In a first time move – this year’s DGE Directing Program participants will not only receive access, mentorship, shadowing assignments and advanced professional development – they will also each receive a directing assignment on a Disney General Entertainment Content (DGE) scripted television series. The announcement was made by Tim McNeal, senior vice president, Creative Talent Development & Inclusion.
Launched in 2001 and run by DGE’s Creative Talent Development & Inclusion (CTDI) department, the DGE Directing Program has provided access, mentorship, shadowing assignments and advanced professional development to directors on the cusp of episodic television directing. This year, in partnership with participating Disney series, the program will commit episodes to directors on the following shows: black-ish (ABC/ABCS), The Good Doctor (ABC/ABCS), Good Trouble (Freeform), Raven’s Home (Disney Branded Television), The Resident (Fox/20th), The Rookie (ABC/ABCS) and Snowfall (FX).
“We are proud to evolve our directing program this season into a dedicated pipeline that will guarantee episodes to first-time TV directors, a critical stepping stone for professional advancement and opportunity,” said McNeal. “We are grateful for the support and partnership of our participating Disney productions, showrunners and producers, as well as our creative executives and senior leaders, who are all helping accelerate our participants’ careers and ensuring that diverse directing talent is fostered and championed at our company.”
The 2021 DGE Directing Program cohort includes actor-turned-director Iona Morris (assigned to black-ish); Emmy-winning documentary director (assigned to The Good Doctor); indie filmmaker, content creator and production coordinator Jade Holmes Christian (assigned to Snowfall); cinematographer/director Stephanie Martin (assigned to The Resident); branded content/commercial director and indie filmmaker Carla Dauden (assigned to Good Trouble); writer/actor/director Jade Jenise Dixon (assigned to Raven’s Home); and filmmaker Lanre Olabisi (assigned to The Rookie).
The 2021 DGE Directing Program will additionally provide its cohort with access to the company’s Directing Program alumni and creative executives/producers. All program directors will shadow on their assigned series prior to directing their episodes.
“I am thrilled to be involved with the DGE program as it moves in this new and very important direction,” said Thomas Schlamme, executive producer of “Snowfall,” and outgoing president of the Directors Guild of America. “The guarantee to direct an episode of television for these worthy and diverse candidates ensures they will truly be able to demonstrate their talent, which is just waiting to emerge. It is a benefit not only to them but to our industry as a whole.”
The Disney DGE Directing Program has enjoyed a long track record of success. Notable alumni include Regina King (Insecure), Pete Chatmon (black-ish), Jude Weng (grown-ish), Zetna Fuentes (Jane the Virgin), Jaffar Mahmood (Young Sheldon), Tessa Blake (A Million Little Things), and Nzingha Stewart (Little Fires Everywhere). The program also merged with the former Fox Directors Lab/Fox Global Directors Initiative after Disney’s acquisition of Fox, whose notable directing alumni include Maggie Kiley (Riverdale), Alexis Ostrander (Cruel Summer), Marcus Stokes (9-1-1), Marta Cunningham (“Modern Love”), Bert and Bertie (The Great), Sydney Freeland (Reservation Dogs) and Steph Green (Watchmen).
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