On November 7, DGA members attended the AD/UPM Council West and Commercial Committee seminar, Putting the Pieces Together: An Open Forum on Commercial Making in 2015. Held at Guild headquarters in Los Angeles, the event was an opportunity for members to explore the workings of the AD/Director team with a panel of experts in the field.
The day kicked off with a welcome from DGA Assistant Executive Director Daniel Tenkman, who thanked everyone for attending and spoke about the work of the AD/UPM Commercial Committee. Tenkman then introduced AD/UPM Council West Chair Marie Cantin, who touched upon the mission of the Council and explained how members can get more involved by attending meetings.
Beginning the seminar, AD/UPM Commercial Committee Co-Chair Greg McCollum, who also served as event moderator, welcomed the panelist teams of Directors and their 1st ADs and screened a clip package featuring examples of their work. The panelist teams consisted of Director Laurent Ledru and 1st AD Scott Harris, Director Aaron Stoller and 1st AD Craig Owens, Director Jeffrey Plansker and 1st AD Bob Wagner, Director Ric Cantor and 1st AD Ed Walsh, and 1997 DGA Commercial Award-winning Director Bruce Dowad and 1st AD Don Yorkshire, who also serves as co-chair of the AD/UPM Commercial Committee.
In a conversation led by McCollum, the panelists explored a variety of topics including: the role and relationship between 1st ADs and Directors on commercials, expanding a Director’s leadership role to control client and advertising agency expectations, and how to meet deadlines while also satisfying the client’s needs. Following the moderated discussion the day ended with a networking session.
About the AD/UPM Council West Commercial Committee
The DGA’s West Coast Commercial Committee is comprised of 1st and 2nd Assistant Directors and UPMs who work primarily in commercials. Their mission is to make recommendations to the AD/UPM Council, West regarding issues of concern to our constituency, including those relevant to contract negotiations.