photos by Elisa Haber
Following a welcome by DGA Associate Western Executive Director Daniel Tenkman and clips from the nominated projects, DGA Secretary-Treasurer Paris Barclay moderated the panels that consisted of Dramatic Series nominees Liza Johnson (The Diplomat, “Amagansett”), Amanda Marsalis (The Pitt, “6:00 P.M.”) and Janus Metz (Andor, “Who Are You?”); Comedy Series nominees Lucia Aniello (Hacks, “A Slippery Slope”) and Janicza Bravo (The Bear, “Worms”); and Limited & Anthology Series nominees Antonio Campos (The Beast in Me, “Sick Puppy”), Lesli Linka Glatter (Zero Day, “Episode 6”) and Ally Pankiw (Black Mirror, “Common People”) who discussed how they brought their projects to life.
During the discussion, the nominees covered topics including how each became involved in their projects, worked collaboratively with their directorial teams and crew, and overcame challenges on set. They offered insights into their rehearsal processes, filming on location, and the rewards of shooting episodic television.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
| Dramatic Series nominees: |
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The Diplomat, “Amagansett” Unit Production Manager: John P. Fedynich First Assistant Director: Adam Escott Second Assistant Director: Tom Glick Second Second Assistant Director: Rachel Sikora Location Manager: Rob Coleman
Johnson’s other directorial credits include the independent features Return, Hateship Loveship and Elvis and Nixon; the pilots for The Residence and Good Girls Revolt; and episodes of The Last of Us, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Dead to Me, What We Do in the Shadows, Barry, Silicon Valley, Feud, Paradise and The Franchise. Johnson joined the DGA in 2015. |
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The Pitt, “6:00 P.M.” Unit Production Manager: Michelle Lankwarden First Assistant Director: Eric Tignini Second Assistant Director: Kevin Zelman Second Second Assistant Director: Nicole Jones, Rebecca Rogers, Chloe Huckins Additional Second Assistant Director: Michelle Akeley
Marsalis’ other directorial credits include the feature Echo Park; the pilot of Naomi; and episodes of Cape Fear, Ransom Canyon, Ozark, Westworld, The Umbrella Academy and Invasion. Marsalis joined the DGA in 2017. |
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Andor, “Who Are You?” Unit Production Manager: Karl Caffrey First Assistant Director: Sean Guest
Metz’ other directorial credits include the features Armadillo, Borg/McEnroe and All the Old Knives; and episodes of True Detective and ZeroZeroZero. Metz joined the DGA in 2015. |
| Comedy Series nominees: |
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Hacks, “A Slippery Slope” Unit Production Manager: Mark Rabinowitz First Assistant Director: Jeff Rosenberg Second Assistant Director: Kirisa Gavrin Second Second Assistant Director: Alaina Neumann Rafdal Additional Second Assistant Director: Amy Ergle
Aniello’s directorial credits include the feature Rough Night; episodes of the mini-series Time Traveling Bong; and episodes of Other Space, Funny or Die Presents..., The Last Man on Earth, Broad City, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens and The Baby-Sitters Club. She won the 2021 DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series for her episode of Hacks, “There Is No Line” and repeated that win for her 2024 episode of Hacks, “Bulletproof.” Aniello has been a DGA member since 2012. |
 Janicza Bravo
The Bear, “Worms” Unit Production Managers: Carrie Holt de Lama, Tyson Bidner First Assistant Director: Larissa Malarek Second Assistant Director: Olivia Dame Second Second Assistant Director: Sofía Blanco Additional Second Second Assistant Director: Lauren Mrozek Location Manager: Maria C. Roxas, Gilbert B. Morales Assistant Location Manager: Oscar Roxas
Bravo’s directorial credits include the feature Zola; the pilot for Kindred; and episodes of The Listeners, Atlanta, Divorce, Here And Now, In Treatment, Love, Dear White People, Them, Forever, Poker Face and Mrs. America. Bravo joined the DGA in 2017. |
| Limited & Anthology Series nominees: |
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The Beast in Me, “Sick Puppy” Unit Production Manager: Caroline Baron First Assistant Director: Tomas Deckaj Second Assistant Director: Scott Bowers Second Second Assistant Director: Matt Merksamer, Sean Fogel Location Manager: Grace Kwon
Campos’ directorial credits include the features The Devil All the Time, Christine, Simon Killer and Afterschool; the pilot for The Sinner; and episodes of The Staircase, Homemade and The Punisher. Campos joined the DGA in 2017. |
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Zero Day, “Episode 6” Unit Production Manager: Amy Herman First Assistant Director: Michael Lerman Second Assistant Director: Scott Bowers Second Second Assistant Director: Kaitlin Heins Additional Second Assistant Director: Davis Woodall Assistant Unit Production Manager: Mike Buonanno Location Manager: Ronnie Kupferwasser
Glatter’s directorial credits include the features Now and Then, The Proposition and State of Emergency; and episodes of Imperfect Women, Love and Death, The Morning Show, The West Wing, ER and Freaks and Geeks. This is Glatter’s ninth DGA Award nomination. She previously won in the Dramatic Series category in 2020 for Homeland, “Prisoners of War,” in 2015 for Homeland, “From A to B and Back Again, and in 2009 for Mad Men, “Guy Walks into an Advertising Agency.” Glatter was also nominated in 2018, 2016, 2013 and 2012 for Homeland episodes, “Paean to the People,” “The Tradition of Hospitality,” “The Star,” and “Q & A,” as well as in 1990 for Twin Peaks, “Episode 32006.” She has been a DGA member since 1985 and served as the President of the Guild from 2021 to 2025. |
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Black Mirror, “Common People” (Netflix) Unit Production Manager: Shawn Williamson
Pankiw’s directorial credits include the features I Used To Be Funny and Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery; and episodes of Feel Good, The Great, Shrill, Black Mirror and Ponies. Pankiw joined the DGA in 2019. |
| Moderator |
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Barclay has directed nearly 200 episodes of television and served as a Director/Producer for series including: Doctor Odyssey, Station 19, Pitch, Sons of Anarchy, In Treatment, Cold Case, City of Angels and NYPD Blue. He earned the DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of a Drama Series for NYPD Blue, received nine additional Emmy nominations for both producing and directing, and garnered ten other DGA Award nominations for shows as diverse as Glee, In Treatment, The West Wing, House, and most recently Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. With that last nomination, he became one of only a handful of directors in Emmy history to receive nominations in every narrative category — drama, comedy and limited series. A DGA member since 1992, Barclay was the first African-American and openly gay President in the Guild’s history. He currently serves as the Guild’s Secretary/Treasurer. |
