INTERVIEW: Director Dawn Wilkinson on the Influence of Mentorship
“…passing on directing techniques and career advice is important to the future of this industry.” - Dawn Wilkinson
Hey Hey!!
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. | Proverbs 27:17”
This week’s SC interviewee is director Dawn Wilkinson. Wilkinson has been directing for over twenty years and her most recent work includes the third to last episode of the final season of ABC’s ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ and episodes 7 + 8 of Netflix’s ‘Locke and Key’ , a show about a house with magical keys. What I enjoyed learning most about Dawn was her desire to pour into others while also reflecting on the importance of the mentoring that she had received from others as well. There is no way we can grow in this industry if we are not able to glean from others who came before us. Have you had an important mentor in your life? If so, let us know in the comments. Hope you enjoy the interview!
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1. Who are your favorite kinds of people to work with on set?
I love it when the cast and crew are really invested in their work. With any production there are so many details that go into it. My job is to keep in mind the big picture and execute the project according to the objective and tone of each scene. When the crew members and cast really zero in on their craft and contribution and reach out to me for direction that is the best feeling. Often I am told that my sets are very calm, but if there is conflict I don’t look at it as an obstacle when it comes out of each person’s creative concerns or process. That’s what we’re there for.
2. Who is your favorite director?
Norman Jewison is my favorite director. He found a way to tell stories that matter and were about something without sacrificing the emotional impact and entertaining journey for the audience. I had the opportunity to shadow him on ‘The Hurricane’. It was my first opportunity to be on a movie set and he gave me access to his entire creative process. I was a fly on the wall and then I would re-watch his movies each weekend and ask him questions about the directorial choices he made on each film. It was a masterclass in directing and I don’t know if my career would have progressed in the same way without his influence.
3. Do you think mentors are important in this industry? And, if yes, why?
Absolutely and I think it’s important to be open to different kinds of mentorship. Perhaps you shadow a director on a production or maybe it is a few phone calls or email messages, or one set visit. I also found mentors in TV directing including Ernest Dickerson and Eleanore Lindo, once I realized there were TV skills I would need to develop as a director that were different than what I saw on a bigger budget movie or dealt with on my own low budget projects. Even relationships with other directors are important because you can ask each other questions which is helpful because we don’t work together. Sometimes on a TV series you will cross paths with another director but if you want to have a community of directors to reach out to you have to make that effort. Now that I mentor others I see how passing on directing techniques and career advice is important to the future of this industry.
4. What is your dream project?
Right now, it’s to direct a Marvel movie! I also have a few scripts that I’d like to get into production.
5. What's up next for you?
Episodes of ‘Empire’ and ‘How To Get Away with Murder’ that I directed this winter will air in the next few weeks and my episodes of ‘Locke and Key’ just dropped on Netflix. I recently moved to LA from Toronto and I’ve been working non-stop so I think it’s time to go to Ikea!
What did y’all think? Isn’t she is awesome! We also wanted to include this video of Dawn talking about her first feature film ‘Devotion’, about a young bi-racial girl who lost her mother in a car accident (we can’t wait to see if Dawn does another feature soon!!)
This week, let’s focus on making sure we are teaching others about our craft and also taking proactive steps to learn from others. And be sure to check out Dawn’s latest work on ep. 7+8 of ‘Locke and Key’ now streaming on Netflix! #SisterhoodCinema