Our 2024-25 DET Directing Program Applications have closed! Thank you to all who applied!
ABOUT THE DISNEY ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION DIRECTING PROGRAM
The Disney Entertainment (DET) Directing Program connects directors to opportunities on DET scripted primetime and daytime series, as well as unscripted/alternative series. Launched in 2001, the Program has evolved from a shadowing program to one that guarantees episodes to first-time scripted television directors. The unscripted program guarantees directing segments on select unscripted DET series. One director will be selected as the inaugural FX Singleton Directing Scholar, and will be assigned to shadow and direct an episode of an FX Networks series. The program provides selected participants on-set shadowing/immersion prior to directing; access and exposure to DET creative executives, producers, showrunners, and alumni; and mentorship and limited professional development.
Application Open Date: Monday, June 10, 2024
Application Close Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024
This professional Directing Program is open to all individuals who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age and who possess evidence of identity and United States employment eligibility for the duration of the program. Directors with Directors Guild of America (DGA) credits and/or Guild membership are also eligible. Previous professional experience working in television production is strongly preferred, but not required. Applicants who have directed digital episodes (i.e., web series), short form episodes (i.e., Quibi, Snapchat), or original pilots that have not been distributed on a mainstream broadcast, cable, or streaming platform are welcome to apply. However, applicants who have directed an episode or pilot distributed by a major broadcast, cable, or streaming platform are ineligible for this program.
To apply, the following items must be submitted along with a completed application form:
SCRIPTED PRIMETIME AND DAYTIME:
RESUME: A Detailed summary of professional employment history for the past ten plus (10+) years. Applicants can list projects officially selected at major film festivals. Please include relevant industry credits, e.g., commercial directing, brand directing, original material, crew work, etc. You may list shadowing experience if space permits, but please note that there will be a separate area on the application form (for scripted applicants) to list up to five (5) previous shadowing experiences.
SERIES CONSIDERATION PITCH: Pick a Disney Entertainment Television (DET) series airing during the 2023-24 season, or a DET series that is currently airing/streaming, and briefly pitch why you would best direct an episode of it.
SAMPLE: A single project directed solely by the applicant. Material directed by directing teams will not be accepted. Examples of appropriate directing samples include: short films, independent feature films, documentary features, documentary shorts, narrative digital episodes. Must be final sweetened cuts. Rough cuts, directing reels, commercial reels, music videos, animation and/or stage productions will not be accepted. A linear storyline incorporating a beginning, middle and end is encouraged. Material should tonally translate to the type of programming broadcast on DET.
TARGETED REEL: A two-minute “targeted” director’s reel in a specific genre which showcases your ability to direct narrative content. Include at least two scenes from a narrative project (the scenes may be from the same project).
FX JOHN SINGLETON SCHOLAR PITCH (if applicable): If you opt in to be considered for the FX John Singleton Scholarship, please answer the following prompt in 1500 characters or less: Please share why you are applying for the Singleton Scholarship. Specifically, share how familiar you are with John Singleton’s life and work, and your connection to the shows he created/produced/directed. Please also share how and why you think you’re a great fit to direct an episode on an FX Networks show.
UNSCRIPTED/ALTERNATIVE:
RESUME: A Detailed summary of professional employment history for the past ten plus (10+) years. Applicants can list projects officially selected at major film festivals. Please include relevant industry credits, e.g., commercial directing, brand directing, original material, crew work, etc. You may list shadowing experience if space permits.
BIOGRAPHY: Write a third-person professional bio that lists any relevant experience in directing, DP/cinematography, assistant directing, segment directing or shadowing that might not be overly obvious from your resume. The bio should not be longer than one (1) paragraph.
PERSONAL ESSAY: (no more than 3000 characters): Why do you want to be an unscripted/alternative director and how will your background add a unique perspective to the unscripted/alternative landscape.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: 1-2 letters of recommendation
OPTIONAL LINK TO REEL: A two-minute director’s reel which showcases your ability to direct unscripted/alternative content.
Complete only one online application per individual applicant. We will not accept submissions from directing teams. Incomplete applications will be disqualified without notification.
- Review all application materials carefully.
