Television and Film Directing Fellowship

A Program for Mid-Career Theater Directors, in partnership with New York Stage and Film

Applications Open Fall 2025

APPLICATION PORTAL
F.A.Q. PAGE
OTHER PROGRAMS
The Emmy-nominated, Peabody-winning Disney+ series “A Small Light.” Fellows NJ Agwuna and Justin Emeka served as shadow directors on five episodes.

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS

OVERVIEW
    • The Drama League Television and Film Directing Fellowships are an opportunity for mid-career theater directors interested in expanding their work to include film and television.
    • The Fellowship offers on-set shadowing experience on major studio television projects, and introductions to mentors in the field.
    • The Fellowship ends with participation in The New York Stage And Film Filmmakers’ Workshop, which serves a specially curated group of film and TV writers each summer in the Hudson Valley. Fellows direct a table read of each script with professional actors, attended by fellow writers and industry professionals including noted showrunners and producers.
  • NUMBER OF RESIDENCIES: Number varies annually.
  • ELIGIBILITY: Before applying, visit the  F.A.Q. page for full eligibility details.
  • SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE: Recipient receives $850/week to cover on-location shadow directing assignment expenses, not to exceed six weeks ($3400-$5100 total, depending on weeks needed by production). For the New York Stage and Film Filmmakers Workshop, Recipient receives an additional $850 for the week of activity. All prize and stipends are taxable under U.S. law, and recipients will be responsible for tax payments.
  • HEALTH INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT: None.
  • TRAVEL/HOUSING INFORMATION: Varies, see Program Timeline Below.
  • OTHER BENEFITS: VIP Pass to all publicly offered Drama League programming during the Fellowship period; access to alumni-focused programs and events; lifetime Drama League Membership.
  •  LIABILITIES AND INSURANCES: Recipient will not be an employee of TDL or its partners, instead a recipient of an educational program and will be considered as such under insurance policies.
1. PRE-RESIDENCY PLANNING | Online (Zoom)
  • DATES: Summer (TBD, Occasional, online/remote)
  • DESCRIPTION: The Recipient meets with Drama League and production staff to prepare for the shadow assignments process ahead.
  • TRAVEL/HOUSING: None (online/remote)
  • DATES: July – March (TBD, in-person, approximately 4-7 weeks, scheduled by Production)
  • DESCRIPTION: During this time, the Fellows will be assigned to a project where they will shadow its director…either an episode of a television series, miniseries, or a feature film. The director will participate in preparation, production, and editing in consultation with the director, Drama League staff, and the Fellowship Mentor.
  • HOUSING: For the Shadow Assignment, housing is not provided to the Recipient, who will need to acquire housing they suitable to them. The Drama League and production may be able to offer guidance, but will not secure nor pay for housing. For directors living more than 35 miles outside of the production area, if housing is not offered by studio/project, a supplement of $400/wk will be offered to the recipient for partial housing reimbursement. The securing of housing is the responsibility of the Recipient.
  • TRAVEL: For the Shadow Assignment, The Drama League will provide the Recipient with one economy round-trip airfare from any city in the continental United States to the city of production. Baggage fees, transfers, and in-city transportation are not provided.
  • DATES: July-August (TBD, scheduled by New York Stage And Film)
  • DESCRIPTION: Inspired by Twyla Tharp’s concept of “The Artist Date,” the Inspiration Experience is an opportunity for the Recipient to expand their exploratory investigation through a short experience inspired by the project itself. This might mean a visit to a local business or attraction, a facilitated conversation with an expert, or participation in a local event. The experience will be developed in conjunction with and facilitated by The Drama League.
  • HOUSING: For the Filmmakers’ Workshop, housing is provided for the Recipient by New York Stage And Film in Poughkeepsie, NY.
  • TRAVEL: For the Shadow Assignment, The Drama League will provide the Recipient with one economy train fare from New York City to Poughkeepsie. Baggage fees, transfers, and in-city transportation are not provided.
APPLY NOW
F.A.Q. PAGE
What Is A Shadow Director? “Shadowing” is a rare opportunity to observe the process of a major studio production by being a ‘shadow’ to the episode or film’s director. Recipients of this program ‘shadow’ the director through the process, attending meetings, being on set, and more. Much of the industry views shadowing as a first-step requirement for a director; Drama League Fellows have shadowed on productions for CBS, NBC, ABC, Disney+, Nat Geo, Hulu, and more. Below, you’ll find photos of 2021 Fellow Desdemona Chiang directing on the set of FIRE COUNTRY, and an interview where she discusses her long personal path to directing this episode. Photography courtesy of CBS.

FELLOWSHIP PARTNERS

THE DRAMA LEAGUE
The Drama League is a career accelerator and creative home for those who, in whole or in part, identify as directors — the artists who stand in the center of collective artmaking in theater, film, television, streaming, and all creative industries that utilize live performance. The Drama League offers acclaimed access, training, mentorship and opportunity for these artists and their collaborators.  Launched in 1916, alumni of its programs, collectively known as The Directors Project, create over 1,100 projects each year for audiences around the world, numbering in the tens of millions.  To be a part of supporting future generations of artists, please visit dramaleague.org/membership.
New York Stage and Film is a not-for-profit company dedicated to both emerging and established artists in the development and production of theater and film by creating community, supporting process, and uplifting original artistic voices. The New York Times calls the company a “formidable breeding ground for new work,” and dozens of notable works trace their developmental roots to NYSAF, including Tony Award winners HAMILTON, HADESTOWN, SIDE MAN and THE HUMANS; Broadway productions such as THE NOTEBOOK, AMERICAN IDIOT, JUNK, and BRIGHT STAR; and Pulitzer winners and finalists such as DOUBT, THE WOLVES and Taylor Mac’s A 24-DECADE HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC.
The NBC drama DOUBT was an early production in The Drama League Television and Film Directing Fellowship.

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ALUMNI LIST HERE