Directing Team

I woke up this morning to the news that One Life to Live's Jill Mitwell (and her directing team, which included me, as an AD and a Stage Manager) won the 2012 Director's Guild (DGA) Award for Daytime Drama.  It's amazing to think that One Life to Live aired just ten episodes in 2012--over a year ago--and one of them won a DGA award.  I guess what we did back then did live on after all.

I didn't go to the awards ceremony. Numerous East Coast commitments have generally kept me from attending LA awards ceremonies, so I wasn't there applauding during or toasting afterward.  But when I read the news this morning, I couldn't help but be transported back to the days when I talked Bob Woods and Hilary B. Smith through their cabin scenes as a Stage Manager and talked camera operators through scenes of Heaven as an Associate Director.  I was reminded of what it means to be a directing team--to work together to make a Director's vision a reality. It mattered that my Stage Manager colleagues and I made sure the props were on set.  It mattered that my AD colleagues edited the pieces and parts to make a moving story.  It mattered that my Production Associate colleagues kept track of continuity, given that the episode was shot on multiple days.

And so, when I read the news this morning, I realized that it didn't matter so much that I wasn't there to hear the award winner announced.  I was there when it really mattered, working as part of a team that made the award-winning show.  And while I may give up a trip to LA and the chance to glam up for a night, I will never give up the memory of being part of that team.  And I will keep looking forward to my next team.