DGA Monthly

J U N E 2 0 2 4 I 3 3 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup On April 29, members who specialize in directing commercials attended dual events in Los Angeles and New York. The bicoastal gatherings provided the opportunity for these members to mingle with their peers and featured the panel discussions, Directing Commercials: A Conversation about Advertising's Shifting Landscape. During the Los Angeles event, Directors Bashan Aquart (half of directing duo Jams x Bash), Calmatic, Tom Kuntz, Kim Nguyen, Kitao Sakurai and Guy Shelmerdine shared their experiences during a conversation moderated by Director Walt Becker that covered issues Commercial Directors are facing in the workplace in 2024, including production workflow from bid to post. Becker kicked off the event by asking the panelists where they began their careers. Calmatic and Aquart got their start in music videos, Sakurai directed episodic television, and Shelmerdine and Nguyen, who reflected on her time as a copywriter, came to directing from advertising. All the panelists shared their thoughts on how markedly different a directing environment the commercial world presents with its unique Client-Agency-Director dynamic that has evolved over time. When the discussion turned to dealing with treatments, Shelmerdine, Aquart and Calmatic spoke about employing company resources to assist in the writing and visuals for the treatment process in order to meet the high quality and quick turnarounds the current bidding process requires. Kuntz, on the other hand, prefers to do all the work, including rewrites, himself. He feels it enhances his connection to the project and is an important part of his process. Touching on the topic of AI, both Kuntz and Sakurai expressed that although impressive, AI could never replace the human element that audiences naturally crave. The New York event featured a discussion with Directors Lena Beug, Joy Kilpatrick, Jared Lapidus, Jamaal Parham (the other half of directing duo Jams x Bash) and Hank Perlman. The conversation was moderated by Director Sorrel Brae, who began by noting that there has been a push within the Guild to engage more commercial Directors and encouraged those in attendance to stay involved moving forward, before entering a discussion with the panelists about the state of the business and their approach to the craft. Perlman shared his unique insights as a co-founder of the production company Hungry Man and how he's seen the industry change over time. Beug spoke about how she collaborates with different departments on her commercials and her close involvement with production design. Parham revealed how he works with actors on commercials by providing them with details on their characters that can help shape their performance. Kilpatrick discussed her approach to "tabletop" commercials, with her emphasis on human connection. And Lapidus gave the audience advice on how he manages the needs of clients and agencies while still finding a way to bring his own vision to his commercials. Both events included informal receptions where the attending Commercial Directors could network and continue connecting on topics that were brought up throughout the evening. photos: 1: Director Walt Becker (moderator), DGA Director of Commercial Contracts Winona Wacker and Directors Kitao Sakurai, Bashan Aquart, Guy Shelmerdine, Kim Nguyen, Tom Kuntz and Calmatic at the Los Angeles event. 2: Directors Sorrel Brae (moderator), Hank Perlman, Lena Beug, Joy Kilpatrick, Jamaal Parham, and Jared Lapidus at the event in New York. 3-5: Commercial event attendees continue the discussions in Los Angeles. 6-8: Commercial event attendees ask questions and continue the discussions in New York. Commercial Directors Gather at Twin Events in Los Angeles and New York photos by Elisa Haber (Los Angeles) and Marcie Revens (New York) 1 2 3 4 7 8 5 6

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