On September 12, the DGA Special Projects Committee presented the eleventh installment in its Directing for Professionals series, which provides practical skills and techniques for Directors to work productively with their creative teams. Members gathered in the Los Angeles Headquarters Boardroom for Shall We Dance? Live and On Film, a segment that explored the collaboration of directors and choreographers to use movement and dance as a storytelling device.
After a welcome from DGA Special Projects Committee Directing for Professionals Subcommittee Chair Arthur Allan Seidelman, the attendees learned more about these subjects from a panel of experts consisting of Directors Anne Fletcher, Kenny Ortega, Sandra Restrepo-Considine and Adam Shankman, and choreographer Kay Cole. In a conversation moderated by Seidelman and illustrated by video clips, the panelists explored a variety of topics including: how to communicate the dance space on screen, the special challenges of capturing live musical performances, and the differences (if any) between shooting dance and stunts. The final hour of the seminar included an open forum where the attendees could ask the panelists questions on these matters and more.
A DGA member since 2005, Fletcher began dancing professionally as a teenager and appeared on shows such as The Tracy Ullman Show and in features including The Mask and The Flintstones before becoming an assistant choreographer to Shankman. She transitioned to directing in 2006 with the feature film Step Up and subsequently helmed the features 27 Dresses, The Guilt Trip, The Proposal and Hot Pursuit. She also continues to choreograph films such as Get Him to the Greek, Real Steel and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
Ortega is a director, choreographer and producer known for the DGA and Emmy® Award-winning movie for television High School Musical. Ortega has also received an Emmy® Award for his direction of the XIX Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (shared with Directors Ron de Moraes and Bucky Gunts); and earned a second DGA Award nomination for High School Musical 2. His directing filmography also includes episodes of Gilmore Girls, the movie for television Descendants, and the Michael Jackson concert documentary This Is It. Ortega has been a DGA member since 1985.
Shankman began his directing career in 2001 with the feature film The Wedding Planner. His subsequent works include the features A Walk to Remember, Bedtime Stories, Rock of Ages, and the Golden Globe®-nominated Hairspray which he also produced and choreographed; as well as episodes of Glee and Modern Family. Shankman has been a DGA member since 2000.
With her current assignment on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Restrepo-Considine is presently the lone female director of late night variety television. She began her career as a page on Saturday Night Live and joined the Guild as an Associate Director on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1994. Her Associate Director resume includes awards show such as the Academy Awards, Grammys and Video Music Awards; and as a director her credits include Brand X with Russell Brand and The Comedians.
Cole has many notable Broadway and theatrical choreographer credits including Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, which toured throughout the country and was adapted into a feature film directed by Seidelman. Her resume also includes prominent stage productions such as A Chorus Line, Cabaret, Great Expectations and South Pacific; and film and television projects such as The Awakening of Spring, Guidepost Junction, and Santa Clause 3.
Seidelman has directed over 50 films including the features Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, The Awakening of Spring, Walking across Egypt, and most recently, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks. His filmography also includes the movies for television By Dawn's Early Light, The Summer of Ben Tyler, Miracle in the Woods, A Friendship in Vienna and Poker Alice; and 23 episodic television series including Hill Street Blues; Magnum P.I.; Murder, She Wrote; L.A. Law and Trapper John, M.D. He has been honored with two Emmy® Awards, five Emmy® nominations, the Humanitas Award, and a Peabody Award. Seidelman has taught and guest lectured at UCLA, USC, NYU, Columbia and many other programs. A member of the DGA's Special Projects Committee, he joined the Guild in 1978.
The Directing for Professionals series is designed to keep members up-to-date on developments in the industry and deepen their understanding of their craft. Workshops and seminars on various film and television related topics are offered throughout the year.