Dinner with Dames Case File
Who: David Geddes, Director of Photography and Director of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow & Cinefemme board, sponsorees, and volunteers – Kimby Caplan, Jade Jenise Dixon, Michelle Kantor, Jenna Payne, Sylvia Ray, Valerie Resciniti, and myself, Holly Soriano
What: Dinner 2.9 – a casual discussion on industry issues facing women & ways to excel in their careers over dinner & drinks
When: Monday, April 15, 2019
Where: Tam O’Shanter
Why: To propel women to bigger and better career opportunities within studios and networks
Award winning Director of Photography David Geddes met with Los Angeles members of Cinefemme to discuss working in television and film. He has been a cinematographer on such classics as Tucker and Dale vs. Evil and 21 Jump Street the show. He now works as the director of photography on DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and has transitioned to directing episodes as well.
David’s experience as cinematographer helped him prepare to direct the show. But David wasn’t simply handed the directing position because he happened to be working on the show for a while. David’s enthusiasm, attention to detail, and work ethic were the secrets to his success. His generosity also no doubt played a part as David shared with us his director’s toolkit, like programs he uses to manage different script drafts and notes, Scriptation, and his storyboarding app, Procreate.
Those attributes are also helpful for women interested in working in the Industry according to David. As for the rise of #TimesUp and #MeToo, he didn’t notice much of a difference in his workplace because Berlanti Productions was already long practicing inclusivity. The WGA hadn’t yet filed their lawsuit against the ATA when we met, but we had all discussed how the possible breakup of the agency system might create more opportunities for under-served filmmakers. The consequences of the WGA lawsuit will likely impact the entire industry and not just writers.
But that was also the detail that David noticed all of the Cinefemme members shared: We are all writers in some way. He thought that was wise as it meant that we are in control of our own content. This gives us a real power to better navigate the industry especially if our writing is strong.
David’s daughter Sorrel Geddes was also in attendance and agreed that the WGA/ATA battle could be good for women in film. She is the Senior Vice President for US Production and Events at the British Film Commission, dealing extensively with UK tax incentives. She echoed David’s sentiments about diversity and inclusion. As the UK government requires demographics and wage reporting, including for US productions receiving tax incentives, it’s not just lip service when it comes to inclusion and diversity. They make sure it happens.
Sorrel could also attest to David’s work ethic for she remembers all his long hours while she was growing up. Plus, she talked about going to exciting places like South Africa to visit her dad on set as well as the less glamorous Florida. This happened when David was going through a period of working on movies made for TV. David admitted that working on those wasn’t the most groundbreaking camera work that he has ever done, but he was still on set getting to shoot and learn how to do it better.
As for us Cinefemme members at the dinner, we also got caught up in David’s passion for making television shows. Sylvia Ray picked up on the fact that David suggested that one should always be reliable for production and be prepared for low work life balance, but David reminded everyone not to go to work contagious as it can shut down production if an illness spreads through cast and crew.
Jenna Payne felt encouraged when David was talking about how DC’s Legends of Tomorrow was already practicing inclusion practices, and David serves as a mentor for women who shadow him in order to direct future episodes. Kimby Caplan, also a director of photography, really enjoyed David’s recommendations for the latest in technology to keep current with what is happening in the world of making television. Valerie Resciniti also reiterated the importance of knowing about this technology.
Jade Jenise Dixon particularly noticed David’s emphasis on being sure that you create your own quality content. My take home message is to really focus in on one thing in order to master it for it will help you in all other areas of filmmaking and create much greater opportunity than only being a generalist.
The old saying is that a good time was had by all. We all are in definite agreement. It was great to get the chance to pick David’s brain on what it’s been like working in the filmmaking and television all these years. And it was super cool that David gave us great tips on how to work on it now and the future!
About Cinefemme
Cinefemme is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by women filmmakers, for women filmmakers in 2002. Cinefemme provides fiscal sponsorship to women filmmakers and artists, as well as peer-to-peer networking, mentorship, and strategy for project fundraising. By advancing women’s careers in film and the arts, we empower women’s voices to create gender parity in the arts and equal representation in the media.
About Holly Soriano
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