August 31, 2015
Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Paris Barclay made the following statement upon learning of the passing of Wes Craven:
“Wes will forever be remembered for keeping generations of moviegoers on the edges of their seats, defining and redefining the horror genre with each passing decade,” said DGA President Paris Barclay. “His rule was simple – abandon the rules. Wes once said that ‘the director must be willing to convince his audience that there are no rules, that there are no dark places he is unwilling to explore.’ We thank Wes for being willing to explore our darkest depths, bringing our fears thrillingly alive on screen with some of horror’s most influential films and indelible characters. From Nightmare on Elm Street’s savage Freddy Krueger, to the convention-shattering Scream series, Wes’ films made us question how we would survive when all the givens of a civilized world are ripped away. In addition to his masterful work in the genre, Wes was committed to protecting the director’s vision and freedom of expression by serving on the Guild’s Creative Rights Committee for more than a decade. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."
DGA Service:
Wes Craven served as an alternate for two years on the DGA’s Western Directors Council from 2004-2006. He also served on the Guild’s Creative Rights Committee for eleven years as well as the Social Responsibility Task Force.