On May 26, ahead of their online meeting, the FOWC hosted the discussion, Zoom and Beyond: The New Reality of Multi-Camera Production. In a conversation moderated by Director/DGA Sixth VP Lily Olszewski, Directors Randi Clarke Lennon and Sandra Restrepo, Associate Directors Michelle Robinson and Jodie Alexandra Taylor and Stage Managers Phyllis Digilio and April Smith spoke about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their workflow, including directing aspects of non-dramatic programs remotely, the role of the Associate Director and the Stage Manager, and managing remote elements of awards shows. They also discussed what changes they expect to see incorporated into their programs even after the pandemic.
See video from this event in the gallery below.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
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 Director Lily Olszewski (moderator)
Olszewski is an Emmy-award winning Director of ABC’s Good Morning America, where she has been for more than 10 years. She broke into the industry as an Associate Director at Spanish language TV station KVEA, where she received her first directing opportunity. After working as a Technical Director/Director at the Univision network in Miami she moved to Telemundo as a full time Director. Her other credits include Late Night with Seth Meyers, Watch What Happens Live, Anderson, Today, Donahue, The Jenny McCarthy Show, Latin Billboard Awards Red Carpet, Premios Fox, Time and Again with Jane Pauley, Quite Frankly with Steven A. Smith, MTV’s The Seven and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. A DGA member since 2015, she currently serves as the Sixth Vice President of the DGA, is a member of the Eastern Directors Council and serves as the Director Category Representative for the Focus on Women Committee.
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 Director Randi Clarke Lennon
Lennon is the Director of CBS This Morning, a show she launched in 2012 and earned her a Daytime Emmy in 2016 for “Outstanding Directing in a Talk Show, Entertainment News or Morning Show.” Lennon also directs breaking news special reports as well as special events such as the Inauguration for CBS News. Lennon started her career in 2001 and has worked at almost every network as a Production Associate or Associate Director and served as a Director on The Early Show on CBS. Lennon has been a DGA member since 2005.
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 Director Sandra Restrepo
Restrepo began her career as a page on Saturday Night Live and joined the Guild in 1994 as an Associate Director on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Since she segued into directing, she has amassed credits including, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where she was the lone female director of late night variety television; episodes of 2 Dope Queens, Hood Adjacent with James Davis, Pod Save America and Brand X with Russell Brand; and live events including Grammys Red Carpet Live, Soul Train Awards and The 76th Peabody Awards.
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 Associate Director Michelle Robinson
Robinson’s Associate Directing credits include episodes of The Queen Latifah Show, The Voice, Drop the Mic and Ridiculousness; awards shows including Grammy Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Teen Choice Awards, MTV Movie & TV Awards and NAACP Image Awards; and specials such as A Very Pentatonix Christmas and Dear Mama: An Event to Honor Moms. A DGA member since 2006, Robinson also serves as a member of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council.
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 Associate Director Jodie Alexandra Taylor
Taylor’s Associate Directing credits include episodes of Desus & Mero, The Break with Michelle Wolf, Third Rail with Ozy and The President Show where she has also directed multiple episodes. A DGA member since 2015, Taylor has served as an alternate on the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council.
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 Stage Manager Phyllis Digilio
Digilio’s Stage Managing credits include episodes of The Meredith Viera Show andThe View; game shows such as Who Want to Be a Millionaire?; and specials such as Live from Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center Honors and National Memorial Day Concert. She also worked as a Stage Manager on Director Louis J. Horvitz's DGA Award-winning special, The 60th Annual Grammy Awards and Director Glenn Weiss’s DGA Award-winning 64th, 66th, 67th, 68th and 70th Annual Grammy Awards programs. A DGA member since 1998, Digilio also serves as a member of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council.
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 Stage Manager April Smith
Smith’s Stage Managing credits include episodes of The Amber Ruffin Show, Desus & Mero and The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore; specials such as Kennedy Center Honors, Black Girls Rock! and Fox’s New Year’s Eve with Steve Harvey: Live from Times Square; and game shows such as The $100,000 Pyramid. She also worked as a Stage Manager on Director Paul Pennolino’s DGA Award-nominated special, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and Director Chuck O’Neil’s DGA Award-nominated episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. A DGA member since 2015, Smith also serves as a member of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council and as the AD/SM/PA Category Representative for the Focus on Women Committee.
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About the Committee:
Originally a sub-committee of the Eastern Directors Council, in 2020 the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC) was designated an official and permanent committee of the DGA National Board for women members residing in the Eastern Region. The Committee would like to remind members that while their events are designed with a special focus on women directors, all DGA members are welcome to attend.