We know why Salli Richardson-Whitfield is Hollywood’s most sought after TV Director!

Salli Richardson-Whitfield has a long standing and respected career when it comes to Hollywood. From acting, producing, and directing, she is one of the most sought after television directors in Hollywood, and for good reasons. Through her years as an actress, she was always curious, and paid close attention to that director’s chair. While most actors were thinking about their next role, Salli was focusing on the next career path. 

…… Salli said, “ It was a preparation meets timing kind of thing,” when I asked her how she was able to make this transition from actor to director in such a short amount of time. She let me know that it might look as if it happened extremely fast, she had planted seeds years prior before actually venturing into full time directing. She recounts that while on the set of I Will Follow, written and directed by Ava DuVernay, DuVernay told her “I think you’re a director and you don’t know it.” “Something about her saying,” said Richardson-Whitfield that sparked this new idea and passion into her mind. From there she immersed herself in the world of directing by gathering books on the subject matter, reached out to the directors in her network and shadowed them.

…… She took a leap of faith, while filming Eureka and asked if she could direct an episode. As the saying goes, “Ask, and you shall receive.” The opportunity was given to her and she took it as if she had been directing her entire life. This is because for Salli, fear can’t live where opportunities exist. “  was like, oh my God I get this,” said Richardson-Whitfeld. This moment, this chance she took led  her to direct episodes on some of our most favorite shows, new and past such as Queen Sugar, Black Lightning, Dear White People, American Gods, Black-Ish, The Wheel of Time, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Doom Patrol and the list goes on. 

“ I jumped in and stopped acting because I felt like this was the way people were going to know, she is serious,” said Richardson-Whitfield. She wanted to make sure the industry knew she was about business and left them no excuse to hire her. When you look at the various shows she’s directed they range sci-fi to comedy, and everything in between. This was intentional because she wasn’t going to give anyone the chance to say she couldn’t direct a certain type of television show. Salli said, “if they ever tried to say ‘she’s never directed sports, action, or a period piece,’ I can say yes I have her you go.” She can’t be denied because her work speaks for itself in volumes. 

When it comes to directing, she immerses herself into it. If it’s a period piece, she is studying that exact period from the way people dressed, talked and behaved. “If the television show has been on for a while, I’m watching every episode,” said Richardson-Whitfield. Her process always starts with research in film and books. If it’s again something that has been out there, she watches over and over to get a sense of it and what the audience is expecting. If it’s an entirely new series, then she gets to studying it up like a research topic paper with references. No boxes will be left unchecked when it comes to her due diligence on understanding exactly how it should and will be directed. 

It’s a business built on trust, accountability, and getting the job done well. Saili said, “ there are a lot of things that go into directing, it’s not just being good.” Unlike acting, where you just have to make sure to deliver a stellar performance, directing is making sure you understand how to read the room. You have to be a leader, motivator, manager, accountant, and everything else that may come up. The director sets the tone, and with all the moving parts happening, Salli is always focused on making sure everyone leaves happy and healthy once the cameras stop rolling.