On July 26, DGA members were able to hear about the making of the highly rated cable series during a virtual panel discussion presented by the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee. Mean Streets: An Evening with Directors from Starz's Power and its Spin-Offs featured Directors Rob Hardy, Anthony Hemingway and Larysa Kondracki giving their insights on bringing this crime drama to the screen in a conversation moderated by Director/Eastern Region Special Projects Committee member Seith Mann.
Power tells the story of James "Ghost" St. Patrick, a wealthy New York night club owner who has it all, catering to the city's elite and dreaming big. But Ghost also lives a double life as a drug kingpin. One of Starz's most highly rated shows, the storyline inspired the spin-offs, Power Book II: Ghost and the upcoming Power Book III: Raising Kanan, with plans for a fourth edition, Power Book IV: Force.
Following a welcome from Eastern Region Special Projects Committee Chair Raymond DeFelitta, Hardy, Hemingway, Kondracki and Mann engaged in a rousing conversation about their work on the show and its offshoots, illustrated by clips from each of the three shows.
During the conversation, the panelists revealed behind-the-scenes information that looked at the shows from a directorial standpoint. Kondracki recalled how series creator Courtney Kemp’s confidence in her ultimate vision of the show freed Directors to truly collaborate and bring their own ideas to the table. Hardy revealed that the look of the third series, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, was developed by creating mood boards that reflect the ‘90s New York City setting of the show. Hemingway disclosed a key directorial difference between first series, Power, and the second series, Power Book II: Ghost, was that Power had a more controlled and defined nature whereas Ghost, which follows a younger protagonist in an academic setting, has a younger, fresher, and looser feel.
The Directors also discussed the upcoming series, Power Book IV: Force and fielded questions submitted by the online audience.
See video from this event in the gallery below.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 Rob Hardy
In addition to his work on Power and its spin-offs, Power Book II: Ghost and Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Hardy’s directorial credits also include the features Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, The Gospel, Pandora's Box, Trois and Chocolate City; the pilots for the series All American and The Quad; and episodes of the series How to Get Away with Murder, The Flash, The Vampire Diaries, Arrow, Criminal Minds, Bones, The Game, Single Ladies and Heroes: The Recruit. Hardy has been a DGA member since 2007. |
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 Anthony Hemingway
Since making the jump from Assistant Directing to Director, Hemingway’s directorial credits also include the features Red Tails and Sir Lady Java; the movies for television Murder, New York Undercover and The Infamous; and episodes of National Parks, Genius: Aretha, Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., Major Crimes, Shameless, The Newsroom, Treme, True Blood, CSI: NY, The Closer, ER and The Wire. He was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special category for his 2016 American Crime Story episode, “American Crime Story: Manna from Heaven.” Hemingway has been a DGA member since 1995 and currently serves as an alternate on the National Board. He is also a member of the DGA Diversity Task Force and has served as an alternate on the Eastern AD/UPM Council and the Television Creative Rights Committee. |
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 Larysa Kondracki
In addition to her work on Power, Kondracki’s directorial credits also include the feature film The Whistleblower; the pilot for the series The Fix; episodes of the mini-series Picnic at Hanging Rock; and episodes of Legion, Gotham, Better Call Saul, Heroes Reborn, Rogue, Halt and Catch Fire, The Americans, The Walking Dead, Reign, Covert Affairs, Graceland and Copper. Kondracki has been a DGA member since 2012. |
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 Seith Mann (moderator)
A DGA member since 2005, Mann’s directorial credits include episodes of Blindspotting, Homeland, Raising Di-on, Elementary, White Famous, Ballers, The Walking Dead, Nurse Jackie, Californication, Lie to Me, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, Entourage and The Wire. He garnered a DGA Award nomination in the Comedy Series for his 2007 Grey’s Anatomy episode “Name of the Game” and is in pre-production on the pilot of the upcoming series Let the Right One In. In addition to serving as a member of the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee, Mann is currently a member of the Eastern Directors Council and has served as an alternate to the DGA National Board, an alternate to the Western Directors Council and as a member of the Television Creative Rights Committee. |
About The Special Projects Committee
Special Projects is the educational and cultural arm of the Directors Guild of America, providing its members opportunities for creative exchange to advance their craft and celebrate the achievements of directors and their teams.