On February 21, DGA members gathered at Guild headquarters in Los Angeles for the launch of the 2026 edition of the Director Development Initiative (DDI) Television Mentorship Program. Committed to providing resources and opportunities for members seeking to enhance their skills and further their careers in the entertainment industry, the two pathways — the Craft Development Mentorship Program and the Professional Development Mentorship Program — are designed to offer professional development for DGA members interested in pursuing episodic television directing.
Through this nine-month process, DGA members who aspire to be episodic television Directors (protégés) are matched with experienced episodic television Directors (mentors). The interactive setting exposes protégés to the latest skillsets in preparation for a career in directing episodic television. The selection process for the 2026 program was highly competitive, running from August 2025 to January 2026. Over 140 DGA members applied, with over 180 experienced episodic Directors volunteering their time for the vetting process.
The 2026 Television Mentorship Program Mentors and Protégés are as follows:
Craft Development Mentorship Program
- Tayo Amos mentored by Shannon Flynn
- Ballard C. Boyd mentored by Kelly Park
- Alrick Brown mentored by Thomas Carter
- Whitney Clinkscales mentored by David R. Semel
- Rick Darge mentored by James Widdoes
- Nicole Dorsey mentored by Andrew R. Wolk
- Ashley Eakin mentored by Jude Weng
- Ime N. Etuk mentored by Lee Rose
- Kent Faulcon mentored by Michael Patrick Jann
- Isaac Feder mentored by Heath A. Cullens
- C. Fitz mentored by Kenneth L. Fink
- Tiffany Frances mentored by Steven K. Tsuchida
- Luke Gilford mentored by Tessa Blake
- Sarah Hamblin mentored by Randall B. Einhorn
- Amber Dawn Harley mentored by Diana C. Valentine
- Edmond Hawkins III mentored by Bethany Rooney
- Paul Lacovara mentored by Philip J. Sgriccia
- Gabriela Revilla Lugo mentored by Kimberly Anne McCullough
- Jillian Rae Martin mentored by Adam Weissman
- Jordan Martinez-Richard mentored by David S. Jackson
- Fredgy Noël mentored by Steve Zuckerman
- Ann Marie Pace mentored by Jody Margolin Hahn
- Ryan Patrick mentored by Rob Morrow
- Omar N. Samad mentored by Silas Howard
- Pat Santana mentored by Aprill Lynn Winney
- Sarah K. Smith mentored by Kristin Windell
- Letia Solomon mentored by Jaffar Mahmood
- Kelsey Taylor mentored by P.J. Pesce
- Ty Trullinger mentored by Andi Armaganian
- Candice Vernon mentored by Anu K. Valia
- Paula J. Walker mentored by Michael A. Allowitz
- Katrina Whalen mentored by Milena Govich
- Rayka D. Zehtabchi mentored by Michael R. Katleman
Professional Development Mentorship Program
- Nicole Treston Abranian mentored by Iain B. MacDonald
- Olenka Denysenko mentored by Gilbert Shilton
- Morenike Joela Evans mentored by Steve Gomer
- Marie Jamora mentored by Tucker Gates
- Oscar Rene Lozoya II mentored by Sharat Raju
- Jes Macallan mentored by Jon Francis Cassar
- Gregg Simon mentored by Jason Ensler
- Jackie van Beek mentored by Valerie Heather Weiss
- Emil Weinstein mentored by Sheldon W. Larry
- Carey Williams mentored by Sandy Smolan
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.
