On May 28, the Focus on Women Committee (FOWC) meeting featured the discussion, Music and Movement: The Inner Workings of Live Performances and Awards Shows.
During the discussion moderated by FOWC Co-Chair Alanna G. A. Campbell, Director Sandra Restrepo and Associate Director Robin Abrams discussed what goes into capturing musical performances for live television and described the different DGA roles and what goes into the preparation for breaking down a musical number for shooting.
Breaking down specific numbers they’ve worked on, Restrepo explained how she got the reaction shots during Kristen Bell’s “Do You Want to Be an Actor?” number at the SAG Awards.
“The Actors had no idea in advance that they were going to be featured. The reactions turned out very good. You really rely on your whole DGA team. I’m really involved in knowing where everyone is seated to make sure I can get the shots I need. Associate Director Susan Kopensky and I go through and camera script and figure out the choreography of who gets what. Then, the Stage Managers were telling us when the Actors were back in their seats.”
Abrams recalled being called in to help with the Beyonce Bowl.
“There was what I call the ‘Music’ Associate Director who is the main AD, and I came in to work with the network. The AD and Director wanted to focus on hitting the music and getting all that right. I handled the network part of it – the handoff from the network talent to our truck, and working out all those kinks, which thankfully went well. I had no lead time whatsoever. They called me a few days before the show. I had no idea I would be working on it.”
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
 Director Sandra Restrepo Some of Restrepo’s recent directorial credits include specials such as The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall, New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash, Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song; and episodes of Have I Got News for You. She was nominated for a 2019 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Talk Show, Entertainment News or Morning Program for A Little Help with Carol Burnett. Restrepo has been a DGA member since 1994. |
 Associate Director Robin Abrams Some of Abrams’ recent AD credits include the FireAid Benefit Concert, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025, Beyoncé Bowl, The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, The 77th Annual Tony Awards and The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden - The Greatest Arena Run of All Time. She has also been part of seven DGA Award-winning teams including Glenn Weiss’ 61st, 64th, 66th, 67th, 68th and 70th Annual Tony Awards and the 2018 Academy Awards. Abrams has been a DGA member since 1998. |
 FOWC Co-Chair Alanna G. A. Campbell (moderator). Campbell is a feature producer and Associate Director for CBS Sports. A five-time Emmy Award-winner, she primarily works on the NFL and college basketball and has covered 20 Final Fours, eight Super Bowls, five US Open Tennis Championships, and three Olympic Games. Campbell produced One Shining Moment at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in 2019 and 2021, and started directing live games, including college football, college basketball and the Big3, in 2022. A proud second-generation member since 2008, in addition to her co-chair post on the Focus on Women Committee, Campbell serves as an Alternate to the DGA National Board, has served as Second Vice Chair of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council and is a member of the Eastern Region Special Projects Committee. |
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.
- For more about the FOWC and to see coverage of other events, click here to visit the Committee's webpage.
