On July 30, the Asian American Committee’s (AAC) online meeting featured the panel discussion, A Director-First AD Relationship, with Assistant Director Aldric La’auli Porter in a conversation moderated by Director Karen Gaviola.
Following an introduction by DGA Second Vice-President Ron Howard — who also employed Porter as his AD on numerous films including his DGA Award-winning features A Beautiful Mind (2001) and Apollo 13 (1995) — Porter and Gaviola discussed the craft of an Assistant Director and succeeding under challenging circumstances. During the conversation they also covered topics such as developing skills that create smooth flowing sets, working with strong personalities, coming onto sets when things already in motion and on how Porter came into the industry.
Following the moderated portion of the event, Porter and Gaviola took questions from the online audience.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
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 Aldric La’auli Porter
A graduate of the Assistant Director Training Program, Porter has been a member of the Guild since 1984. In addition to his work on Howard’s A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13, his AD credits also include Scott Frank’s 2017 DGA Award-nominated mini-series, Godless, and other notable features as Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Secret Life of Bees, James Cameron’s True Lies, Gary Ross’ The Hunger Games, Alan Parker’s Mississippi Burning and Ridley Scott’s Black Rain.
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 Karen Gaviola
Gaviola, who began her career as an Assistant Director, has over a hundred hours of episodic television directing credits that include episodes of Lucifer, Supergirl, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Blindspot, NCIS: Los Angeles and Criminal Minds. A DGA member since 1985, she serves on the DGA National Board and is an active member of the Women’s Steering Committee, Asian American Committee and the TV Creative Rights Committee
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About the Asian American Committee:
The Asian American Committee (AAC) was created as a networking group to provide a forum for interests and issues that concern Asian-American Guild members. Through outreach efforts in the entertainment industry that emphasize career development and skills enhancement, the committee provides a variety of networking opportunities as well as screenings, seminars and discussions with industry professionals. The current AAC Co-Chairs are Directors Cellin Gluck, Michael Goi and Lily Mariye.