- Instructions
- FAQs
- Assemble required documents:
- Internet connection/browser (no faxed, mailed, or emailed apps allowed)
- A professional resume/credits list
- One original sample
- One targeted director's reel
- Essay
- Letters of recommendations (for Unscripted/Alternative only)
- Scholarship Pitch (Optional)
- Compile information needed for the Application Form:
- Personal contact information (name, physical mailing address, phone and email)
- Optional personal information (gender, ethnicity)
- Employment information (Current employment info, employer, title, duration of employment)
- Director-specific information (primary genre, DGA affiliation – if applicable, prior directing program/fellowship experiences)
- Social media information (professional website, LinkedIn, IMDb)
- Shadowing information (up to 5 previous shadowing experiences on a mainstream broadcast, cable, or streaming scripted series)
- Sample uploads
- Original sample
- Targeted director’s reel
- Recommender information/letters (Unscripted/Alternative only)
- Scholarship Pitch (Optional)
Now that you have compiled the above required information, please read the below step-by-step process for completing an application for the 2024-25 DET Directing Program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Open 2024-25 DET Directing Program Application Form in your web browser.
- Indicate which program you are applying for: Scripted Primetime, Scripted Daytime, or Unscripted/Alternative.
- Fill out the required personal contact information, personal information, employment information, and social media information.
- Director-Specific information:
- Indicate whether you are currently a member of the DGA
- Director Type: Indicate your director type. Please note, your body of work and previous directing/shadowing/work experiences should align with the “type” of director you select. You may only choose one:
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- Single-Cam Comedy: Linear or streaming comedies, not limited to a particular setting or location, and featuring a wide tonal range of comedic stories and characters.
- Multi-Cam Comedy: Traditional broadcast or cable comedy sitcoms, which feature heavy dialogue, limited locations or settings, and character-driven, often “broad,” comedy.
- Drama: Any broadcast, cable, or streaming dramatic content.
- Alternative: Any unscripted series – competition, live, et cetera.
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- Prior Major Network/Studio Directing Programs:
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- Select all of the programs you’ve participated in. We are interested only in directing programs or fellowships run by major networks, studios, or media companies. Please feel free to provide other directing programs/fellowships not listed in the dropdown menu on your resume/credits list.
- Shadow experience (for Scripted only):
- List up to five shadows you've done on broadcast, cable or streaming dramas, comedies or dramed
- Please format as: SHOW NAME - Network - Studio - Episode #(s) - Director Shadowed - Year of Shadow. (Example: STATION 19; ABC; ABC Signature; Episode #310; Director Shadowed: John Smith; 2019).
- Please separate each section above with a semicolon.
- Press “Enter” to create a space and a new line for subsequent shadowing experiences.
- DO NOT list shadows on any projects other than broadcast, cable or streaming dramas, comedies or dramedy.
- Samples (for Scripted only):
- Sample #1:
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- Provide the name of the original sample being submitted.
- Indicate type of sample being submitted:
- A short film is a film with a general running time of less than 30 minutes.
- An independent feature film is a feature-length narrative movie that has not been developed, produced, or commercially distributed by a major production company or studio
- A digital episode is also a web series or webisode, typically developed, produced, or distributed by a digital platform (Youtube, Facebook, Crackle, etc).
- A short form episode is an episode that is byte-sided or short in length, typically less than 15-20 minutes long (Snapchat, Quibi, etc).
- A documentary feature is an unscripted, feature film-length piece of material with a narrative focus, at least 90 minutes
- A documentary short is an unscripted short film with a narrative focus, at least 10 minutes long.
- An original (undistributed/indie) pilot episode is an original pilot that has not been developed, produced, or distributed by a major production company, network, or studio.
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- Copy and paste a clean link to your original sample. We suggest a Vimeo link. It must begin with http: or https:
- Include any passwords for Sample #1.
- Include running time (in minutes) for Sample #1.
- Include completion date for Sample #1 (e.g., year the material locked in post, etc).
- Sample #2: We are looking for a targeted directors reel that showcases your ability to direct a specific type of genre. The tone of the reel must be consistent from beginning to end (e.g., if you are submitting a Drama reel, with a Sub-genre of “Procedural,” the reel must be tonally consistent with a dramatic procedural: action, actors, shots, camera work, production values, dialogue, location, set ups, etc).
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- Indicate reel type (drama, comedy).
- Indicate reel sub-genre.
- Copy and paste a clean link to the reel (we suggest a vimeo link).
- Include any passwords for Sample #2.
