DGA Monthly

J U L Y 2 0 2 4 I 2 9 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup On May 18, members gathered in the Guild's Los Angeles theater as Asian American Committee (AAC) Co-Chairs Kabir Akhtar and Kai Kim welcomed them to the Committee's event, Asian Voices in Film & Television, an event that featured three panel discussions, including a "Spotlight Conversation" with Director James Wan. In a discussion with Director Yoko Okumura, Wan shared his experiences in the industry and spoke about technology not taking over your craft. "I love my old school practical approach — whether it is scribbling down an idea on a piece of paper — or scribbling ideas in Notes on my iPhone," admitted Wan. "I'm not opposed to technology, but I do think at the end of the day it's just another piece of equipment and tool. If you can use it to better to tell your story, that's great, but it shouldn't take over your story." As a noted Director in the genre, Wan also touched on his approach to horror, and said, "For me, it's all about building up the creepiness and tension-building. That is the hardest part to do in a horror film. Cheap jump-scares are easy. Great, effective jump-scares are hard to do and the journey to get there is more important than actually getting there." He also dispensed advice about working with collaborators: "If you find someone that shares the same interests and values, and the kind of movies you want to make and stories you want to tell — that is truly the most important thing. I tell my young up-and-coming filmmaker friends, find someone you like collaborating with and do it. That way you put two brains together and put two egos aside." In the panel, Making Avatar: The Last Airbender, Directors Michael Goi and Jabbar Raisani discussed their roles in recreating the beloved animated series as a live action series during a conversation moderated by Director Kim Nguyen. Goi spoke about the distinctly Asian influences of the show. "You very rarely have the opportunity to work on something that so boldly represents your heritage. In that opportunity, you want to take advantage as much as possible of what you can do when placed in that position. Being able to represent that there is that breadth and depth of Asian Directors was important to carry forward." Raisani addressed the challenges of remaining true to your craft with added pressures of the popularity of the source material. "It's a huge show to figure out, but we now have a blueprint of what people liked and what people didn't like, and at the end of the day we just have to figure out how to do our own show." The panel, The Value of Our Director's Team, focused on the partnership between Directors and ADs, with insights and advice about collaboration from Director Nisha Ganatra and 1st AD Lon Takiguchi, who worked together on the series Deli Boys, and Director Dinh Thai and 1st AD Ken Wada from the series AZNBBGRL, in a conversation moderated by 1st AD Lucille OuYang. "Mostly the thing we talk about is the patience we have for each other," said Thai. "We go out into the world and roll the camera together." Wada reflected on the representation of the show both in front of and behind the cameras. "To be on this type of show and work with this group, actually meant the difference." "Comedy is very hard to get people funny when the environment is stressful, but Lon has a way to get everyone calm," said Ganatra. "It's productive and great how we share these sensibilities and want to run the set together like for example making sure it is safe, but that everyone is having a great time," replied Takiguchi. photos: 1: Director James Wan engages in a one-on-one "Spotlight Conversation" moderated by Director Yoko Okumura. 2: AAC Co-Chairs Kabir Akhtar and Kai Kim welcome the attendees. 3: DGA members attend the first panel of the event, Asian Voices in Film & Television. 4: Directors Jabbar Raisani, Michael Goi and Kim Nguyen (moderator) speak during the panel Making Avatar: The Last Airbender. 5: 1st AD Ken Wada and Director Dinh Thai, 1st AD Lucille OuYang (moderator) and Director Nisha Ganatra and 1st AD Lon Takiguchi give insights and advice about collaboration on the partnership between Directors and ADs during the panel, The Value of Our Director's Team. 6-7: DGA members enjoy the reception following the Asian American Committee's event, Asian Voices in Film & Television. Asian Voices in Film & Television A DGA Asian American Committee Event photos by Elisa Haber 1 2 4 3 5 6 7

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