The CDDP Fosters Awareness and increases directing opportunities for women and minorities in
the commercial production industry through a targeted program of outreach, mentorship, and
exposure.
The CDDP works to pair talented unsigned directors with production companies and to increase
the number of minority and women directors within the ranks of the DGA membership by
supporting these quality candidates through mentoring, workshops, networking, shadowing,
showcases and a grant to create a spec commercial for their reel.
After narrowing the pool to 20 finalists, the CDDP will select 5 candidates for the initial LA
based program, chosen by a team of judges analyzing overall talent based on the director’s
application. The program will last 3 months and unfold in 3 phases culminating in a showcase
of the Director’s work:
• Month 1- Workshops & Mentoring
• Month 2- Shadowing and Networking
• Month 3- Grant awarded to create Spec Commercial and Industry Showcase
Workshops will include high profile industry professionals guiding/advising participants in
various aspects of the commercial world:
- Giving Great Calls
- The Bidding Process
- Writing/Creating Treatments
- Defining a Director’s Brand
- Congratulations you got the job! - Now what?
- How to run Callbacks
- How to run a tech scout
- How to run a PPM (pre-production meeting)
- How to direct commercial talent/actors
- On set needs - agency, creative, client- oh my!
- The art of repeat business
- Director in Post
Please Visit our website at www.cddprogram.org for more information and to apply:
Application Requirements:
- Bio/Resume & Photo
- 3-5 minute directing reel
- 2 Recommendations
- 1-2 minute on camera personal intro
- completed application