Taylor Hackford accepting the presidency of the DGA. - convention photos by Byron Gamarro

On Saturday, July 25, 2009, Director Taylor Hackford was elected President of the Directors Guild of America by acclamation at the Guild’s National Biennial Convention held at DGA National Headquarters in Los Angeles. Additionally, 135 delegates representing nearly 14,000 members of the DGA elected a new slate of officers and members of the National Board of Directors.

Hackford, who joined the DGA in 1974, began his service to the Guild as a member of the Special Projects Committee.  He was elected to the Western Directors Council in 1996, became a member of the National Board in 2002 and was elected Third Vice President of the National Board in 2005.  

DGA Biennial Convention Delegate Brett Ratner signs in.

First Vice President Paris Barclay speaks to the assembled.

National Vice President Steven Soderbergh at the podium.

National Executive Director Jay D. Roth confers with new Guild President Taylor Hackford.

As chair of the DGA PAC and co-chair of the PAC Leadership Council (together with Paris Barclay), Hackford helped the DGA maintain an engaged and effective presence in Washington, DC.  He also served on the Creative Rights Committee and currently co-chairs the DGA Task Force on Social Responsibility. 

In 2007, the Guild honored Hackford with the Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership. 

“This Guild has worked for nearly three quarters of a century to advance the economic and creative rights of its members, always addressing new challenges with a firm and steady hand,” said Hackford.  “I’m extraordinarily proud of what the DGA has accomplished, and I hope to continue that great legacy of leadership at the Guild.” 

In addition to the essential work of negotiating and enforcing the collective bargaining agreements, Hackford added that the Guild’s top legislative priority will be protecting the work of its members in this new digital age. “We have to be aware of the challenges we’re facing in protecting our work on the Internet.  What’s euphemistically called ‘Internet Piracy,’ I choose to call by its true name, ‘Internet Theft,’ he said.  “It threatens the future of our economic lives: our employment, residuals and pension and health plans.  Solutions won’t come easy, but they must be found, if we are going to survive as professional filmmakers.”

“We’ve got plenty of tough issues that lie ahead.  I believe that Taylor’s experience and enthusiasm, combined with the political connections he’s forged as chair of the PAC, make him the right person for the Guild,” said Steven Soderbergh, who placed Hackford’s name in nomination.  

“The Guild will be in extremely capable hands with Taylor, who has already served the Guild in different capacities for years,” said outgoing President Michael Apted from on set in Australia.  “Although I cannot be there to congratulate Taylor in person, I’m thrilled to see him take his place as the next DGA president and I know he’ll do a fantastic job steering the DGA through the many complex issues that will come its way.” 

Soderbergh was re-elected National Vice President; Gilbert Cates, a former DGA president, was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. 

Also elected were First Vice President Paris Barclay; Second Vice President William M. Brady; Third Vice President Betty Thomas; Fourth Vice President Gary Donatelli; Fifth Vice President Thomas Schlamme; Sixth Vice President Vincent Misiano; and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Scott Berger.  (A complete list of the new officers and board members is posted to the right) 

In 35 years as a director, Hackford has helmed an extensive list of feature and documentary films. His feature films include An Officer and a Gentleman, Against All Odds, White Nights, Everybody’s All-American, Dolores Claiborne, The Devil’s Advocate, Proof of Life and Ray.  His documentaries include Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock n’ Roll and When We Were Kings.  

Hackford was nominated for a DGA Award and an Academy Award for best director for An Officer and a Gentleman in 1983 and for Ray in 2005.  He won the Academy Award for live-action short Teenage Father in 1979.  Hackford also won a Grammy for the soundtrack to Ray.