Tamika Lamison, executive director of the Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP), has announced six Directing Fellows who have been awarded ARRI Rental camera grant packages, Jordan Brady’s Online Commercial Directing Master Class, and other resources to support their journey as commercial directors during the program’s 2024 cycle. The Fellows are: Anjali Nayar, April Moreau, Derek Smith, Jonathan Benavente, and the directing duo known as SCOUT, consisting of Lindsay Sunada and Jensen Vinca. The directors were welcomed at a recent orientation held at SMUGGLER with representatives from the DGA & AICP.
There were hundreds of entries to the program. Most of these directors began their careers in other media–documentaries, dramatic shorts, music videos, etc.
The six 2024 CDDP Directing Fellows will be mentored over several months and provided with experience and exposure to the inner workings of commercial and content production. The program begins with a series of workshops at SMUGGLER where the directors learn from industry professionals about the nuances of commercial production–from pitching treatments to working with clients on set, branding and the post process.
The directors have been paired with mentoring companies who will give them first-hand access and insight into the process, provide them with shadowing opportunities, pair them with a dedicated EP, give them targeted career guidance and advice, and offer them unlimited access to the day-to-day commercial world as well as various other means of support.
This sixth cycle of the programs mentoring production companies are: Invisible Collective, O Positive, SMUGGLER, Spears & Arrows, and Thinking Machine.
The program culminates in a targeted and curated industry screening for company owners, directors, agencies, and clients that will, hopefully, lead the Directing Fellows to being signed by AICP member companies and becoming DGA members.
“The CDDP is the only program in existence that affords this kind of expansive access, support and real-world change to women and other talented, historically underrepresented directors. We are committed to being the change that we want to see in the commercial world,” noted Lamison. “Being inclusive while championing and nurturing unique POVs- is a win-win for everyone. It is essential to support, expand and fund these types of programs, especially now, when many DEI initiatives are being targeted and dismantled.”
In addition, several finalists have been invited to participate in the program’s workshops in person. They are:. Arthur Smith, Bianca Jones, Camrus Johnson, Justin Melson, Katia Badalian, Jane Chow, RJ Dawson, Rose Surnow, Micah Williams Kelly, Nina Lee, Lagueria Davis, Loren Waters, Shiouwen Hong, Yoko Okumura, Stephanie Martin, Jennifer Roberts, Jessica Makinson, Joanne Mony Park, Rippin Sindher, Gianfranco Fernando Ruiz, Adonis Williams and Denise Moreno.
Semi-finalists can join virtually.
Last year the program launched five Fellows: Angie Su (signed by her mentoring company Sibling Rivalry), Allison A. Waite whose Delta spec commercial created in the program (narrated by Viola Davis) was nominated in competition at Tribeca X, and Hisonni Mustafa, Megan Brotherton and Lauren Crew–all of whom are working and becoming mainstream commercial/content directors.
The CDDP’s mission is to foster awareness and increase opportunities for women and other underrepresented directors in the commercial production industry through a targeted program of outreach, mentorship, and exposure.
