On August 19, the Western AD/UPM Council's 1st AD & 2nd AD Committees hosted the panel discussion, Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: The Dynamics of Successful AD Teams. Held both online and in the Guild's Los Angeles headquarters boardroom, the event featured a panel discussion led by Assistant Directors who have worked together across multiple projects and covered topics including how people move up in category; how technology has changed the jobs; how winning teams develop a complimentary communication shorthand; and what is needed to build a successful production group. While the event was targeted to Assistant Directors, all DGA members were welcome to attend either online or in-person. The event kicked off with a joint welcome from 1st AD Committee Co-Chair Mark Hansson and 2nd AD Committee Co-Chair Joe MJ Moore, who introduced DGA Secretary-Treasurer/Past President Paris Barclay and Western AD/UPM Council Chair Linda Montanti, who spoke a few words of introduction and the importance of cohesive directorial teams in the success of a production. DGA Assistant Executive Director Faith Santilla, the staff liaison for the Council, also spoke to the audience about the assistance options available to DGA members adversely affected by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes and introduced DGA President Lesli Linka Glatter, who added her welcoming comments to the event via video. Hansson and Moore then served as moderators for the panel discussion that began with introductions of the panelists, illustrated by clips of their work. Answering questions from the perspective of the arena of feature film teams were 1st AD Donald L. Sparks and 2nd ADs Pete Dress, Karen Davis (via video) and Alejandro Mora who have worked together on projects such as Reinaldo Marcus Green's King Richard and/or Denzel Washington's A Journal for Jordan and/or Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049. 1st AD Sunday Stevens and 2nd ADs Wendy Bledsoe and Oliver Mack Calhoun, whose teamwork can be seen on projects such as the HBO series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, gave answers as they pertain to the area of episodic television/streaming teams. The opinions from the standpoint of multi-camera production teams were given by 1st AD Robyn Willey-Pratt and 2nd ADs Adam Haas and Matthew Cocozza, whose shared credits includes the Nickelodeon series Danger Force. Adding their knowledge from the world of commercials production teams were 1st AD Craig Owens and 2nd AD Jimmy Ramirez, whose handiwork can be seen in the NFL spot, Run with It. When the conversation turned to the topic of Prep, the features group shared how they had only four months on Bladerunner 2049 to complete rehearsals, fitting 2,000 extras, training the cast, and navigating weekly department head meetings. The multi-camera team had two weeks of limited prep to set up the whole show for children's programs and the episodic crew advised team to get the Key 2nd AD as much prep as possible to share info with the team, go to meetings, scouts and tests. On the over arching subject of teamwork, the episodic team agreed that trust and communication are the most important parts of a team and revealed that they encourage PAs to get involved; commercials spoke to how having a regular team of 2nd ADs can save time as they have developed a communications shorthand; multi-camera revealed that the Key 2nd is the safety net for making sure the production is on track for the next day; and features cited the value 2nd ADs bring to the production such as the Key 2nd keeping up to date with local governmental guidelines and local union rules and the 2nd 2nd providing input on how to stage background and things to consider when shooting with certain lenses. The day ended with a luncheon and social mixer where the members could continue their discussions with others facing the same challenges. Photo: (L-R Front Row) 2nd AD Matthew Cocozza, 1st AD Robyn Willey-Pratt, 2nd AD Adam Haas, Western AD/UPM Council Chair Linda Montanti and 2nd AD Committee Co-Chair Joe MJ Moore (co-moderator). (Back Row) DGA Secretary-Treasurer/Past President Paris Barclay, 2nd AD Oliver Mack Calhoun, 2nd AD Wendy Bledsoe, 1st AD Sunday Stevens, 1st AD Craig Owens, 1st AD Donald L. Sparks, 2nd AD Jimmy Ramirez, 1st AD Committee Co-Chair Mark Hansson (co-moderator), 2nd AD Pete Dress and 2nd AD Alejandro Mora. See video from this event at www.dga.org. photo by Elisa Haber