Visual History Program

Founded in 2000, the DGA's Visual History Program has conducted more than 200 interviews with directors and director's team members discussing their careers and creative processes in film, television and other media.

Bryan Buckley

Interviewed by: Kantu Lentz

Director Bryan Buckley reflects on his more than 25-year career in Commercial Directing, how he earned the title of “The King of the Superbowl”, his narrative work, and how he uses his position to give voice to the underdogs.

Dwight Williams

Interviewed by: Phil Goldfarb

UPM Dwight Williams speaks about his 50-year career in television and feature film as a First Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager, including his work on Malcolm D. Lee’s Girls Trip, The Hughes Brothers’ Dead Presidents; working with the late Director John Singleton on Baby Boy and other features; and his extensive Guild involvement.

Norberto Barba

Interviewed by: Jesús Treviño

Director Norberto Barba reflects on his career in episodic television, his tenure as a leader in the Guild and his hopes for what the future of representation in Directing will entail.

Mimi Leder

Interviewed by: Lesli Linka Glatter

Director Mimi Leder considers her volume of television and film titles, her growth alongside the early days of digital, and the distinct Directorial tactics that have defined her success.

Leon Robinson

Interviewed by: Valdez Flagg

Stage Manager Leon Robinson discusses his catalogue of work, strategies that have garnered success in his position and his opinions on an ever-changing industry.

Mary Rae Thewlis

Interviewed by: Kathleen McGill

Mary Rae Thewlis discusses her 25-plus year career as a unit production manager, including her work on Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Americans; as well as her extensive Guild involvement.

Elma Garcia

Interviewed by: Ian Woolf

Director Elma Garcia discusses her experiences in commercial directing, sharing her production methodology and how her point of view distinguishes her work.

Barry Sonnenfeld

Interviewed by: Bo Welch

Barry Sonnenfeld looks back on his 31-year career, sharing his unique approach to directing comedic features (The Addams Family, Men in Black, Big Trouble) and episodic television (Pushing Daisies, Schmigadoon!, A Series of Unfortunate Events).

Oz Scott

Interviewed by: Helaine Head

Oz Scott (The Jeffersons, Picket Fences, CSI: NY), recounts his 30-plus year career directing episodic television and TV movies, his beginnings in theater (for colored girls who considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf), and his feature film, Bustin’ Loose, starring Richard Pryor.

Martha Mitchell

Interviewed by: Timothy Busfield

Director Martha Mitchell (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Madam Secretary, Without a Trace) recounts her 25-plus year directorial career, highlighting her work in episodic television and her service to the Guild on the Eastern Directors Council and the National Board.

Ernest Dickerson

Interviewed by: Seith Mann

Director Ernest Dickerson discusses his 30-year career as a director and shares insight into his creative process through recalling his feature films (Juice, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight), movies for television (Strange Justice, Our America), and his various episodic television credits (The Wire, Raised By Wolves, and Dexter).

Stan Lathan

Interviewed by: Oz Scott

Director Stan Lathan discusses his 40-plus year career directing episodic and variety television (Sanford and Son, The Steve Harvey Show, Real Husbands of Hollywood, Def Comedy Jam); starting out at WGBH-TV; and his collaboration with iconic comedians Redd Foxx and Moms Mabley.

James Burrows

Interviewed by: Michael Lembeck

Veteran sitcom and pilot director and producer James Burrows (Cheers, Frasier, Taxi) discusses his vast, critically acclaimed and award-winning career directing some of the most iconic series from the 1970s to the present day.

James D. Brubaker (1937-2023)

Interviewed by: Kevin Koster

Unit Production Manager James Brubaker discusses his long career, starting as a driver for Elvis Presley and John Wayne, to working as a UPM and producing big-budget Hollywood blockbusters.

Dency Nelson

Interviewed by: Brian McAloon

Stage Manager Dency Nelson reflects on his 40-year career in live television (Academy Awards, Emmys, The Kennedy Center Honors) and his numerous years of Guild service on the Western AD/SM/PA Council and Negotiations Committee.

Debbie Williams

Interviewed by: Jerri Churchill

Debbie Williams discusses her 40-year career as a stage manager in variety programs including American Idol, awards shows such as The Oscars and The Academy of Country Music Awards and live episodes of network dramas such as ER, and The West Wing.

Don Mischer

Interviewed by: Jim Drake

Acclaimed variety television director Don Mischer discloses the details behind his successful career directing some of the most well known and watched live television events in history -- from Super Bowl halftime events and musical specials -- to Olympic opening ceremonies and the 2008 Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial.

Michael Schultz

Interviewed by: Donna Brown Guillaume

Michael Schultz recalls his career through four decades of directing, beginning in the theater, successes with Cooley High and Car Wash, and his prolific work in episodic television.

Michael Mann

Interviewed by: Jay D. Roth, Jeremy Kagan

Director Michael Mann looks back on his 45-year career as a film and television director by discussing his filmography (The Insider, Heat, and The Last of the Mohicans), sharing his philosophical perspective on filmmaking, and detailing his tenure as a leader in the Guild.

Félix Alcalá

Interviewed by: Vincent Misiano

Director Félix Alcalá (ER, The Good Wife, Madam Secretary) discusses his directorial career in episodic television, movies for television, and feature film; his background as a cinematographer; and shares some of the lessons he’s learned while behind the camera.

Robert Altman

Interviewed by: Lee Grant

Director Robert Altman describes his working philosophy, often comparing filmmaking to painting, and discusses the sources of his storytelling and directing techniques he used on films like M*A*S*H, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and The Player.

