Blackmagic Collective (BMC), a Los Angeles-based non-profit filmmaker community, has announced the eight women selected for their 2023 “Future Women of TV” initiative. The career accelerator program aims to help female-identifying directors break into the world of scripted television.
All eight women selected have extensive resumes, including Oscar-qualifying short films, music videos, commercials, and even unscripted television. Many are also developing their own TV pilots, suggesting these directors are ready for primetime. “Participants were selected from an expansive pool of nominees based on their impressive body of work and numerous recommendations from respected industry professionals,” says Jenn Page, Executive Director of Blackmagic Collective.
According to Page, the accelerator “engages top-level TV executives as ‘Champions’ who advocate for and help participants navigate the path to their first scripted TV directing credit.”
Page was quick to distinguish this accelerator from other similar programs. “The women we’ve selected don’t need another mentorship program,” she insists. “They are skilled, working professionals who just haven’t been given the opportunity to move into the scripted TV space. They need someone to open the door and allow them an opportunity to put their skills into action. We’re hoping to facilitate that.”
Major brands are already championing the participants, including beloved camera company Blackmagic Design, who has committed to in-kind support spanning equipment, software, and beyond.
Read further for photos and bios of each selected director. For more information, visit the Future Women of TV page on Blackmagic Collective’s website.
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Amy DePaola – Writer/Director/Producer, Comedy/Satire/Drama. Background in acting. Co-EP and former Line Producer with over 50 episodes of television produced with Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Participant Media, The CW and This Machine Filmworks. Finalist, Stowe Story Narrative Lab and TV Writers Lab. Narrative, documentary and commercial director including five narrative shorts and three digital series screened at Austin Cleveland, Provincetown, and Brooklyn Film Festival; Winner Best Director: IndieWorks and Philadelphia Film Festival. Developing two pilots, a feature length film and securing first book option. Repped by Buchwald Talent.
Dilek Ince – Writer/ Director – Drama/Thriller/Action/Political Drama/Dark Comedy. Born and raised in Turkey, she immigrated to the USA and won the DGA Award for her short film “Amal.” Her work has been recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and selected by Academy-qualifying film festivals, including the Atlanta, Nashville, and LAFF. She is a member of BAFTA’s Newcomer Program and a Hollywood Foreign Press Scholar, mentored by Sundance-winning director Rasit Celikezer and actor/director Robert Townsend. She is developing an original TV pilot and her feature debut.
Jenn Shaw – Writer/Director, Dramedy/Coming-of-Age/Sports. DGA eligible. Award-winning director for over 50 commercials, documentary and branded content spots. Directed eight narrative shots premiering at Hollyshorts, Pan African, Cannes Short Film Corner and Tribeca Film festivals. Past Executive producers include Spike Lee and Queen Latifah. Attached to direct the basketball feature The Pill with production company tinygiant. Managed by Anonymous Content.
Maria Gabriela Cardenas – Director/Producer/Writer. Her directorial debut “A Dark Foe”, a psychological thriller starring Academy Award nominee Graham Greene, Bill Bellamy, and Selma Blair, garnered twenty awards (including Best Director and Best Feature Film at The Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA) and sixteen nominations. The film had a limited theatrical release in summer of 2021.
Mel Orpen – Writer/Director, Drama/Comedy/Genre. LGBTQ rights activist turned filmmaker. Wrote & directed 2 single camera shorts screened in Cannes—”Retribution” and “Don’t Let Go.” 50+ Awards. Directed multi-cam sitcom pilot “Baking Bad,” a season of live multi-cam sketch TV, USC COMEDY LIVE! (think SNL). Dub Directed “Hot Skull” ranked 8th on Netflix Global Top 10. Most recently directed staged reading of comedy/genre pilot, “Heroes of the Empire,” Pilotpalooza writing competition winner—starring Emmy Award Nominee, Midori Francis (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Dash & Lily”). Developing two pilots and first feature to direct.
Roe Moore – Director/Producer, Sitcom/Comedy/Live Broadcast (Variety, Talk, Game shows). Filmmaker by day, cookie lover by night. Directed award-winning play “Recess” (dramedy, Brisk Fest). Former associate director and script supervisor whose work includes HBOMax’s “Fresh Prince of Bel Air Reunion” show, VH1’s “RuPaul Drag Race,” Disney+ talk show “Earth To Ned,” and CW’s magic-based variety show “Masters of Illusion.”
Thomai Hatsios – Director, Drama/Crime/Action/Sci-Fi. First-generation Greek-American. Multi-media conceptual and theater artist turned producer and director of commercials, music videos, and true crime series. Directed over 40 episodes of true crime television, including the first season of ABC’s “Who Do You Believe.” Thomai is currently developing two pilots and a feature-length film she will direct.
Wei Ling Chang – Writer/Director, Drama/Thriller/Mystery/Horror/Sci-fi. Written & directed feature film “The Unlikely Girl,” distributed by Netflix. Sundance Episodic TV Lab fellow and Ryan Murphy Half Initiative Directing fellow. Shadowed on Netflix‘s “Hollywood” and Showtime‘s “The Affair.” Written & directed over 40 TV episodes including A&E’s “The First 48,” Discovery’s “The Detonators,” and MTV’s “Made.” Award-winning short “Aunt Tigress” screened at international festivals — Cannes, Sitges, Comic Con, Puchon, Beijing.
Larry Fried is a filmmaker, writer, and podcaster based in New Jersey. He is the host and creator of the podcast “My Favorite Movie is…,” a podcast dedicated to helping filmmakers make somebody’s next favorite movie. He is also the Visual Content Manager for Special Olympics New Jersey, an organization dedicated to competition and training opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities across the Garden State.
