TV’s Top Directors: ‘High Potential,’ ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ & ‘Hacks’

In this bonus episode of The Ankler podcast, recorded live on May 18 at L.A.'s DGA Theater, The Ankler and the Directors Guild of America bring you a series of funny and memorable conversations — presented by Threads — about the art of directing for television. Lesley Goldberg interviewed Alethea Jones, who helmed the pilot for ABC freshman hit “High Potential”; Elaine Low spoke with Yana Gorskaya of FX's “What We Do in the Shadows”; and Katey Rich sat with Lucia Aniello of “Hacks” (who’s also co-showrunner of the HBO Max comedy). Despite the often loose tones of their shows, each of the directors emphasized the extensive prep on their end that’s required to make the storytelling work. “I write a novel on every episode of television I have ever done,” Gorskaya admits, “that tracks every character's wants, needs, desires, where we've been — and where we’re going.”

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