Accomplished director of The Sopranos, Gossip Girl, Criminal Minds and more, Andy Wolk led the directors of the WDA in a workshop focused on “Getting the Job” pitching for a series or feature project.
The AFIC Directors gathered in Burbank on the last Saturday of January to present their prepared series and feature pitches to the distinguished director, Andy Wolk. As helmer of countless popular series, Wolk provided comprehensive feedback that echoed his extensive collaborations with networks and producers in television and film.
The focus: Pitching yourself as director and getting the job!
All of the women directors presented their current projects driven by their visions and getting the job as director. Pitching in front of Wolk and a room full of scrutinizing colleagues gave each director an edge in shaping their vision and their voice for the project they have been developing or are currently selling. Andy challenged the hallowed “elevator pitch” to not just deposit your business card but as a chance to share your humanity and your deep connection to your work. Allowing an executive or a room of executives to connect with you – in yes – 1 minute!
Wolk’s assertive and simple approach, challenged each director to make leaps and bounds in both development of their pitches and, whether it was their own project or an interview for a series, their power in getting the job as director. Through a tried and true ethos of developing his projects and his career, Wolk imparted the important sense of “self-reliance” in each step. Self-reliance in that a director develops many things in their career tool box, that are within their reach, to shape the career they want in the industry. From meetings to self-promoting to absolute preparation in everything you do, and developing work in film or for a series – it’s a holistic rigor and adventure every director can achieve!
From cutting a dynamic director’s reel to meaningful meetings, Wolk’s personal experience left the AFIC directors with a strong sense of community, preparation, humanity, and of course, self-reliance.
Thank you Andy for the unforgettable workshop and setting a foundation for women directors of tomorrow!
Andy Wolk is the director of several Emmy Award-winning episodes of television series and has been a Creative Advisor at the Sundance Institute’s Screenwriting Lab, as well as on the Directing faculty at the American Film Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles. He lives in Los Angeles. Read more about Andy Wolk here!
Article and Photos By S. McCann
