On September 7, the DGA Women's Steering Committee hosted "A Conversation with Lee Shallat Chemel." With over 300 episodes of directing credits, Shallat Chemel was an ideal subject to achieve the evening's goal of "inspiring other women" as outlined by the moderator, WSC Co-Chair Casey De Stefano.
Shallat Chemel proved to the audience that possibilities still exist even in an industry still struggling with ageism and sexism.
"I'm 61 years old," she stated. "I say that because it's important for you to know that you can start late and still have a career. I didn't direct my first television show till I was almost 41. I have had four Emmy nominations but I have also been fired four times... I've had some really big high times and some low times and somehow survived them both. And I think they very nicely cancel each other out."
Lee attributed her career to the "active and persistent, tenacious and brave actions of the WSC in the early '80s. "They made a very real presentation and threat to producers to hire women."
Because of a paucity of shows today with so few slots available, she believes it's very hard for any director to break in right now, but especially for women.
"Sexism can manifest... in a deep, deep belief that the emotional makeup of a woman lacks the authority to handle a shipful of ornery, diva-like actors and actresses."
But once you do get a job, Lee has plenty of thoughts about how to stay on it.
"The most important thing is developing a relationship with the executive producer very early on. Get to know that show and the language of the executive producer. And don't be afraid to ask a billion questions about each scene you happen to be working on. You have to direct that person's vision of the scene. Not your vision of the scene. Your vision will come anyway because you're creative."
Other essential advice included setting up the furniture in the right way so the actors will move into the right positions. "Don't just accept what the art director has done ... Take an acting class and have somebody direct you in scenes to know what it feels like to have bad directions and good directions"
Lee, who had just finished her first feature, "a little coming of age film you can watch with your family," closed the evening by reminding her audience, "You can survive this ... I look back and go, 'Just do the work. Just come in and be prepared and be as good as you can be."
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