Spotlight on: BTS Panelist Tara miele
Director Tara Miele’s path through the industry has been bold, heartfelt, and deeply human. From viral sensations to Sundance features and prestige TV, the AWD Icon Member has carved out a career defined by emotion, craft, and fierce intention.
Her 2016 short, Meet a Muslim, created to challenge Islamophobia, went viral with over 45 million views. Her feature Wander Darkly, starring Sienna Miller and Diego Luna, premiered at Sundance and was picked up by Lionsgate. Most recently, she earned a DGA Award nomination for her work on Apple TV+’s Lessons in Chemistry, led by Brie Larson.
Driven by Emotion
From an early age, Tara felt things deeply—and learned that storytelling was a powerful outlet. “As a kid, I had such big emotions and didn’t know what to do with them,” she says. “I found catharsis on stage… that magic moment when you know the audience has felt it too.” That drive for connection and authenticity still fuels her process, whether she’s deep in research, collaborating with actors, or in the editing room chasing emotional truth.
On Casting and Collaboration
Casting, Tara admits, isn’t always her favorite part. “There’s so much noise—who’s hot, who has value—but I try to shut that out and go with my gut.” She emphasizes the importance of doing research and trusting honest conversations with other directors about actor dynamics.
At the heart of her actor-director process? Trust and respect. “If you show up prepared, really listen, and create a space where actors can play and fail safely, that’s when the magic happens.”
Beast Mode, the Art of Perseverance and Inspiration!
Everyone gets overwhelmed at times. Tara has discovered that her tools for pushing through include meditation, family time, walking, laughing, dancing, and reconnecting to joy. When all else fails, she returns to her “why.”
“That’s when beast mode kicks in—when I remember what I want to say, and the voice inside me gets clear and certain.”
Tara credits two industry icons with giving her timeless, inspirational advice. From Bruce Paltrow: “Get your ass in the chair and get the pages out.” And from Nancy Meyers, shouted from a car window after a directing seminar: “Women directors! Don’t give up!”
Progress, Perspective, and Paying It Forward
Advocacy is part of Tara’s ethos. As a former co-chair of the DGA Women’s Steering Committee, Tara helped create the WSC Squad mentorship program and still reserves time weekly to mentor emerging directors. “I believe in holding the door open. That’s always been important to me.”