DGA Monthly

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 5 I 7 3 Recent Visual History Addition View more excerpts and interviews in the Visual History Collection via the link on the homepage of www.dga.org. Director Debbie Allen discusses her 40-year directing career in episodic television, her step-by-step production process on Grey's Anatomy and how her background in choreography informs her directing. Allen on coming into directing on the series Fame: "I was the fi rst one that brought a Steadicam into Fame. They didn't even know. I was doing jump cuts way before even we saw Spike Lee's wonderful work. They didn't understand it, and sometimes they would cut it out, but it was like going to fi lm school for fi ve or six years, working on Fame, because I was in the editing room. It's where I really learned the craft of directing even better for fi lm and television. And so I came in with that, you know, young sense of Busby Berkeley since I was a kid. I understood moving the camera. I didn't even know all the language, because I didn't go to fi lm school, but I learned it so quickly. You know, crane, dolly. The crew started asking for me. 'We want Debbie to direct an episode.' And I was like, 'Oh, lord, yay.' And so it was scary. And they loved me because I always did my homework. I knew what walls were wild. I knew what I wanted. I knew when I was done. And I remember we wrapped my fi rst or second day like at three o'clock and they were like, 'Bring her back. Let her keep going.' I wasn't cutting it short but I knew what I wanted and it was refreshing." The DGA's Visual History Program website contains hundreds of hours of videotaped interviews with Directors and Director's team members discussing their careers and reflections on all aspects of the creative process in film, television and other media. These interviews are indexed for quick retrieval of segments pertaining to specific topics of interest within a particular interview or across the entire collection. Debbie Allen interviewed by Nicole Rubio See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup Asian American Committee Hosts Panel Discussion Survival Skills for Directors: Using Motivation, Mentorships and Magic to Forge a Successful Career On November 26, the Asian American Committee's (AAC) meeting included the event, Survival Skills for Directors: Using Motivation, Mentorships and Magic to Forge a Successful Directing Career. In a conversation moderated by Director/AAC Alternate co-chair Debbie Formoso, Director/AAC co-chair Michael Goi shared tips on transitioning from an affi liated Director role, including the essential technical skills every Director should master, how personal interests and family life can enhance your career, and how to discover your unique directing style. During the conversation he shared the story of how he made his transition from a cinematographer on the series, American Horror Story, and also noted the importance and power of mentorship, specifi cally for emerging Directors, to witness how an experienced Director resolves each situation when everything is going wrong on set. Eastern AD/SM/PA Council Honors Esperanza G. "Candy" Martinez During their meeting on December 9, the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council presented a "Special Services Award" to Esperanza G. "Candy" Martinez for more than 50 years of service to the Guild and her leadership to the Council. A DGA member since 1972, Martinez has has served on the Council since 1984 in various capacities including Chair, 1st Vice Chair and Secretary Treasurer. She was the recipient of the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award in 2003. photo: (L-R) DGA National Assistant Secretary Treasurer Joyce A. Thomas, Esperanza G. "Candy" Martinez and Eastern AD/SM/PA Council Chair Tony DeSanti. photo: (L-R) Asian American Committee Co-Chair Alan Chu, Alternate Co-Chair Debbie Formoso (moderator) and Co-Chairs Michael Goi and Maureen Bharoocha.

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