Director Observer Applicants (7)

I am a Nova Scotian born and raised writer director, I recently moved back to Canada after years living abroad and am trying to break into the series space. I recently won the SeriesMakers prize at Series Mania for a half hour dramedy pitch, I have teamed up with Blue Ice to try and sell this show, and I would love to be able to direct on the show if we get to make the show, however I lack the experience on series, despite having made several features. I did a week shadowing on Murdoch , but was not party to the whole prep period or the full shoot. Shadowing on Sullivan’s Crossing could be just the experience I need , not to mention that I would love to be considered to directed on this show in the future. NOTE that I would easily make arrangements to be in NS throughout the Observership.

As a child of a Nova Scotia divorce, I relate specifically to the father / daughter theme of the show. My father suffered a stroke, and other details of the story are close to my heart. I love the specificity of the setting and the characters are people I like to spend time with.

After observering on Law and Order through the DGC, the question is, why observe again? I’m applying with a different goal: to be the step prior to directing an episode. I’m aware it’s competitive to be chosen to do so, but I’m determined to work with Roma Roth. I admire how she’s been able carry out her vision and am convinced I’m a director who she will want to hire again.
I understand that Roma would be taking a chance on me. So, I have several goals with this application. A) To immerse myself in the dynamics of the shoot. B) To get to know actors and crew. C) To expand my relationship with Roma, so she can see I’m a director who will bring her own vision to the show while staying true to its essence.

I’m a keen lover of nature. I observe it as if I have a macro lens on my eye when looking at funghi or a wide angle lens when I’m taking in the beauty of a mauve-streaked sky. So, I found myself thinking about this show on my daily walk in High Park, recalling scenes, moments and details which lead me to thinking about the story, the characters and the underlying themes.

It’s clear Sullivan’s Crossing works. There’s a highly entertaining (and complicated) love story with engaging, complex characters. There’s subtext pointing to connections to nature, family and community. And, it’s visually very pretty, highlighting a specific nook in Canada, yet universal in its storytelling.

This is the kind of show with which I would like my leap into television to be.

This observer placement bridges my short-form drama and unscripted directing experience with episodic television. My short-form drama series BIG LAW (biglaw.tv) earned a 2026 Emmy nomination, confirming my pivot into scripted work. In my own projects I’m typically involved earlier, executing my own vision. TV directing means arriving later, on someone else’s show, executing a showrunner’s vision, a genuine stretch I’m eager for. I’m especially eager to observe how everything locks in prep, and how a director leads while surrounded by cast/crew who’ve been on the show far longer than they have. Having completed the DGC Episodic Director Workshop multiple times, this placement would move those concepts into lived practice. I grew up in Halifax and hope to build future work in Nova Scotia. 🙂

What draws me to Sullivan’s Crossing is its tone. It treats small-town life, healing, and family with warmth rather than melodrama, and lets characters recover from setbacks slowly and believably rather than through big dramatic swings. That carries into the visuals too: real coastal and forest locations paired with controlled interiors create an intimate, grounded world rather than spectacle.
I also appreciate the creative direction Floyd Kane will bring as incoming head writer/showrunner for Season 5. His work on Diggstown showed a similar instinct for character driven storytelling. I’m curious and excited to see how that sensibility shapes the writers’ room’s balance of medical, family, and small town threads this season.

I’m ready and eager to move into one hours. Sullivan’s Crossing fits well in my wheelhouse. I’ve had success working in romantic dramedies, winning a Best Director CSA on a tentpole Lifetime film after being trusted with their 1st sapphic Xmas film. We were also nominated for a GLAAD and a Best MOW CSA. In episodic I’ve directed ½ hours including a global Top 10 Netflix Original. I’m an actors director and the ensemble nature of SC is a dream playground. I’d be honored to observe/get to know the cast/crew and let them know me. While I’m an ONT resident, I’m from Nova Scotia and my family’s lived behind Hubbards Beach for over 75 yrs. Shandon’s is literally 3 minutes away! It’s so special to me that SC is filmed there. I can work in NS as a local and it’d be a dream to do so on Sullivan’s.

There’s so much I love about SC. The storytelling is excellent, the perfect mix of drama/heart/romance/comedy with high stakes and twisty turns. It’s full of great one-liners (“Give in or give up!”) and story themes that cross between characters seamlessly. Many types of people are represented onscreen and I love the interpersonal drama and depth of connection between them. My favorites are Frank and Lola. Frank and Maggie’s relationship is so special, too. I also love the visual language of SC. The directing is lovely with gorgeous camera floats and small push-ins. The NS backdrop creates cinematic value and is capitalized on with striking back lighting, lens flares, and intentional ins/outs of scenes that elevate the look. It’d be an honor to director observe, and someday direct, on SC.

After many years as an independent director, ready to take the next leap in my career

I love that the show captures a strong story about family and community.

Although I have several directing credits, I currently have only one episodic series credit. I have been trying for over three years to break back into episodic directing, and I’ve been told that shadowing is an important step — not only to gain experience, but to build relationships with producers and increase my chances of being brought back to direct an episode.

The networking and relationship-building opportunities could have a significant impact on my career and help open the door to future episodic directing opportunities. I would also benefit greatly from observing a working director on set and gaining firsthand knowledge of the process, which would better prepare me to direct my own episodic series when the opportunity arises.

I’m drawn to Sullivan’s Crossing for the way it balances intimate, character-driven drama with strong emotional stakes, humour and a real sense of place. As a director, my work is deeply performance-focused, and my background as an editor gives me strong instincts for pacing, coverage and story. Having directed both comedy and drama, I’m comfortable navigating tonal shifts while protecting the emotional truth of a scene. I’d love to observe how the series maintains its distinct visual language and tone while learning from its directors and production team.

If you are looking to add an experienced, dynamic director as a new member of your director roster this season, I would love to be considered and would happily come on board as Observer ahead of that. Last year, on CBC’s Allegiance, I came on board as an Observer prior to my episode, working closely for weeks with the whole team. This allows for seamless collaboration and brand consistency, especially with a well established, well loved show like yours. My philosophy is to fully embrace collaboration. I relish episodic work because characters and storylines can be deeply developed: your show is a perfect example.

The reason your show has had such a successful run is the relevance of your themes, expressed in amazing performances, engaging locations, and authentic writing. Exploring relationships and tight-knit communities is central to many of my shows; especially finding and celebrating love despite life’s challenges. I’ve directed other franchises like Mary J Blige’s Family Affair trilogy and three movies in Lifetime’s Seven Deadly Sins series. I would love to share some clips from my relationship movies like Hallmark’s well received Notes of Autumn and DGC Award nominated MTV’s Adventures in Christmasing.