Some of the season’s most celebrated directors gathered for Disney’s “Meet the Experts Live: In the Director’s Chair”, an exclusive event held on May 29 at the Directors Guild Theater as part of the studio’s FYC Fest. Hosted by Gold Derby, the panel featured in-depth conversations revealing the emotional, artistic, and personal journeys behind some of Disney’s most compelling recent productions.
Amber Sealey on Capturing Childhood Authenticity in Out of My Mind
For Out of My Mind, the Disney+ adaptation of Sharon M. Draper’s acclaimed novel, director Amber Sealey brought a deeply personal lens to portraying the inner world of an 11-year-old nonverbal girl with cerebral palsy. “I actually went back to my own childhood diaries,” Sealey explained. “Those lists of crushes and grudges helped me remember that raw emotional specificity.” Known for No Man of God and How Does It Start, Sealey drew on her experience as a parent to highlight that unique pre-adolescent period “when you’re not quite a kid and not quite a teen.”
Elisabeth Moss Reflects on Directing The Handmaid’s Tale Finale
Stepping behind the camera for the series finale of The Handmaid’s Tale, Elisabeth Moss found a new dimension in storytelling. “I still can’t believe I was asked to do that,” she said. “This show has been my life 365 days a year.” Having starred in and produced the dystopian hit, Moss noted that directing offered a deeper sense of collaboration. “As an actor, you can feel isolated. As a director, you see how much of it is teamwork.”
Michael Lennox Brings Belfast History to Life in Say Nothing
For director Michael Lennox, Say Nothing was more than a political thriller—it was a personal reckoning. Based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s nonfiction book, the series explores the lingering silence around The Troubles in Northern Ireland. “These are stories I lived around,” said Lennox, who directed the premiere and finale. “Belfast still struggles with how we talk about the past. This project gave voice to that history.”
Nisha Ganatra’s Deli Boys Breaks Boundaries On and Off Screen
Nisha Ganatra, known for her culturally rich storytelling, directed Deli Boys, a comedy series from FX about two brothers managing their late father’s deli empire. The impact went beyond the screen. “When I called ‘action,’ all these heads turned—it was the first time many of them heard a woman’s voice saying it,” she recalled. Ganatra emphasized that working in a culturally familiar environment was empowering: “My culture became a superpower instead of something I had to justify.”
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Aletha Jones Elevates the Procedural with High Potential
High Potential, a procedural series centered on a woman with an unusually high IQ, challenged Aletha Jones to balance emotion with structure. Starring Caitlin Olson, the show combines mystery and vulnerability. “It had so much emotional depth,” said Jones. “You tune in for comfort, but stay for the soul. That’s what made it work.”
John Requa and Glenn Ficarra Push Visual Limits in Paradise
Directing duo John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, known for Crazy, Stupid, Love and This Is Us, took on Paradise, a dystopian series from Dan Fogelman about a billionaire who creates an underground city following a personal tragedy. “It was wild,” said Requa. “Dan handed us something truly unique. The collaboration was built on total trust—even when we had to challenge the script.”
Elisabeth Moss on Her Future Behind the Camera
While still passionate about acting, Elisabeth Moss expressed a strong desire to continue directing. “It’s very hard, but incredibly rewarding,” she said. “I’d love to do a feature film someday. It has to be something so personal that five years from now, I’d still want to tell that story—and feel like I’m the only one who can.”
