The seventh annual Warner Bros. Television Group (WBTVG) Directors’ Workshop is boasting a 100 percent job-placement rate. According to a press release, all 10 Class of 2019 graduates have secured TV directing jobs. Nine of those helmers are women: Bola Ogun, America Young, Lauren Petzke, Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul, Michelle Stephen, Mo Perkins, Caity Lotz, Jes Macallan, and Nathalie Bolt.
Launched in 2013, the WBTVG Directors’ Workshop is an eight-week intensive taught by TV directing veterans Bethany Rooney and Mary Lou Belli. Designed to boost the careers of up-and-coming women and POC television helmers and spur better inclusion in TV, the course involves guest speakers from the industry; instruction in pre-production, filming, and post; and optional classes, based on each director’s skillset, in cinematography, acting, and shadowing. To date, the Directors’ Workshop has helped over 50 underrepresented directors kick off their careers.
Alumnae include Jude Weng, Pamela Romanowsky, Jennifer Phang, and Alexis Ostrander.
Ogun, Young, Petzke, Sanjarernsuithikul, Stephen, Perkins, and Lotz have all booked work for the 2019-20 season. Ogun has been hired to direct an episode of “Legacies” as well as installments of “Lucifer” and “God Friended Me.” Petzke and Young will each direct on “Legacies.” The latter will also helm an ep of “Blindspot.” Sanjarernsuithikul is directing an installment of “God Friended Me,” while Stephen will take the reins on an ep of “Riverdale.” Perkins is set to helm an episode of “Manifest,” and Lotz is directing for “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.”
Macallan and Bolt will both direct for the 2020-21 season, provided their shows have been renewed. The former will helm an episode of “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” and the latter a “Riverdale” installment.
Find out more about the WBTVG Directors’ Workshop Class of 2019 below, courtesy of Warner Bros.
Bola Ogun is set to direct an episode of Legacies, and she is also set to direct episodes of Lucifer and God Friended Me. She previously directed an episode of Queen Sugar. Her short Are We Good Parents? premiered at SXSW. She’s also an alum of the Ryan Murphy Half Initiative, the WeForShe DirectHer Program, and AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women. She was also selected for Robert Rodriguez’s Rebel Without a Crew program, writing, directing, and producing the feature On the Run for $7,000.
America Young will direct an episode of Blindspot, and she has also booked an episode of Legacies. A longtime stunt coordinator, America directed her first feature, The Concessionaires Must Die!, executive produced by Stan Lee.
Lauren Petzke will direct an episode of Legacies. A production executive and coordinating producer at Julie Plec’s My So-Called Company, Lauren has previously directed several short films.
Charissa Sanjarernsuithikul will direct an episode of God Friended Me. A longtime television editor on series such as The Following, Castle, Designated Survivor, and more, Charissa is also an alum of the Sony Diverse Directors Program.
Michelle Stephen has been tapped to direct an episode of Riverdale. Her short film Crystal premiered at SXSW. She is also an alum of the Sundance New Voices Lab.
Mo Perkins will direct an episode of Manifest. Her first feature, A Quiet Little Marriage, won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Dramatic Feature at Slamdance, and her second feature, The Last Time You Had Fun, premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Caity Lotz is set to direct an episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Lotz stars in the series as Sara Lance/White Canary. She originated the role on Arrow and has also appeared as the same character on Arrow-verse series The Flash and Supergirl.
Jes Macallan will direct an episode of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Jes currently stars as Ava Sharpe in the series and previously directed the short film Self, E.
Nathalie Boltt will direct an episode of Riverdale. She currently recurs as Penelope Blossom in the series. With support from the Melbourne Film Festival’s Accelerator Program and the New Zealand Film Commission, Nathalie will direct the upcoming feature film Holy Days, which she also wrote.
Ryan Zaragoza will direct an episode of All American. Ryan’s pilot Sterling premiered at SXSW. He is also an alum of both the HBOAccess® Directing Fellowship and the Ryan Murphy Half Initiative.