- Referred By: This is an optional section for you to provide a recommender’s information. Include their name, title, company (or show), and email address. Please note, the information provided in this section is voluntary and will not affect your eligibility for the program.
- Documents to Upload:
- A professional resume/credits list:
- Add relevant entertainment industry experience, including: paid or voluntary work for directing commercials, branded content, music videos, promos, docs, episodic content, features, shorts, etc.
- Include any paid or voluntary work as a crew member on a production, e.g., 1st AD on music video, Camera Operator on GENERAL HOSPITAL, etc.
- Be specific when mentioning your title and show/production you’ve worked on.
- Include voluntary or unpaid shadowing assignments if space permits (include specific Details about shows, episode numbers, directors shadowed, and years shadowed).
- Training, production/directing-specific education, programs, fellowships should be included, space permitting.
- Festival or competition recognition should be included, space permitting.
- Upload as a single PDF. firstname_lastname_dp24-25_resume.pdf
- A professional resume/credits list:
- Series Consideration Pitch (for Scripted only)
- Choose one Disney Entertainment Television (DET) series from the 2024-25 season, or a DET series that is currently airing/streaming, and pitch why you would be a good fit to direct an episode.
- Limit to 1-2 paragraphs.
- Envision the series. From a craft perspective, why do you think you are best suited to direct an episode? Consider your ability to execute shots, direct actors, handle set pieces, etc. based on your previous experiences on set.
- From a personal standpoint, how and why do you connect to the series?
- Upload as a single PDF. firstname_lastname_dp24-25_pitch.pdf
- Biography (for Unscripted/Alternative only)
- A paragraph-long third person bio listing any relevant experiences in directing, DP/cinematography, assistant directing, segment directing or shadowing that might not be overly obvious from your resume.
- Upload as a single PDF. firstname_lastname_dp24-25_bio.pdf
- Personal Essay (for Unscripted/Alternative only)
- Why do you want to be an unscripted director and how will your background add a unique perspective to the alternative landscape?
- Upload as a single PDF. firstname_lastname_dp24-25_essay.pdf
- Personal Statement (for Unscripted/Alternative only)
- Why do you want to be an unscripted director and how will your background add a unique perspective to the alternative landscape?
- Upload as a single PDF. firstname_lastname_dp24-25_statement.pdf
- Letters of Recommendation (for Unscripted/Alternative only)
- Upload 1-2 letters (as a single PDF). firstname_lastname_dp24-25_lettersofrec.pdf
CLICK SUBMIT: You will receive a confirmation email once you click submit. Please be sure to check your spam or junk folder.
- Upload 1-2 letters (as a single PDF). firstname_lastname_dp24-25_lettersofrec.pdf
- FX Singleton Scholar Pitch (Optional)
- A 1500 character or less essay in which you share why you are applying for the Singleton Scholarship. Share how familiar you are with John Singleton’s life, legacy, and work, as well as why you’d be a great fit to direct an episode of an FX show.
- Upload as a single PDF firstname_lastname_dp24-25_singleton.pdf
Please check our website and Facebook page for updates.
- Participants who advance to interview rounds will be notified no later than Summer/Fall 2024. No telephone calls or email inquiries please. Due to the high volume of applicants, we are not able to give feedback on submissions or provide information on application status. Please visit Creative Talent Development and Inclusion’s Facebook page for occasional updates.
FAQs - 2024-25 Disney Entertainment Television Directing Program
Before completing an application, or posting any questions, please carefully read the following FAQs, as well as our application instructions. If you have applied in a previous year, please be sure to read this new information. Thank you.
General F.A.Q.s
About Disney Entertainment Television
Disney Entertainment Television is a collection of renowned content brands at The Walt Disney Company creating original entertainment and news programming for the Company’s streaming platforms Disney+, Hulu and Star, and its broadcast and cable networks. Its extensive portfolio is comprised of ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ABC Owned Television Stations, Disney Branded Television, Freeform, FX, Hulu Originals, National Geographic Content and Onyx Collective, in addition to Disney Television Studios, which include 20th Television, 20th Television Animation, ABC Signature and Walt Disney Television Alternative. Responsible for over 4,500 hours of programming a year across more than 300 programs of all genres, Disney Entertainment Television’s creative brands are at the forefront of groundbreaking storytelling, captivating audiences and generating critical acclaim. In 2022, Disney Entertainment Television’s programming excellence earned 288 Emmy® nominations across daytime, primetime, news & documentary, and children’s & family categories.
