|
President's Report
This is our annual issue spotlighting independent filmmakers.
Indie filmmakers are unique. They're dedicated to realizing their visions with often times very limited budgets.
The DGA recognizes that filmmakers working outside the studio system are a large part of the heart and soul of the industry. What too many indie directors don't realize is that they are a crucial part of the lifeblood of our Guild. That's why, nearly 20 years ago, we chose to extend Guild economic and creative rights protections to independent filmmakers by developing our Low Budget Agreement.
And that is why three years ago we established the Guild's Independent Directors Committee (IDC), comprised of some of the brightest talents of independent filmmaking. Members include Allison Anders, Michael Apted, Miguel Arteta, Charles Burnett, Duane Clark, Christopher Coppola, Julie Dash, Tamra Davis, Stephen Gyllenhaal, George Hickenlooper, León Ichaso, Spike Jonze, Jeremy Kagan, Rick King, Mary Lambert, Doug Liman, Alexander Payne, Bobby Roth, Steven Soderbergh, Penelope Spheeris, Michael Uno and Gary Walkow.
These directors united within the Guild to develop programs and initiatives to assist their brothers and sisters in achieving and protecting their visions.
One of the IDC's most notable programs that you'll read more about within this issue is the Director's Finder Series. The series helps a Guild member find distribution for his or her film by allowing the director to screen it, free of charge, in the Guild's state-of-the-art theater in Los Angeles.
The Guild and the IDC's concern for the challenges faced by filmmakers searching for distribution also led us to hold a special seminar in December called, "Distribute This!" (See article on page 71)
The independent spirit is alive and doing very well at the Guild. Some of the films DGA members made under the Low Budget Agreement have garnered considerable critical recognition. They include John Cameron Mitchell's Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Todd Field's In the Bedroom, Michael Cuesta's L.I.E., León Ichaso's Piñero, Allison Anders' Things Behind the Sun, Miguel Arteta's The Good Girl and Gary Winick's Tadpole. In addition, DGA members brought their indie sensibilities to films such as Robert Altman's Gosford Park, Joel Coen's The Man Who Wasn't There and Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums.
The members of the IDC and many more filmmakers have united to help each other. As I've often seen, unity is what gives the Guild its strength.
That united strength can also be found in other activities of the Guild. I am very pleased to draw your attention to two recent Guild developments.
The DGA National Board recently voted to approve a new contract with the AMPTP. (See story beginning on page 8.) What is remarkable is that the contract was achieved six months before our current contract expires. I want to personally thank Contract Negotiations Chairman Gil Cates, Creative Rights Co-chair Martha Coolidge, National Executive Director Jay D. Roth, and all the members who served on the various negotiating committees for this success.
In addition, the DGA recently hosted an international Directors Guild Meeting with representatives from five countries and six international guilds. (See story on page 14.) This was the first of what we hope will be many meetings that will address directors' rights worldwide in this era of international corporations.
So as you read this issue, keep in mind that whether it be in the world of independents, the studios or international corporations, it is only through unity that directors can truly retain their independence.
|
