DGA Monthly

2 4 I D G A M O N T H L Y See more detailed descriptions, additional photos and video, where available, online at www.dga.org. DGA Events Roundup On April 11, Atlanta-based DGA members of all categories gained valuable insight into how new innovative AI technology can be used to help achieve a Director's vision during the two-part seminar, Exploring AI: A Digital Technology Event. Presented by the Atlanta Coordinating Committee (ATLCC), the event allowed the attendees to see first-hand what this new technology is capable of and the various ways it can be integrated into a production. Following an introduction by ATLCC member/Director Maurice "Mo" Marable, the event began with a conversation moderated by ATLCC member/UPM Tom Luse, where Adobe's Head of Film & Television Darren Frankel and AI Media Strategist Elizabeth Strickler, the Co-founder of the Creative Media Industries Institute at Georgia State University, discussed the abilities and limitations of various AI technologies and spoke about how they anticipate this will affect the industry as a whole, then answered questions from the audience. In the second panel Feras Alfuqaha the co-founder of Shamel Studio, a new platform for scheduling, budgeting, and call sheets; Ivan Zhurko the Head of Product at the AI-Powered Film Production Platform FilmUStage; and CEO Alex D. Lugo from the AI-powered film production management platform FilmPro, presented short demonstrations of what their platforms are capable of delivering then engaged in a conversation moderated by ATLCC member/2nd AD Yor-El Francis. The event ended with a second Q&A session where the DGA member attendees were able to have more of their questions answered by the experts. Photo L-R: Shamel Studio Co-founder Feras Alfuqaha, AI Media Strategist Elizabeth Strickler, ATLCC members Yor-El Francis (moderator) and Maurice "Mo" Marable, Adobe's Head of Film & Television Darren Frankel, ATLCC member Tom Luse (moderator), FilmPro CEO Alex D. Lugo, ATLCC member Renée Hill-Sweet, FilmUStage Head of Product Ivan Zhurko, ATLCC member Jason Inman and DGA Field Representative Abbie Brewer. Exploring AI: A Digital Technology Event An Atlanta Coordinating Committee Seminar Producer/Directors (PDs) play a pivotal role in episodic television and are tasked with managing key production details, such as scheduling and budgeting, while also supporting guest Directors and effectively collaborating with everyone on set. On March 26, DGA members received valuable information on how PDs can support guest Directors on set during the Director Development Initiative (DDI) lab, Working with Producer/Directors. The online event featured DGA Past President Lesli Linka Glatter (Imperfect Women) and Directors Amanda Marsalis (The Pitt) and Craig Siebels (Cross) in a conversation moderated by Director Eli Gonda (Neon) that explored discuss the role of the PD — how they work best with guest Directors — and offer tips how to succeed on set and how to work with them to pivot and problem solve when challenges arise. During the conversation, Glatter, Marsalis, and Siebels revealed how, as PDs, their work to support guest Directors and be a guide for the show begins in prep. They offered strategies for how to do this, including answering questions, sharing important show-specific information, and serving as advocates by building up guest Directors and championing them among cast and crew prior to them coming to work on set. Together, they emphasized how the role of a PD is to empower guest Directors and to help them to succeed, with Glatter noting, "Our job is not to micromanage someone, it's to give them the freedom to fly, but armed with everything they need." Following the discussion, Gonda led an audience Q&A that went deeper into topics such as strategies for how guest Directors can approach working with PDs across different shows and tools that PDs may use (e.g., lookbooks, decks) to effectively communicate with guest Directors. Image – Clockwise: DGA Past President Lesli Linka Glatter and Directors Amanda Marsalis, Craig Siebels and Eli Gonda (moderator). Working with Producer/Directors A Director Development Initiative Virtual Lab photo by Andrew Alonso

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