Yes. However, due to the nature of the Program, we are unable to sponsor individuals for United States work visas to participate in the Program. To be eligible, an applicant must possess and present evidence of identity and United States employment eligibility (valid for the duration of the Program) as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, as amended.
Yes. The Directing Program is open to employees of The Walt Disney Company and its subsidiaries.
You must be at least twenty-one (21) by December 1 of the current application year to apply to the Program.
To be eligible for the program, all applicants under consideration for scripted primetime and daytime must have previously directed an original piece of material and have a body of work to include in a targeted directors reel. Applicants for unscripted/alternative are not required to submit a directors reel nor are they required to have previously directed original material. All applicants do not need to have prior experience working on a mainstream television set, but shadowing and exposure to the television directing industry is helpful.
Any uploaded documents must be in Portable Document Format (PDF).
Yes. All applicants must submit a chronological employment resume that is two (2) pages or less in length. Please list all paid and voluntary directing and crew work. You may list shadowing experiences, accolades, and training if space permits. Applications that do not include a resume will be disqualified.
Recommendation letters are not required for scripted primetime and daytime.
Recommendation letters are required for unscripted/alternative. We will accept 1-2 letters. Letters of recommendation should come from entertainment industry professionals who have served in a mentorship, supervisory and/or educational capacity and who can speak to your work ethic, professional experience(s), and/or promise. Please do not provide letters of recommendation from your agent, manager, or legal representative.
Your application cannot be updated once it is submitted. All elements must be re-submitted together. If you submit an incomplete application or uploaded an incorrect element, you must complete a new application by the submission deadline. The application with the latest submission date and time is the only one that will be considered. We will not mix materials from multiple applications and you must maintain the same name and email address each time you update your application submission.
Yes. Your application must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm PST of the deadline date. Applications received prior to the application start date or later than the application deadline date will not be opened or reviewed and will be disqualified.
No. All submissions must be made through the designated online portal.
Add relevant entertainment industry experience, including: paid or voluntary work for directing commercials, branded content, music videos, promos, docs, episodic content, features, shorts, etc. Be specific when mentioning your title and show/production you’ve worked on. Include voluntary or unpaid shadowing assignments if space permits (include specific details about shows, episode numbers, directors shadowed, and years shadowed). Training, production/directing-specific education, programs, fellowships should be included, space permitting. Festival or competition recognition should be included, space permitting.
No. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, CTDI cannot inform applicants of their status. Applicants who advance to interview rounds will be notified within a few months of applying to the program.
The Directing Program is tentatively set to begin late Summer/early Fall 2024. Directors who are selected for the program will be assigned to a specific scripted or unscripted series at DET. They will shadow and ultimately direct an episode on that series during the 2024-25 season. Directors will officially wrap their time in the program after they shoot their episode.
No. Directors will be paid DGA episodic fees when they direct their episode. Additionally, directors may be compensated while shadowing. Otherwise, Program Directors are not paid or compensated at this time, and the Directing Program is not a full-time employment opportunity. However, CTDI and the Company will expect each selected Program Director to make themselves available for the program’s scheduled workshops, prep sessions, meetings, shadowing, on-set immersion, and their episodic television assignment.
You do not need to inform CTDI about employment unrelated to the entertainment industry or employment that does not involve directing. However, directors must prioritize participating in the Directing Program, including: making time for prep, shadowing, professional development, and shooting their episodes (see time commitment question below).
If selected for the DET Directing Program, directors must prioritize and make themselves available for any/all preparation, on-set immersion, meetings, shadowing, and professional development deemed necessary by the company, CTDI, and/or the show assigned to them, prior to directing their episodes. Directors should expect to participate in a series of weekday or weekend professional development seminars/workshops/mixers in late Summer/early Fall 2024. Pending production schedules, directors should expect to be shadowing on-set at their assigned show in Fall 2024 or Winter/Spring 2025. Episodes will be shot at the top of the year 2025 (pending the show’s ultimate approval). Additionally, some shows may assign their program director an episode in the following season. Failure to avail oneself for required activities during the program will result in a director being removed from the program.
Yes, directors accepted into the scripted program will direct episodes. Directors accepted into the unscripted program will direct segments. However, please note that the company, CTDI, and the show assigned to the program director each unilaterally reserves in its sole discretion the right to revisit guaranteeing an episode to a program director.
