Primetime Emmy Tally: One
How He Got the Gold: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in 2008, for the “House’s Head” episode of Fox’s House.
Now for the Noms: Yaitanes, who has directed episodes of The Twilight Zone, Castle Rock, Genius, Lost, Ray Donovan and all of Manhunt: Unabomber, won his Emmy on his first nomination.
Perfect Timing: “My son Van (now 11) was born two weeks past his due date, on the day I turned in my director’s cut of ‘House’s Head.’ Had he come sooner, I wouldn’t have finished production. So the Emmy is dedicated to him.”
Living with Emmy: “My Emmy statue is in our living room. It inspires me as to what’s possible with a great team around you.”
Head and Heart: “I’ve been directing television for 25 years, and I love the medium. I’ve been fortunate to be part of its evolution, and I thrive on its immediacy. Collaborating with writers and getting in their heads is what I enjoy the most. I love getting in the mud and realizing the story together.”
Moving Moment: “Working with Sissy Spacek on ‘The Queen’ episode of Castle Rock was a profound moment in my career. She has had 50 years in front of the camera, and watching her summon her craft made the ground move.”
Next and New: “I’m extremely fortunate to have worked on nearly every network across so many different shows. Right now I’m focusing on the next chapter of my career, developing a series from the ground up — with people I like and material that excites me.”
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This article originally appeared in emmy magazine, Issue No. 7, 2019
