Well-known director Bobby Roth grew up in Los Angeles, a block from where he lives today. He studied Philosophy and Creative Writing at UC Berkeley, then got a BA in Cinema at USC, and an MFA in Motion Picture Production from UCLA. For his entire career he has alternated between independent filmmaking and commercial television. In the eighties he had an overall deal to write, produce and direct for Universal, where he created the series 'The Insiders' for ABC. His independent films have now been exhibited in over one hundred film festivals worldwide, five of which have premiered at Sundance where Bobby has also been a judge. He was a founding member of the Independent Feature Project and also a founding member of the DGA's Independent Feature Committee where he was its first Co-Chairman.

Directing and writing hundreds of hours of prime time television, Bobby’s recent television credits include FRINGE, PRISON BREAK, LOST, and CRIMINAL MINDS. He recently directed the pilot, SHATTERED, which has been given a series order for Global TV in Canada. His feature credits include BERKELEY, JACK THE DOG, MANHOOD, and HEARTBREAKERS.

HDE: You are considered one of the best directors in television, clearly identified as someone who consistently delivers quality story telling. How do you walk into a show that has been on the air, and bring your own creativity to the process while maintaining the identity of a show?

Bobby: I believe that my job is to adjust my style to the show, not vice versa. I’ve learned with some shows that’s not really possible and that I should avoid them; but with the shows I’m “right for,” it’s a very positive and fulfilling experience to try and deliver what they are looking for; i.e. LOST or PRISON BREAK. I try and watch as many episodes of the show as possible, ask questions, and try to get a sense of what makes the show work. This stretches me and makes me be a better independent filmmaker when I return to my own work.

HDE: Does the ability to work with characters and storylines over a season (or more) make for really in-depth relationships with characters and stories?

Bobby: It does, provided the writing is there. When I directed Evangeline Lilly she acknowledged her debt to the writers of LOST and told me how lucky she considered herself. It was a great synthesis for me to direct a committed actor in a part she had been growing with for five years.

HDE: Do you have any advice for filmmakers who are venturing into a directing career? Are there skills that make the path easier?

Bobby: Recently I’ve been teaching directing which has helped me to see how important it is to know yourself. So much of directing is tied to one’s personality; you have to use your personal skills. If you’re an introvert you can’t entertain or amuse; but you can find your psychic vocabulary and use it to communicate with your cast and crew. That’s so much of it; communicating. There are a lot of ways of to communicate, but you must communicate. I believe withholding information is never a good thing. This may seem obvious, but some directors are afraid to share their plans. The people on your cast are crew are there to support you, but they have to know what you want.

HDE: On a technical note, you have shot with pretty much every format from 35 to the RED -- How much do these technical choices impact your creative process?

Bobby: In network TV, you are never given a choice (about formats, or technologies). The show has determined this long before you arrived. That said, the format is definitely a factor in telling your story.

HDE: The role of technology in the creative process is evolving. Any thoughts?

Bobby: I have a whole episode to talk about the role of technology in storytelling; but mainly that it is forever changing and storytellers must change with it.

HDE: How do you work with a crew to create a team that supports your (and the show’s) vision?

Bobby: I used to work with the same folks over and over on the TV movies I used to make (which, sadly, have gone away). I now go from show to show and work with all sorts of varied personalities, which is part of the challenge. I enjoy working with new people and learning from them, but prefer growing with people over repeated shows. In the past I made something like 18 pictures with the editor Henk van Eeghen, and really appreciated how we developed together. It facilitated that vocabulary and communication I was speaking of.

HDE: There has been vast democratization in the tools for filmmakers, and emerging filmmakers have relatively easy access to the tools of the trade. How do you think that will impact the creative process?

Bobby: I’m not very snobbish about who gets to make films. It’s true, more people can make films; but it’s no easier to make a good film. However, what the “glut” seems to have done is make it more difficult for all of us to find distribution. Unfortunately, that’s still very tied to the old system, and until we have new, inexpensive ways of helping mass audiences find our films it’s very tough to get revenue back. For example; BERKELEY seemed to be a more accessible film than, say, JACK THE DOG, but we couldn't get our money back the way we did with the earlier film. The markets were no longer there.

HDE: You are a true independent filmmaker, a writer-director-producer who creates films that hit complex emotional themes. What do you have on the horizon for your next film?

Bobby: I continue to believe in the power of the word; and writing a good script is by far the most difficult thing for me, yet I persist. I have been writing all my life, but for the last three years I have been unable to complete a scenario that I believe in enough to “risk it all” with again.

Currently I’m writing a bigger work about fathers and sons (which seems to be a lifelong theme) about four generations of Jewish men and the importance of family and the lack thereof.

HDE: What part of the process (from script to screen) do you not like? Anything? And, what’s your favorite part?

Bobby: I hate scouting. I love watching the impact of music on your images, but the most fun is always being surprised. When something is “right” but you don’t know how you got there; that’s the magic that keeps bringing us back.

Bobby directed the penultimate episode of PRISON BREAK which will air later this month.

Thank you Bobby; we’ll be watching for you!