When tonight’s episode of The Rookie premieres on ABC, it is going to be a particular milestone for episode director and business veteran TK Shom. It is Shom’s first tv episode as lead director, the newest achievement in a 20-year profession in movie and tv.

Shom is certainly one of seven aspiring tv administrators chosen this yr to take part within the Disney Entertainment Directing Program, an intensive, yearlong program that helps midcareer professionals launch lasting careers in directing. It is likely one of the longest-running packages of its form and commenced to ensure episodes to all contributors in 2021.

“The guarantee of an episode is incredible,” Shom shared in January whereas on location directing The Rookie in Lincoln Heights. “My goal is to make a career in directing. I wanted to participate in the Disney Entertainment Directing Program because it opens up a lot of doors that otherwise would have been very tough to break through.”

After getting his begin in unbiased movie, Shom spent a lot of the final twenty years as a primary assistant director—the liaison between the director and the crew—dealing with the logistics of working the set throughout manufacturing. In truth, audiences might have seen his work on Freeform’s grown-ish, Searchlight Pictures’ Table 19, and ABC’s The Rookie, the place he has been a primary AD for 2 seasons. Continuing to develop his directorial resume, Shom’s 2020 unique quick movie, Sidewinder, was featured in quite a few movie festivals throughout the nation.

Even along with his in depth expertise, Shom says the Directing Program is “an opportunity you can’t pass up.” Along along with his fellow contributors, he kicked off this system with a monthlong, intensive craft workshop led by veteran TV administrators and different business consultants. In masterclasses on matters starting from prep to manufacturing, the cohort took a deep dive into the important thing expertise they might be using on set as lead administrators.

“It’s been incredible filling in gaps of knowledge that I’ve had even after 20 years in the business,” Shom mentioned. “[One] was working with actors. The Disney Entertainment Directing Program sets you up with an acting workshop where you can work with actors, direct them in scenes, and understand how that language works, what they respond to.”

In addition to sensible expertise, the visiting consultants shared ideas and methods from their very own profitable careers and supplied assist and mentorship to the contributors as they ready for the following step of their directing profession.

Following the craft workshop, every participant headed to their present task. In addition to ABC’s The Rookie, this yr’s cohort may even direct episodes of Disney Branded Television’s The Villains of Valley View, ABC’s The Good Doctor, ABC’s General Hospital, twentieth Television’s The Chi, Freeform’s Single Drunk Female, and Disney Branded Television’s BUNK’D.

“[The] program has helped me so much by showing how other successful directors work and prepare. It’s a chance to work with seasoned veteran directors that have so much experience,” Shom mentioned. “I shadowed under our producing director on The Rookie, and watching him work has been a lesson in all aspects of television.”

Tim McNeal, Vice President of Creative Talent Development & Inclusion for Disney Entertainment, leads the Directing Program. He has had a entrance row seat watching administrators from this system rise by means of the ranks over the course of their careers. “The Disney Entertainment Directing Program is on the leading edge of developing the next generation of directors from underrepresented communities,” McNeal mentioned. “We are proud to be able to identify and develop the next generation of directors that will lead the industry now and in the future. TK Shom is a strong link in the chain of talented directors that are getting their start through this program.”

In addition to shadowing with their manufacturing, the administrators attend month-to-month meetup and mentoring circles and are invited to networking mixers the place they meet prime producers, showrunners, and even notable alumni of this system to assist broaden their community. By the time this system involves an in depth this summer time, each participant can have directed their very personal episode, secured illustration and developed a deep community to assist launch their directing careers. They will begin the following section of their careers alongside notable program alumni together with Tessa Blake (A Million Little Things), Pete Chatmon (black-ish), Ryan Coogler (Black Panther franchise), Zetna Fuentes (Jane the Virgin), Regina King (Insecure), Marvin Lemus (Gentefied), Jaffar Mahmood (Young Sheldon), Nzingha Stewart (Little Fires Everywhere), Jude Weng (grown-ish), and Valerie Weiss (Outer Banks).

Shom plans to pursue directing in motion drama and believes that his first episode is just the start. “I can’t recommend [the program] enough,” he mentioned. “Anyone who has the opportunity to do the Disney Entertainment Directing Program [should] apply. It’s an amazing experience.”

Keep an eye fixed out this spring and summer time for extra debut episodes directed by Directing Program contributors, and don’t miss Shom’s episodic directorial debut with The Rookie, “A Hole in the World,” airing tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streaming subsequent day on Hulu.