Bethany Rooney began her directing career on the 1980s iconic television show St. Elsewhere, where she served as Associate Producer. She has directed more than 200 episodes of primetime network shows, including NCIS, NCIS New Orleans, Criminal Minds, Nashville, and The Originals.
Bethany has also directed eight television movies, including three Danielle Steel adaptations for NBC. She has directed Oscar winners and contenders Denzel Washington, Hilary Swank, Mary Tyler Moore, Angela Bassett, George Clooney, Alfre Woodard, Felicity Huffman, Sally Field, and Robert Downey, Jr., among many others.
Bethany graduated from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, earning a masters’ degree.
She teaches the Warner Brothers Directors’ Workshop and serves on multiple committees at the DGA.
Mary Lou Belli is an Emmy Award-winning producer, writer, and director with more than 150 episodes to her credit. She directed NCIS New Orleans, Monk, Hart of Dixie, and The Wizards of Waverly Place. On the CW, Mary Lou directed the hit show Girlfriends for seven consecutive seasons as well as its spinoff, The Game, and on Lifetime, Devious Minds.
Mary Lou directed Living with Fran starring Fran Drescher, Eve starring hip-hop artist Eve, as well as The Hughleys, Charles in Charge, Major Dad, and Sister, Sister. Mary Lou received BET nominations for directing Girlfriends and One on One as well as a Prism Award for Girlfriends.
Mary Lou earned her BA in theatre from Penn State and lectures frequently at film schools and universities such as the American Film Institute (AFI), NYU, Northwestern, the University of Connecticut, and many more. She serves on multiple committees at the DGA and is coauthor of two additional books: The NEW Sitcom Career Book and Acting for Young Actors.