Welcome back to the director's cut, a podcast by the Directors Guild of America,

featuring today's top directors sharing behind-the-scenes stories of their latest films

and insights into the craft of directing.

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Okay. This episode features an exclusive panel discussion with the directing team of the HBO limited series Watchmen, presented by the DGA Eastern Directors' Council's Focus on Women Committee.

Based on the celebrated graphic novel, the series takes place 34 years after the original

story and weaves a tale of an alternate U.S. history, integrating themes of white supremacy and racism,

against the backdrop of vigilantes, masked cops, and superheroes.

The pilot episode earned director and executive

producer Nicole Cassell, the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series.

Last month, Cassel, director Steph Green, actor Regina King, producer and UPM Karen Wacker,

and First AD's Carrie Bruno and Casey Goodall met to discuss

their experiences of crafting Watchmen in a conversation moderated by Kessel and DGA 4th Vice President Laura Belzee.

Highlights from the panel include putting together the look of the show, utilizing pre-vis to

communicate effectively

with the visual effects supervisor, and working with background performers to create the show's

powerful opening sequence. Following the discussion, the panelists took questions from the audience.

And thank you all, and I'm glad to be looking at these amazing faces and imagining everyone who's listening.

And it's a bit emotional actually to see everyone, because it's exactly a year ago that we wrapped this show.

And my last day of filming, I was so sad to say goodbye I actually didn't show up

thank you Casey for covering that for me because I was sick and obviously so much has happened

in this year and before we launch in and I can't wait to talk about why I brought this group together,

...