On May 29, more than 200 DGA members learned more about what Directors look for in a successful collaboration with Cinematographers/DPs and how they can best support each other during the Director Development Initiative’s (DDI) online workshop, Exploring Director Collaborations: Working with Cinematographers & DPs.
In a conversation moderated by Director Talia Osteen, Directors Michael Goi, Patrick Cady and Rachel Morrison — each of whom have worked both sides of the equation — highlighted how their experiences as Cinematographer/DPs informed their experiences as Directors working across different shows, and offered their perspectives for how to approach partnering with Cinematographers/DPs, as well as advice for how to navigate this relationship while working across episodic television and film.
During the discussion, the panelists shared visuals and clips to reveal their individual approaches to directing scenes and explained how good communication and active listening skills are critical. They also discussed how, as Directors, they want to be able to lean into their collaborators’ expertise and appreciate working with Cinematographers/DPs who can balance both hearing and valuing a Director’s creative vision while also bringing their own ideas to the table.
Goi noted that he values working with Cinematographers/DPs “who think outside the box but are not so locked into a point of view that they can’t see anything else.”
Similarly, Cady shared how he strives to create an environment on set where everyone, including the Cinematographer/DP, feels empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.
The panelists emphasized how Directors and Cinematographers/DPs must work together to help model how to foster a respectful, collaborative, and positive working environment on set, with Morrison remarking that, for the Cinematographers/DPs who she works with, it is critical that “respect is something that they care about, too, and that we’re treating everybody with kindness.”
DGA Members can watch the full video from
Director Development Initiative events by clicking here.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 Patrick CadyCady’s directorial credits include the documentary Triviatown; and episodes of Bosch, Bosch: Legacy, The Rookie: Feds, Interrogation and Rectify. As a DP with over 40 credits, he was nominated for a 2018 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) for Prentice Penny’s episode of Insecure, “Hella LA.” Cady has been a DGA member since 2016. |
 Michael GoiGoi’s directorial credits include the feature films Megan Is Missing and Voyeur; and episodes of Big Sky, Sexy Urban Legends, Pretty Little Liars and American Horror Story. He was nominated for the 2024 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs for his pilot episode “Aang” for the series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is also known as an acclaimed cinematographer with over 70 narrative credits and earned Emmy nominations for his cinematography work on Glee, American Horror Story and My Name Is Earl. Goi currently serves as a Co-Chair of the Asian American Committee, the DGA Special Projects Committee and the DGA Television Diversity Task Force and served as an alternate to both the DGA National Board and Western Directors Council. He has been a DGA member since 2015 |
 Rachel MorrisonMorrison’s directorial credits include the feature The Fire Inside; the pilot of the series Hightown; and episodes of The Morning Show, Impeachment: American Crime Story and The Mandalorian. As a cinematographer, she became the first woman ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for her work on Dee Rees’ feature Mudbound, and the first woman to lens a Marvel superhero movie, Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. Morrison has been a DGA member since 2014 and serves as a member of the LGBTQ+ Committee. |
 Talia Osteen (moderator)Osteen’s directorial credits include the movie for television Sex Appeal; the documentary Blindsided; episodes of Grown-ish; and the award-winning short film, The Shabbos Goy. Osteen became a DGA member in 2022. |
About the Director Development Initiative:
The Director Development Initiative is designed to provide current information on the Director’s craft in order to further the Guild’s goal to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry.
