The Creative and Economic Voice of Directors
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is a powerful entertainment guild that serves the dual purpose of protecting both the economic and creative rights of its members. The Guild’s jurisdiction extends beyond just directors; it also represents the entire directorial team, including Unit Production Managers, Assistant Directors (1st AD, 2nd AD), Associate Directors, and Stage Managers. For its members, the DGA negotiates minimum salaries, safe working conditions, residual payments for the reuse of their work on home video and streaming, and provides pension and health plans. This economic protection ensures a stable and professional working environment for those in charge of a production.
A History of Landmark Achievements
Founded in 1936, the DGA has a long history of securing fundamental protections that have shaped the modern filmmaking landscape. Perhaps its most significant achievement was establishing a director’s right to create a ‘first cut.’ This contractual right ensures that the director is the first person to assemble the filmed footage into a coherent movie, a crucial element of preserving their creative vision before producers and the studio provide their input. The DGA has also been at the forefront of securing residuals for its members from emerging technologies, from the advent of television reruns and VHS tapes to the current global streaming ecosystem.
Membership and Industry Influence
Membership in the DGA is considered a hallmark of professional achievement. To join, an individual must typically be hired by a DGA ‘signatory’ production—a film or television show made by a company that has agreed to the Guild’s collective bargaining agreement. The DGA has a reputation for strategic and often successful contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), making a DGA strike a very rare but immensely powerful threat that would cause an immediate, industry-wide shutdown. In addition to its labor functions, the DGA also celebrates the craft of its members through the prestigious annual DGA Awards, one of the most respected honors in Hollywood.