Disney Entertainment Television (DET) Directing Program

The Disney Entertainment Television (DET) Directing Program is a highly-selective, one-year program for diverse directors. The program guarantees episodes to first-time television directors on DET scripted series, and guarantees segment directing opportunities on DET unscripted series. Directors receive mentorship, on-set shadowing experience, networking opportunities with the company’s creative executives, and limited professional and career development prior to directing their episodes.

Established in 2001, the DET Directing Program has kickstarted the careers of many established and award-winning directors and producing directors on hit shows, including Tessa Blake (“A Million Little Things”), Pete Chatmon (“black-ish”), Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther” franchise), Zetna Fuentes (“Jane the Virgin”), Regina King (“Insecure”), Marvin Lemus (“Gentefied”), Jaffar Mahmood (“Young Sheldon”), Nzingha Stewart (“Little Fires Everywhere”),

Dara DiGerolamo Talks About Directing a Segment on American Idol Through DET's Directing Program!

This past season, Dara DiGerolamo from the Disney Entertainment Television Directing Program joined us on set to direct a segment on American Idol! Take a behind-the-scenes look into her directorial debut on the show and her experience in the program.

PRIMETIME SCRIPTED

In 2021, the DET Directing Program evolved to guarantee episodes to first-time episodic directors on Disney Entertainment Television’s primetime scripted series. Since then, the program has provided episodic opportunities to first-time television directors on series such as ABC’s THE ROOKIE, 9-1-1, STATION 19, THE GOOD DOCTOR, and BLACK-ISH; Freeform’s GOOD TROUBLE and SINGLE DRUNK FEMALE; FX’s SNOWFALL; and Disney Branded Television’s RAVEN’S HOME and THE VILLAINS OF VALLEY VIEW, as well as Disney-produced series THE CHI and THE RESIDENT.

DAYTIME SCRIPTED

In 2022, the DET Directing Program expanded into the daytime scripted programming space, guaranteeing segment and episodic directing opportunities on ABC’s daytime scripted series, GENERAL HOSPITAL. This was the first formal engagement between daytime scripted and Disney’s talent programs.

UNSCRIPTED/ALTERNATIVE

In 2023, the DET Directing Program expanded into the unscripted/alternative programming space. The program provides segment directing opportunities on ABC’s hit unscripted series, such as THE BACHELOR, DANCING WITH THE STARS, AMERICAN IDOL, EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION, and more. This was the first formal engagement between unscripted/alternative and Disney’s talent programs.

2025-2026 DET Directing Programs

2025-2026 DET Directing Program

The DET Directing Program is a yearlong initiative that guarantees each participant the opportunity to direct on a Disney series. Participants receive guidance from industry professionals, build their practical skills through shadowing and directing experiences, and connect with Disney creative executives through tailored learning and networking.

This year, the program will add “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Coven Academy,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Reasonable Doubt” to its impressive roster of scripted and unscripted directing opportunities. Other participating shows include “The Bachelorette,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “General Hospital” and “Project Runway.”

The 2025-2026 directing cohort includes scripted directors Vanessa Beletic (“Coven Academy”), Sammi Cannold (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Alejandra Lopez (“General Hospital”) and Ryan Richmond (“Reasonable Doubt”); and unscripted directors Jamala Gaither (“Project Runway”), Gayle Galvez (“Celebrity Family Feud”), Claire Gostin, Sagiv Karpel (“Dancing with the Stars”) and Kiki Malone (“The Bachelorette”).

Since its founding in 2001, the DET Directing Program has nurtured the careers of notable alumni including Jennifer Arnold (“Emily in Paris”), Tessa Blake (“9-1-1” franchise), Pete Chatmon (“High Potential”), Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther” franchise, “Sinners”), Zetna Fuentes (“Pluribus”), Amin Kaderali (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Maggie Kiley (“9-1-1”), Regina King (“One Night in Miami...”), Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr. (“Shōgun”), Nzingha Stewart (“Daisy Jones & the Six”) and Jude Weng (“Only Murders in the Building”).

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