We were lucky to catch up with Mary Lou Belli recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mary Lou, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I was lucky enough to already be on a show or sought out opportunities to observe (shadow) on shows where I wasn’t already employed. After seeing the process, I began shot listing every chance I got to learn cameras – working with actors was already a trusted skill set for which I was known.
The tenacity to do this work for no pay, just to practice, was noticed. In the multi-camera arena I did this on over 75 episodes and dozens of times in the single camera space.
I simultaneously and autodidactically designed a film school for myself using materials (both books and taped lectures) avail at the AFI library.
Finally I augmented my skill set by directing theatre and short films and acquiring theatrical reviews and laurels for film fests.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

There are pages about me and my background when you google me. I want folks to know that my advocacy work is the most important going into the future and that includes having development slate of projects that I believe in and where I might actively employ folks who I am mentoring.
Two time Emmy award-winning MARY LOU BELLI has been directing television for over 30 years including NCIS New Orleans, Black Lightning, Bull, Legacies, Station 19, Sweet Magnolias, Pitch, Monk, Famous In Love, Devious Maids, The Quad, American Woman, and Hart of Dixie as well as Disney’s The Secret of Sulphur Springs, Ms. Pat, Wizards of Waverly Place, Sister, Sister, Girlfriends, and The Game. Her short film, Straight Eye for the Gay Guy won “Best Mini-short” at the California Independent Film Fest where she also premiered I Heard Something, a thriller that went on to play fests internationally. She has done ground-breaking work on web-series. Her award-winning short, America, played its 14th fest on its 4 continent at The Hague and won best micro short. Mary Lou Belli was recently nominated for her 2nd Primetime Emmy for Comedy Directing. She also received another Emmy in 2022 in the Children’s Programming category.
Mary Lou served two terms as the Co-chair of the Women’s Steering Committee at the DGA where she also has served on the Western Director’s Council, presently she is on Leadership Council PAC and as an alternate to the National Board. She is an Honorary Board member of the Alliance of Women Directors and Advisory Board member of Women in Media. Mary Lou also serves on the Advisory Circle of Film Fatales is and a long time member of Women In Film as well as the Peer Group Executive Committee of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences where she presently serves as one of the Governors.
She has served as judge and/or guest speaker for the CSU Media Arts Fest, a judge for the Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant, a jury member at the Sapporo Short Festival, Newport Beach Film Fest, Regina International Film Festival, and The Voice awards, a lecturer at the Chautauqua Institute, and a panelist for Women In Film, the DGA, SAG, and AFTRA and the LA Times Festival of Books. She has been a guest artist at the International Thespian Festival for secondary school theatre where she gave workshops to thousands of teens and high school theatre teachers. Through her teaching, she supports many of the vibrant diversity programs including ABC/Disney, CBS, Sony, HBO Access, AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, and Warner Bros. Directing Workshop mentoring the next generation of directors.
She is the co-author of four books: “The NEW Sitcom Career Book,” “Acting for Young Actors,” and “Directors Tell the Story” which she co- wrote with fellow DGA member Bethany Rooney. Her 4th book, “Acting for the Screen” was published by Focal Press summer 2019.
After receiving a BA in theatre from Penn State, Mary Lou acted in musical theatre and soaps in New York, followed by a Los Angeles career producing and directing theatre with over 75 play productions to her credit. Among the awards she holds the dearest is her citation from the late Mayor Tom Bradley for her work with abused children. She lectures frequently throughout the United States including many universities such as AFI, NYU, Northwestern, and UConn.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I get to explore something new every day and grow as an individual. This pursuit is limitless in that everything I learned can be applied to what I do. It just makes me smarter, more experienced and nuanced. This includes travel and seeing other cultures and places.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Pivoting from multi camera comedy to single camera focus and directing action driven dramas was like starting my career over. It was a time of a learning A LOT. But it was extremely satisfying knowing I was pivoting to telling the stories I preferred as well as working in a medium that was more complex and had infinite visual possibilities.
Despite my already impressive resume it was also a time of proving myself all over again and being able to show my passion for a new trajectory.
Was it frustrating, yes…but to be honest, that challenge was never one I found daunting because one of my mentors told early on ( and I took it to heart) …. just before I gave up acting to direct…There are no roadblocks only detours! And I just love the ride.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maryloubelli.com
• Instagram: maryloubelli
• Facebook: Mary Lou Belli
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-lou-belli