Glenn Weiss

Interviewed by: R.A. Clark

Director Glenn Weiss discusses his 25-year career as a variety television director, sharing details about his craft and recounting stories behind the distinguished specials that he has directed over the years including Peter Pan Live!, the Academy Awards, and Tony Awards.

Mimi Deaton

Interviewed by: Jody Margolin Hahn

Associate Director Mimi Deaton discusses her 30-year career in the multi-camera format (The Facts of Life, Martin, Reba, The Neighborhood), her Guild service as a member of the Western AD/SM/PA Council for 23 years and her recognition by the Guild with the Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.

Bill Duke

Interviewed by: Carl Weathers

Bill Duke discusses his directorial career and working with Ossie Davis, Laurence Fishburne and Forest Whitaker in films such as Deep Cover, A Rage in Harlem, Hoodlum, and Deacons for Defense. He also discusses changes in the film industry and the DGA’s role in fostering diversity in Hollywood.

A - E F - J K - O P - T U - Z
DGA Visual History Herb Adelman
by  Tom  Joyner
May 23, 2006
VH146 Warren Adler
by  Jay D.  Roth
November 21, 2011
Larry Albucher Interview
by  Kevin  Koster
December 18, 2012
Visual History Felix Alcala Hero
by  Vincent  Misiano
July 30, 2019
Robert Altman interview
by  Lee  Grant
May 18, 2004
Ken Annakin Interview
by  Randal  Kleiser
April 30, 2008
Visual History 158 Michael Apted
by  Jeremy  Kagan...
February 06, 2013
Larry Auerbach Interview
by  Joshua  White
May 14, 2001
Avildsen Interview
by  Jeremy  Kagan
August 22, 2007
John Badham Interview
by  Jeremy  Kagan
March 23, 2005
Balash Interview
by  Joshua  White
October 24, 2001
VH199 Ballard Hero
by  Robert  Markowitz
June 01, 2017
VH236 Hero
by  Jesús  Treviño
July 05, 2022
Richard Bare Interview
by  Gene  Reynolds
March 26, 2010
Beaudine Interview
by  Skip & Craig  Beaudine
September 19, 2005
Harold Becker Interview
by  Robert  Markowitz
May 05, 2010
Bellini DeSomone Interview
by  Barbara  Roche
April 14, 2009
Richard Benjamin Interview
by  Jeremy  Kagan
February 17, 2011
Yudi Bennett Interview
by  Liz  Ryan
February 20, 2013
Benton Interview
by  Michael  Pressman
May 19, 2005
VH205 Ed Bianchi Hero
by  Tim  Van Patten
November 01, 2017
Bill Interview
by  Randal  Kleiser...
September 14, 2007
Binder Interview
by  Taylor  Hackford
January 31, 2006
Jeff Bleckner
by  John Kent  Harrison
November 07, 2007
Bertrand Blier interview
by  Jon  Amiel
April 15, 2011
Bloom Interview
by  Joshua  White
November 15, 2001
Bert Bluestein Interview
by  Kevin  Koster
December 11, 2012
Bogart Interview
by  Peter  Bogart
April 23, 2005
Peter Bogdanovich Interview
by  Raymond  De Felitta
November 10, 2005
VH191 John Boorman
by  Jim  Sheridan
March 07, 2016
Brockway Interview
by  Jim  Drake
April 24, 2009
Browning Interview
by  Joshua  White
June 12, 2001
VH237 Hero Closeup
by  Kantu  Lentz
November 16, 2022
James Burrows Interview
by  Michael  Lembeck
March 11, 2008
Butler Interview
by  Gene  Reynolds
August 22, 2002
Capra Jr Interview
by  Joe  D’Alessandro
May 25, 2005
Larry Carpenter Interview
by  Casey  Childs
January 06, 2012
Visual History 184 Dick Carson
by  Dency  Nelson
November 23, 2015
DGA Visual History Gilbert Cates Sr
by  Gil  Cates, Jr.
May 21, 2002
Cavalier Interview
by  Cleve  Landsberg
March 01, 2013
Visual History 187 Henry Chan
by  Sandy  Tung
December 15, 2015
Tony Charmoli Interview
by  Kenny  Ortega
September 14, 2010
Chomsky Interview
by  Robert  Markowitz
August 17, 2006
Visual History Hal Cooper
by  Michael  Zinberg
July 21, 2003
VH190 Cooper-Avrick
by  Julie  Gelfand
March 10, 2016
Visual History Rich Correll Hero
by  Sean  Mulcahy
October 02, 2019
Joe Dante Hero
by  Eli  Roth
February 11, 2019
Dassin Interview
by  Bruce  Goldstein
October 15, 2001
Davis Interview
by  Jeremy  Kagan
March 27, 2009
VH 228 Marian Deaton Ch. 1.1
by  Jody Margolin  Hahn
November 18, 2019
Vince DeDario
by  Dennis  Mazzocco
July 14, 2014
VH212 Bill DElia Hero
by  Michael  Zinberg
July 10, 2018
DeToth Interview
by  Jeremy  Kagan
May 11, 2000
VH231 Ernest Dickerson Hero
by  Seith  Mann
May 14, 2021
Donen
by  Raymond  De Felitta
May 23, 2006
Visual History Richard Donner Hero
by  Brian  Helgeland
December 06, 2018
Donovan Interview
by  Joshua  White
July 10, 2001
Jim Drake Interview
by  Howard  Storm
October 27, 2009
Bill Duke
by  Carl  Weathers
July 30, 2002
John Erman Interview
by  Bob  Balaban
March 01, 2007