Conversations from the Sundance Institute Labs | Lesli Linka Glatter (MAD MEN) and Keith Gordon (FARGO) on Scene Breakdown and Shooting Preparation

Lesli Linka Glatter is a director of film, network, and premium cable television drama, with both pilots and episodes to her credit. Lesli’s TV work includes HOMELAND, THE NEWSROOM, THE WALKING DEAD, JUSTIFIED, RAY DONOVAN, MASTERS OF SEX, TRUE BLOOD, MAD MEN, THE LEFTOVERS, THE GOOD WIFE, THE WEST WING, NYPD BLUE, ER, FREAKS AND GEEKS AND TWIN PEAKS. Lesli has also directed numerous pilots including GILMORE GIRLS, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS and SIX. Her films include NOW AND THEN, THE PROPOSITION and for HBO, STATE OF EMERGENCY.

Lesli is currently the Executive Producer/Director of the award winning series HOMELAND. She began her directing career through the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women, in which her film TALES OF MEETING AND PARTING was nominated for an Oscar. Lesli has received 7 Emmy nominations, 7 Directors Guild Award nominations, winning twice for MAD MEN and HOMELAND, as well as a Humanitus Award nomination for HBO’s STATE OF EMERGENCY. Lesli is currently developing projects for Netflix, Amazon, Showtime, Epix and her next project is THE BANKERS WIFE , an 8 part mini series for Amazon. 

Lesli serves as the 1st Vice President of the Directors Guild of America, is on the DGA’s Western Directors Council, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Directors Branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She is also an advisor at the Sundance Institute’s Director’s Lab. Lesli has been committed to mentoring for many years and most recently help develop the successful NBC program, Female Forward. Lesli has received the Caucus Foundation Award, the Dorothy Arzner Directing Award from Women in Film and the Franklin Schaffner Award from the American Film Institute and most recently, an Honorary Degree from the American Film Institute.

Prior to her work as a director, Lesli was a modern dance choreographer who worked throughout Europe, Asia and the U.S. 

As an indie filmmaker, Gordon starred in, co-wrote, and co-produced STATIC (Best Actor: Madrid Film Festival), adapted and directed THE CHOCOLATE WAR, (IFP/Spirit Award nomination: Best First Feature), adapted and directed A MIDNIGHT CLEAR (IFP/Spirit Award nomination: Best Screenplay), produced and directed MOTHER NIGHT from the Kurt Vonnegut novel and starring Nick Nolte, adapted and directed Scott Spencer’s WAKING THE DEAD (IFP/Spirit award nomination for Best Screenplay), and directed THE SINGING DETECTIVE starring Robert Downey Jr., Mel Gibson, and Robin Wright. For television, Gordon has directed multiple episodes of FARGO, THE LEFTOVERS, HOMELAND, NURSE JACKIE, DEXTER, THE KILLING, THE BRIDGE, WILD PALMS, NIGHT VISIONS, AND GIDEON’S CROSSING, ALONG WITH EPISODES OF BETTER CALL SAUL, LEGION, MASTERS OF SEX, DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE, HOUSE, RUBICON, THE STRAIN, HOMICIDE, FALLEN ANGELS, and many more. Pilot episodes include THE RETURNED (also Executive Producer) and RECTIFY (also Co-Executive Producer). Last century, as an actor, Gordon had leading roles in John Carpenter’s CHRISTINE, Brian De Palma’s DRESSED TO KILL, BACK TO SCHOOL, supporting roles in numerous films including ALL THAT JAZZ, and multiple more both on and off-Broadway theater. He’s mentored at the Sundance Lab since the 1990s and has taught at AFI, Film Independent, and USC. He has written and podcasted about film for multiple outlets, and hosted a film-themed show for National Public Radio.