During this session with Mary Lou Belli, you can choose one of the following options:
1. Get access to a script and prep materials from a recent project Mary Lou worked on. You can compare your directing ideas to what actually ended up being broadcast, review your choices with Mary Lou, and discuss differences in approach and execution.
OR
2. Focus your session on a career consultation where you can get film/tv career insights, share your aspirations, practice and refine an elevator pitch, talk about strategic moves that would guide you to where you next want to go or ask any other questions you may have during your one-on-one consultation.
Mary Lou Belli has been directing television for over 30 years including NCIS New Orleans, Black Lightning, Bull, Legacies, Station 19, Pitch, Monk, Famous in Love, Devious Maids, The Quad, American Woman, and Hart of Dixie as well as Wizards of Waverly Place, Sister, Sister, Girlfriends, and The Game. Her short film, Straight Eye for the Gay Guy, won “Best Mini-short” at the California Independent Film Fest where she also premiered, I Heard Something, a thriller that went on to play fests internationally. She has done ground-breaking work on web series. Her award-winning short, America, is currently on the fest circuit.
Mary Lou served two terms as the Co-chair of the Women’s Steering Committee at the DGA where she also serves on the Western Director’s Council, and the Leadership Council PAC and as an alternate to the Board. She is an Honorary Board member of the Alliance of Women Directors and Advisory Board member of Women in Media and a longtime member of Women In Film.
She has served as judge and/or guest speaker for the CSU Media Arts Fest, a judge for the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant, a jury member at the Sapporo Short Festival, Newport Beach Film Fest, Regina International Film Festival, and The Voice awards, a lecturer at the Chautauqua Institute, and a panelist for Women In Film, the DGA, SAG, and AFTRA and the LA Times Festival of Books. She has been a guest artist at the International Thespian Festival for secondary school theatre where she gave workshops to thousands of teens and high school theatre teachers. Through her teaching, she supports many of the vibrant diversity programs including ABC/Disney, CBS, Sony, HBO Access, AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, and Warner Bros. Directing Workshop mentoring the next generation of directors.
She is the co-author of four books: The NEW Sitcom Career Book, Acting for Young Actors, and Directors Tell the Story which she co-wrote with fellow DGA member Bethany Rooney. Her 4th book, Acting for the Screen was published by Focal Press summer of 2019.