About
the Book:
The Golden Age of high quality TV is now.
Sharing his own process honed over a decades-long career across
80-plus series and more than 200 episodes, Emmy-nominated director
Dan Attias brings you into the actual experience of directing
great series television. Whether it's the high-stakes pressure of
solving a last-minute problem on set, or the joy of pulling off a
perfect shot by the skin of your teeth, he brings you right into the
director's chair, sharing his knowledge and taking you through the
process one challenging episode at a time.
Everything that happens on screen – every performance or camera angle – is the result of a choice. Offering a fundamental focus on story, and eschewing industry
language for plain talk, Dan
Attias offers in-depth guidance how best to
work with actors, how to "speak" through the camera, how to
work positively with showrunners and writers, and how to be ready for the many ways a
director will be challenged, large and small.
Directing Great
Television is a fascinating window into television's best shows,
compelling to directors and non-directors alike. This book by Dan
Attias transcends other
filmmaking guides by detailing his journey to a surprising place of
self-discovery, one with applications beyond entertainment.
What people say:
"Dan's
writing is reflective of his directing style: sensitive, thoughtful,
insightful, and searching. His account of the culture and process of
episodic television is honest and edifying." —
Claire Danes, star of Homeland and winner of multiple Emmy
awards
"I've
watched thousands of hours of television, but I can always recognize
Dan's work because it is a cut above. If you want to understand what
a director does, or would like to be a director, or already are a
director and would like to get better at it – then READ THIS BOOK."
— John Landgraf,
Chairman of FX Networks and FX Productions
"Dan Attias has
written a book I believe would make any director a better director. I
wish I had had his book before I ever started." — David
Chase, creator and showrunner of The Sopranos
"If you are interested in the
process, in how it works, or should work, if you want to hear from
someone who still finds the fun and the challenge in bringing the
story to life, and who has skills up the wazoo, then this man is the
one to pay attention to. I did. And it made me better." —
Amy Sherman Paladino,
creator, co-showrunner, and frequent director of The Marvelous Mrs.
Maisel
"Dan Attias has
not only written an incredibly comprehensive guide to directing
television, he's written a humanistic and personal memoir of the
journey to find the truth through the best storytelling possible and
capturing that on film. Speaking from personal experience, Dan is not
just a great television director, he's a great director, period. You
will love this book." — Nathan
Lane,
icon of the American stage and multiple Tony and Emmy award-winning
actor
"Dan Attias is
one of the most talented directors working today, the guy you want
directing your most important episode. He has written an essential
manual for anyone who wants to understand the craft of television
production and directing." — Joe
Weisberg and Joel Fields,
co-showrunners of The Americans
About the Author:
Dan Attias is an American
director and producer. Having initially trained as an actor, he has
worked as a Director in the film and television industry since 1984.
He received the DGA Award for Outstanding Direction of Dramatic
Television for The Wire and has been nominated for episodes of The
Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Homeland and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He
has also received Emmy Award nominations for his comedy direction on
Entourage and continues to work on some of the most celebrated
American television including The Americans, Billions and The Boys.
He is the author of Directing Great Television.
