IndieWire's Filmmaker Toolkit 31 Rules for Directing Episodic TV with Jon Cassar
Aug 21, 2025
Emmy-winning director Jon Cassar shares his wealth of knowledge from over 30 years in the industry. He discusses his 31 essential rules for directing, focusing on anticipating problems and effective communication on set. Jon delves into the importance of safety, the unique challenges of water scenes, and the nuance of directing child actors. He emphasizes continuous learning and hands-on involvement in set design to enhance visual storytelling, ensuring productions run smoothly while fostering collaboration among cast and crew.
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Be On Set Early And Stay With The Setup
- Arrive at least an hour early and stay with the set while shots are being built and rehearsed.
- Watch everything closely so you can fix problems immediately and keep the day moving.
Keep The Pace High All Day
- Move fast from the first call to preserve coverage for every scene across the day.
- Prioritize quick rehearsals and lots of coverage so editors have options in post.
Put Safety First And Enforce Protocols
- Make safety the top priority and enforce rules consistently so no one gets hurt.
- Treat dangerous elements (guns, stunts, vehicles) like construction hazards and mitigate risk with strict protocols.