If selected for the Scripted Directing Program, a director will be assigned to a specific DET series. The director will ultimately shadow on and direct an episode of that series. If selected for the Unscripted Directing Program, a director will be assigned to a specific DET series and will shadow and direct a segment on that series.
We will have several DET series across our many television platforms participating in the program this year. Each participating series will be assigned one (1) program director. For your reference, DET includes: ABC Network, ABC Signature, 20th Television, FX Networks, Freeform, Disney Branded Television (Disney+ and Disney Channel), Nat Geo Channel, and Hulu. We cannot at this time disclose the specific series participating.
No. Selected directors will be assigned to one (1) series during their time in the program.
No. Assignments are determined by series producers, executives, and CTDI. Most assignments will take place in Los Angeles.
CTDI will determine out-of-town costs and compensation on a case-by-case basis.
Yes. Directors who direct an episode will receive DGA episodic directing fees. Directors who direct segments will receive DGA segment directing fees.
The Directing Program is now an annual program.
SCRIPTED PRIMETIME AND DAYTIME APPLICATION
We are looking for a targeted director’s reel that showcases your ability to direct a specific type of genre. The tone of the reel must be consistent from beginning to end (e.g., if you are submitting a Drama reel, with a Sub-genre of “Procedural,” the reel must be tonally consistent with a dramatic procedural: action, actors, shots, camera work, production values, dialogue, location, set ups, etc). Include at least two pivotal scenes from work that is tonally consistent and demonstrate your ability to competently direct in that genre.
A single project directed solely by you. Examples of appropriate directing samples include: short films, independent feature films, documentary features, documentary shorts, narrative digital episodes. Must be final sweetened cuts. Incomplete/shortened material, rough cuts, directing reels, commercial reels, music videos, animation and/or stage productions will not be accepted. A linear storyline incorporating a beginning, middle and end is encouraged. Material should translate to the type of programming tonally created by and/or airing on DET platforms.
Limit to 1-2 paragraphs. Pick a series on DET from the 2024-25 season, or a DET show that is currently airing/streaming. From a craft perspective, why do you think you are best suited to direct an episode? Consider your ability to execute shots, direct actors, handle set pieces, etc. based on your previous experiences on set. For this pitch, we encourage you to choose a DET series that is tonally aligned with your Sample #1 and Sample #2 (targeted director’s reel).
Include five (5) most recent or most relevant shadowing assignments on major broadcast, cable, or streaming series. Please do not list shadowing assignments on independent films, student films, shorts, or commercials, branded content, or music videos. If you do not have shadowing experience on a mainstream broadcast, cable, or streaming series, please leave this section blank.
Please indicate “Other” and be sure to mention those programs/fellowships on your resume and/or on your professional social media links.
Alums of the program are not guaranteed a slot in the 2024-25 DET Directing Program. If you would like to be considered for a spot in the 2024-25 program, you may submit an application through the open application link by the deadline. Final selection decisions will be made by CTDI and the producers of the shows participating. Alums should prioritize booking episodic opportunities outside of the Directing Program, if possible.
UNSCRIPTED/ALTERNATIVE DIRECTING PROGRAM
Applicants to the unscripted/alternative program should click the “Alternative” bubble.
Please indicate “Other” and be sure to mention those programs/fellowships on your resume and/or on your professional social media links.
A sampling of your original directing work – either narrative or unscripted. The reel should not exceed three minutes in length and should contain a representative sample of scenes from your body of work.
No. Applicants to unscripted/alternative are not required to submit a directors reel.
Include any relevant experience in directing, DP/cinematography, assistant directing, segment directing or shadowing that might not be overly obvious from your resume. Please write this biography in the third person. Bios should not be longer than one (1) paragraph.
Tell us a story! Why are you interested in breaking into the unscripted directing space? What unscripted programs have had a particular influence on you as a creator/director? Why are you in a position now to take advantage of and leverage this opportunity? How has your unique training, skills, and experiences prepared you for this opportunity? What unique perspective or point of view will you bring to unscripted directing?
Please see our suggestions for recommendation letters above. No, your letters do not need to come from unscripted entertainment professionals, however, they must come from professionals in the entertainment industry.
Please use the form to submit any questions regarding the application or technical issues with the application. Due to the high volume of application submissions, we cannot guarantee a response to your question. Please refer to the Application Instructions and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) for more information.