DGA Monthly

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 5 I 4 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. First Assistant Director Joseph P. Reidy discusses his breadth of experience in 45 years as a 1 st AD, how he adapts his role depending on the Director, and what it was like fi lming the famous Copacabana scene in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. Reidy on on fi lming the Goodfellas Copacabana scene: "He [Scorsese] knew the Copa and then with my team, we broke it down in the following way: We had a limit on the number of extras we could have. It was less than 300, but they were meant to cover outside, the kitchen, and the club itself, including the band. [2nd AD] Vebe [Borge] was in charge of setting the background and the kitchen, which was the most diffi cult background to set with people who didn't speak English. Joe Burns, , who was my Key Second later on in my career, did the outside picture cars, people lining up, the doormen, etc. And then Deborah [Lupard] did part of the interior, especially people seated who were being reused from the outside. While we were in the kitchen, just as the scenery in the hallway was changed, the extras from the outside all came inside and sat down in the club. We had a different group that was already there near the stage and at the front. I dealt with the cues and directing the specifi c extras in the hallway, all of the waiters that set up the table and the lights, and all that thing. We worked all day on the shot and did many rehearsals and, like, 15 takes at least. Larry McConkey, the Steadicam operator, could make suggestions and things like that with the extras, as needed, but he was there really to make sure our Actors were in frame, and we captured it. And had to make sure that the end of the shot was a good as the beginning of the shot. All in all, I think Marty was very pleased. I can't take credit for it, but I can take part of the credit for it with all the people that helped on it. I'm very proud of how that worked out." 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 refl ections on all aspects of the creative process in fi lm, television and other media. These interviews are indexed for quick retrieval of segments pertaining to specifi c topics of interest within a particular interview or across the entire collection. Joseph P. Reidy interviewed by John Silvestri Location Managers: Bringing the Director's Vision to Life On November 20, the Focus on Women Committee's (FOWC) meeting included the event, Location Managers: Bringing the Director's Vision to Life. In a conversation moderated by Location Manager/FOWC Co-Chair Ellen Athena Catsikeas, Location Managers Patty Carey-Perazzo, Christie Mullen and Lauri Pitkus discussed their experiences working with legendary Directors as well as top Production Designers and Cinematographers. During the conversation, Pitkus spoke about how good scouting is key to a smooth production, citing the diffi culty of not always having enough prep time to scout and confi rm locations before the start of principal photography. Carey-Perazzo discussed how the ways in which Location Managers work with one another have changed over the years, noting that while contacting one another to share photos or information was unusual 15 years ago, now it has become much more common to ask questions such as "Has anyone shot at the Met, and what did you pay?" and get that information. Mullen shared her views on on-set collaboration with Directors, DPs and Production Designers, explaining that their creativity and artistic responsibilities are what motivates her to do everything she can to bring their visions to life. Image: Panelists included Focus on Women Committee Co-Chair Ellen Athena Catsikeas (moderator) and Location Managers Patty Carey- Perazzo, Christie Mullen and Lauri Pitkus DGA Events Roundup Follow Us On Social Media Stay connected with the Directors Guild of America! Follow us across social media to learn about events and Guild activities. Join the conversation by following our channels today! Facebook: www.facebook.com/ directorsguildofamericadga Instagram: www.instagram.com/directorsguild YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ directorsguildofamericaDGA

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