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    Newest class graduates from DGA Mentorship Program for aspiring TV directors

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1611 Views
    Graduating proteges of the DGA Mentorship Program. Top row (l-r): Abdul Malik Abbott, John P. Aguirre, Alberto Belli Crifo, Maureen Bharoocha, Anna Ramey Borden, Maria Burton, Devon Gummersall. Middle row (l-r): Julie Herlocker, Michael Kang, Paulo Monico, Leena Pendharkar, Keith Powell, Jabbar Raisani, Drew Ann Rosenberg. Bottom row (l-r): Jason Shipman, Evan Silver, Gregg Simon, Javier Soto, Ian Truitner, Melanie Wagor and Alphonzo Wesson.
    LOS ANGELES --

    Thomas Schlamme, president of the Directors Guild of America, has announced the newest graduating class of the DGA Mentorship Program. Part of the DGA’s diversity and inclusion initiative focused on education and career development, the in-depth program pairs seasoned episodic television directors with members seeking to develop TV-directing careers.

    Schlamme stated that “we shine a light on our graduating class for their talent, commitment and hard work–and extend our heartfelt gratitude to this exceptional group of accomplished mentors who dedicated so much of their time to teach, to listen, and to set their protégés up for success. Seeking to build a career as an aspiring episodic television director in the middle of a pandemic couldn’t be more challenging, but every one of our graduates chose to take that time to further their education and development so that they can be ready for their moment.”

    Graduating Protégés:
     

    • Abdul Malik Abbott
    • John P. Aguirre
    • Maureen Bharoocha
    • Anna Ramey Borden
    • Maria Burton
    • Alberto Belli Crifo
    • Devon Gummersall
    • Julie Herlocker
    • Michael Kang
    • Paolo Monico
    • Leena Pendharkar
    • Keith Powell
    • Jabbar Raisani
    • Drew Ann Rosenberg
    • Jason Shipman
    • Evan Silver
    • Gregg Simon
    • Javier Soto
    • Ian Truitner
    • Melanie Wagor
    • Alphonzo Wesson

    Mentors:
     

    • Allan Arkush
    • Norberto Barba
    • Paris Barclay
    • Mary Lou Belli
    • Jeffrey Blitz
    • Mark Cendrowski
    • Mel Damski
    • Roxann Dawson
    • Rodrigo García
    • Michael Goi
    • Karen Gaviola
    • Todd Holland
    • Bob Koherr
    • Michael Lembeck
    • Melanie Mayron
    • Ed Ornelas
    • Bethany Rooney
    • Lee Rose
    • Oz Scott
    • Mark Tinker
    • Tom Verica
    • Ron Underwood
    • Andy Wolk

    A number of DGA Mentorship Program graduates have gone on to work as episodic television directors. 

    The DGA has been pressing studios, networks, and producers to be more inclusive in hiring for four decades. The Guild’s efforts include: collective bargaining gains requiring television studios to operate TV director diversity programs; ongoing meetings with studios, networks and individual series regarding their hiring records; and publicized reports detailing employer hiring patterns. In addition, the Guild itself has initiated a variety of TV director mentorship and educational programs to support the career development of its members.

    Tags:DGADGA Mentorship ProgramdiversityinclusionThomas Schlamme



    Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

    Saturday, December 21, 2024
    Suchir Balaji poses for a photo in Hawaii in 2018. Balaji was a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who died in November 2024. (Balaji Ramamurthy via AP)

    Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26.

    Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products.

    "We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time," said a statement from OpenAI.

    Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said "appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation." The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide.

    His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a "happy, smart and brave young man" who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends.

    Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT.

    "Suchir's contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn't have succeeded without him," said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what... Read More

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