UPM Dwight Williams speaks about his 50-year career in television and feature film as a First Assistant Director and Unit Production Manager, including his work on Malcolm D. Lee’s Girls Trip, The Hughes Brothers’ Dead Presidents; working with the late Director John Singleton on Baby Boy and other features; and his extensive Guild involvement.
Director Félix Alcalá (ER, The Good Wife, Madam Secretary) discusses his directorial career in episodic television, movies for television, and feature film; his background as a cinematographer; and shares some of the lessons he’s learned while behind the camera.
Director Martha Mitchell (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Madam Secretary, Without a Trace) recounts her 25-plus year directorial career, highlighting her work in episodic television and her service to the Guild on the Eastern Directors Council and the National Board.
Director Stan Lathan discusses his 40-plus year career directing episodic and variety television (Sanford and Son, The Steve Harvey Show, Real Husbands of Hollywood, Def Comedy Jam); starting out at WGBH-TV; and his collaboration with iconic comedians Redd Foxx and Moms Mabley.
Reiner describes how he came to be involved in show business, his early days in television, and the motivation behind his decision to start directing relatively late in his already successful career as an actor, writer, and producer.
Veteran sitcom and pilot director and producer James Burrows (Cheers, Frasier, Taxi) discusses his vast, critically acclaimed and award-winning career directing some of the most iconic series from the 1970s to the present day.
Director Robert Altman describes his working philosophy, often comparing filmmaking to painting, and discusses the sources of his storytelling and directing techniques he used on films like M*A*S*H, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and The Player.
Mira Nair discusses her 35-plus-year directorial career, highlighting her documentaries (Jama Masjid Street Journal, India Cabaret), independent features (Salaam Bombay!, Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding), and studio features (Vanity Fair, Amelia, Queen of Katwe).
Director Richard Donner discusses his 40-plus year directorial career in feature film and episodic television, highlighting his work on The Twilight Zone (“Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”), The Omen, Superman and the Lethal Weapon series.
Director Rob Reiner shares an array of anecdotes from his 40-plus year directorial career in feature film and discusses scenes from his filmography including The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally..., and A Few Good Men.
Director Michael Pressman discusses his 40-plus year directorial career in feature film (Boulevard Nights, Some Kind of Hero), movies for television (Private Sessions, A Season for Miracles) and episodic television, where he has directed and produced hundreds of episodes (Blue Bloods, Picket Fences, Law & Order: SVU, Chicago Med).
Veteran feature and documentary film director and past-president of the DGA Michael Apted discusses his 45-plus year directorial career, highlighting his work on the Seven Up! documentary series, Coal Miners Daughter (1980), and Nell (1994) and reflecting on his presidency and Guild leadership over the years.
Bill Duke discusses his directorial career and working with Ossie Davis, Laurence Fishburne and Forest Whitaker in films such as Deep Cover, A Rage in Harlem, Hoodlum, and Deacons for Defense. He also discusses changes in the film industry and the DGA’s role in fostering diversity in Hollywood.
Michael Schultz recalls his career through four decades of directing, beginning in the theater, successes with Cooley High and Car Wash, and his prolific work in episodic television.