June 2025 event recaps

AWD Directing and Ally Members met up at Lawless Brewing Company for the 2025 Summer Member Bash. It was a lovely afternoon of meeting new friends and hearing AWD updates. A few lucky attendees won AWD swag as raffle prizes and several people stayed into the evening to connect and catch up with fellow filmmakers.

This panel hosted by AWD’s Black Directors Advancement Initiative and NAACP/EMCC covered a broad range of topics such as a timeline of black music in well known films, what happens in meetings between directors and composers, and how to get music in film at multiple levels.

The audience loved that the moderator, KJLH radio personality Tammi Mac, used music and poetry during her introductions as it engaged the crowd and was a creative way to start the discussion. Panelists included Morgan Rhodes, an award-winning music supervisor whose expertise has shaped numerous films and television shows; Amanda Jones, an Emmy Award-winning composer known for her innovative soundscapes; renowned composer, musician and scholar, Dr. Dawn Norfleet. Audience takeaways included: Having a Look Book for the music composer helps clarify the director’s vision and assists the compose in visualizing the story and the music; a Music Supervisor is a valuable asset and can help in finding the right composer may be the right option; and a reminder to not to be afraid to try someone new as we all would want the same courtesy.

AWD South hosted Directing and Ally Members for their virtual June Book Club with author Rae Shaw. In her book “The Short”, Rae helps you deploy the tools of screenwriting through a short form lens, helping you master a powerful tool of creative expression.

“The Book Club meeting with Rae Shaw on her book, ‘The Short’ was truly inspiring. It honestly felt like a therapy session. Rae walked us through tips and techniques that helped us reframe our thoughts and take practical steps towards conceptualizing our short films. Her book is a great addition to my film library but having the pleasure of going through a mini-workshop really helped spark my imagination. Thank you for creating this space for her and us!” – Monique Younger

This month’s Social Sunday was held in person in Los Angeles. Hosted by Interim Executive Director Kylie Eaton and Operations Coordinator Nikki Braendlin, the afternoon provided a casual environment for Directing and Ally Members to catch up and connect with each other.

In this dynamic conversation co-hosted by NBCU LAUNCH and AWD, directors and NBCU Launch alumni Kim O. Nguyen and Maureen Bharoocha, alongside NBCU’s Robert Baltazar (Vice President, TV Programming, Inclusion), shared insider insights on what it takes to succeed as a guest director in episodic television.

Panelists discussed best practices for working within an existing show’s framework while bringing one’s unique voice, and offered tips on collaborating with cast, crew, and producers. Attendees also received valuable advice on navigating pre-production, post, and building lasting relationships to be invited back.

AWD South Co-Chair Elise Hines hosted a powerful conversation with Talent Manager and Producer Shayla Cowan, highlighting her start in the industry, her work with Will Packer, co-producing the 94th Oscars, and her transition into talent management with Collective Edge.

The session wrapped with a thoughtful Q&A where Shayla offered meaningful advice to emerging filmmakers. Her warmth, humility, and insight left attendees inspired and motivated.

At our latest AWD Virtual Reading Program, participants experienced the power of live collaboration and adaptability. This session included the scripts “Tag, You’re It!” by Jan Johnson Goldberger (Writer/Director) and
“The Cutoff” by Lesley Powers (Writer/Director)

The event highlighted how essential strong casting is—not just in preparation, but in flexibility—as one actor stepped in cold to read the lead role of the first script and delivered a powerful performance with zero prep time.

The reading emphasized the importance of table reads for writer/directors, offering a chance to hear their dialogue out loud and receive real-time feedback from both actors and audience members.