“I had a really great first AD, Lisa Zugschwerdt, and, together, we really [were] breaking down those two scripts,” Culpepper told Give Me My Remote at Televerse. “And then [we were] working with all of our department heads to figure out the best way to tackle [the episodes], scene by scene. Like some of those scenes—like the elevator scene—had to be four different sets; [as was] talking to Link at the bunker doors. It was a lot to figure out. When you have a great partner, and you have great HODs, who can tell you their expertise, we collaborate. We can bounce ideas off each other.”

“The moment I got the news, I was kind of stunned, thrilled and also a little afraid,” said HANELLE M. CULPEPPER to Tasty Clips at the time of the call to direct the exciting pilot and two subsequent episodes for CBS All Access’ “Star Trek: Picard,” making her the first woman to launch a new “Star Trek” series in its 53-year history.

ABC is developing The Undertaker, a police procedural based on the Swiss series Der Bestatter, from writer Gabriel Garza (The Winchesters, The Flash), director Hanelle M. Culpepper (Paradise, Star Trek: Picard), 20th Television and Elevate Entertainment.

YOUTUBE: AWD invites you to view this dynamic FYC conversation between AWD Icon Member Hanelle M. Culpepper and Variety’s Senior Artisans Editor Jazz Tangcay. Nominated for Hulu’s “Paradise,” Season 2 finale episode “Exodus,” Hanelle discusses how collaborating with HODs helps the director put their stamp on an episode, the importance of advocating for women and filmmakers of color, and the joy of developing “Baby Alex.”