DGA Monthly

6 I D G A M O N T H L Y DGA Hosts Discussion, The Art of Directing at the Toronto Film Festival The DGA activated at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) where we gave festival goers an inside look at how Directors approach their craft during our first ever The Art of Directing panel, hosted in partnership with Deadline, on September 5. Directors Derek Cianfrance, Scarlett Johansson, Rian Johnson and Chloé Zhao shared some of their secrets to success, inspirations, and more during a conversation moderated by Deadline's Box Office Editor and industry insider Anthony D'Alessandro. The panel was followed by a reception for attendees, with an opportunity for members to network. DGA Special Assignments Executive Jennifer Peat Jennifer Peat was on hand to answer questions about the Guild. Cianfrance, whose latest feature Roofman world premiered at TIFF, treated the audience to revelations such as how even though he had 1,224 storyboards, he went experimental while making his feature, Blue Valentine. "Then when the time came to shoot the movie, I threw [the storyboards] away, of course. I didn't want to be stuck to pictures. I wanted to find the new ones." Johansson, who just made her feature directorial debut with Eleanor the Great, shared how she admires her directing mentors, such as Jon Favreau's approach with actors and how he could be "different things to different people" during production. Speaking of her upcoming Shakespearean-period feature, Hamnet, Zhao told the audience she doesn't rehearse scenes but utilizes other techniques in prep. "We do dream work, we do active imagination, we do tantric polarity workshops. My job is to create and use enough tools from old times and new ones to give them the space to make that connection." Johnson revealed that even though Wake Up Dead Man is their third Knives Out collaboration, actor Daniel Craig relearns detective Benoir Blanc's southern accent for each film, "which is good because he doesn't want to just be doing the impression so it's a whole new process each time." The DGA is working to engage members and the industry through film festivals to make sure that our craft is front and center at these important industry events. Look for more exciting moments to come. Photos: (L-R): Deadline Editorial Director/Box Office Editor Anthony D'Alessandro (moderator) with Directors Derek Cianfrance, Chloe Zhao, Rian Johnson and Scarlett Johansson were the panelists for The Art of Directing panel presented by the DGA and Deadline. DGA, Letterboxd and The Ankler Partner Spotlight the Craft of TV Directing As part of our ongoing work to elevate the role of television Directors during Emmy season, the DGA has partnered with the social platform Letterboxd and the industry publication The Ankler to showcase the voices of Emmy-nominated DGA Directors. The program was open to all DGA Directors nominated for an Emmy this year and centered on one key theme: television directing as a true craft. The series featured collaborative social media videos featured Directors Lesli Linka Glatter (Zero Day), Amanda Marsalis (The Pitt), Janus Metz (Andor), Nicole Kassell (Sirens), Shannon Murphy (Dying for Sex), Jessica Lee Gagné (Severance) and John Wells (The Pitt). The interviews were conducted by The Ankler's Elaine Low and Chris Rosen, and promoted across DGA, Letterboxd and The Ankler social media channels, as well as through The Ankler's website. Visit www.instagram.com/directorsguild to watch these acclaimed Directors reflect on their most challenging scenes, their collaborations with actors, crews, and writers, and the artistry that defines their work. photo by: Celene Tang First-Time Episodic Director Orientation Program Reaches Landmark Launched in 2017, the DGA's Orientation Course on Professional Standards for Episodic Television Directors reached a landmark as the 1,000th participant took the course on August 16, 2025. The Orientation Program is targeted towards educating participants about the rights and responsibilities of a dramatic episodic television Director and is only available to individuals who have been offered employment by an Employer as a 'first-time Director.' Codified in the 2017 Basic Agreement and taught by veteran Directors, the program supports individuals who seek to develop careers in television; participants learn about the standards of the craft, their creative rights, and the Guild's resources that are available to them. Instructors have included such helmers as DGA Past Presidents Paris Barclay, Lesli Linka Glatter and Thomas Schlamme; Past National Vice President Vincent Misiano, Past Fifth Vice President Bethany Rooney, Alternate Board Member Mary Lou Belli and Board Member Tessa Blake; and Directors Andy Wolk, Michael Spiller and many other dedicated members. For more information about the First-Time Episodic Director Orientation Program, visit the Employers section of www.dga.org.

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