Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1541406
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 I 8 3 See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Committee Announcements Women's Steering Committee Announces Participants in 2025-2026 Squad Mentorship Program On October 23, the DGA Women's Steering Committee (WSC) announced the mentor and mentees of its 2025 – 2026 Squad Mentorship Program. The program, now in its sixth cycle, pairs mid-career women and nonbinary Directors with award-winning, established mentors as they navigate the next phase in their careers. This year's mentors and mentees are: • Amanda Marsalis mentoring Karla Braun • Karla Braun mentoring Anna Chi • Pete Chatmon mentoring Gia-Rayne Harris • Rian Johnson mentoring Courtney Hoffman • Lucy Tcherniak mentoring Kimi Howl Lee • Jennifer Arnold mentoring Jihane Mrad Balaa • Jihane Mrad Balaa mentoring Lee Talia Osteen • Scott Beck & Bryan Woods mentoring Alexis Ostrander • Julie Anne Robinson mentoring Lauren "LP" Palmigiano • Nicole Kassell mentoring Stephanie Martin • Kat Coiro mentoring Letia Solomon • Maggie Kiley mentoring Noelle Stehman • Dawn Wilkinson mentoring Candice Vernon The WSC Squad was created to advance the professional goals of its members and heighten their career opportunities in the entertainment industry. The nine- month WSC Squad Mentorship Program is unique in that every effort is made to pair mentees with the mentor of their choice. The WSC Squad believes peer-to- peer support is crucial, thus this program provides frank discussion around the unique issues that women Directors face while giving guidance and support. The objective is to cultivate a community of Directors with the tools and knowledge that will lead all members towards success together. The WSC Squad Mentorship Program is led by Directors Shaz Bennett, Jess Brunetto, Tiffany Frances and Jean E. Lee. The WSC is co-chaired by Directors Shaz Bennett, Jade Jenise-Dixon, Valerie Weiss and Alternate Co-Chair Liz Ryan. For more information about the WSC Squad Mentorship Program please visit www.thewscsquad.com or contact theWSCsquad@gmail.com. African American Steering Committee Announces New Class for the 2025 The Learning Tree Fellowship Directing Program On October 20, the African American Steering Committee (AASC) announced the third class of The Learning Tree Fellowship Directing Program (TLT). In 2020, the program was created and spearheaded by Director Jeff Byrd, Co-Chair of the AASC, in direct response to both the halt of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing racial unrest and reckoning in the US during that time and its impact on Black Directors. Its goal is to support, mentor, inspire and prepare emerging African-American Directors for the unique experiences they may face in their careers. The Learning Tree Fellowship Directing Program was led by Directors Jeff Byrd (YellowJackets), Morenike Joela Evans (Grey's Anatomy) and Courtney M. Franklin (The Sex Lives of College Girls) and the program's name is inspired by the first film of trailblazing photographer and Director, Gordon Parks. The following eight Directors were selected for this year's highly competitive fellowship program: • Nandi Bowe • Patrick Coker • Alycia Cooper • Ruganzu Howard • Terrisha "TK" Kearse • Arthur Muhammed • Candice Vernon • Eric Wilson TLT Fellows met twice a week virtually with the program leaders who shared in-depth wisdom on all aspects of directing from networking and prep to representation. Special Guest Mentors including TV Execs, Showrunners, Production Company Execs and Directors meet with the fellows to share their journeys and answer their questions about the industry and the collaboration, creativity and craft required to best succeed as Directors. This year's guest mentors include Ahmadou Seck (VP of Scripted TV, MACRO), Pete Chatmon (AASC Co-Chair, Director/EP Power: Origins), Angela Barnes (Director/ Co-EP Ironheart), Rammla Mohammed (Creator & Showrunner, Reasonable Doubt), Anya Adams (Director/EP North of North) Bill Purple (Director/EP Fire Country) and Brett Dismuke (Head of Content, ALLBLK & WEtv) and Nikki Love (SVP, ALLBLK & WEtv). For more information about the AASC's The Learning Tree Fellowship Program please email aasc@dga.org. "The one who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed." — Gordon Parks