DGA Monthly | Volume 2, Issue 10 - October 2005 | News: DGA Provides Emergency Assistance to Members Affected by Hurricane Katrina

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Dear Members:

Our hearts are with the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as they weather the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

At print deadline, food, water, shelter and medical care are the necessary and immediate priorities of those affected. But in the days, weeks and months to come, finding employment and rebuilding lives will become the focus of the men and women with their families whose world has been irrevocably altered.

More than anything else, what we have heard from our members most affected is the fear that all the jobs and opportunities from production in Louisiana and surrounding states will disappear; at a time when having a job is most vital. The mission of our Guild is to protect the economic and creative rights of all its members — and a primary part of that mission is doing everything we can to make sure our members have the opportunity to work.

In the coming months, your Guild will be doing all it can to encourage and assist those productions scheduled to film in affected areas to continue so that our members and those who live in those states will have opportunities to work.

In the interim, we are assisting our members in multiple ways. (See box below for details)

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact DGA Assistant Executive Director Fern Wakneen, who is coordinating the Guild’s response in this area. She can be reached at 800 356-3754.

Michael Apted
DGA President

The DGA is Offering Assistance to Our Members
Affected by Hurricane Katrina in the Following Ways:

Financial Assistance: The DGA Foundation offers interest-free loans and other financial assistance to members in emergency situations. The Guild has contacted all our members living in the affected area an let them know about economic assistance through the DGA Foundation.
Residency Waiver: For DGA members who are permanent, full-time residents of New Orleans, we are waiving the 60-day waiting period to establish a local residence outside of a production center for a limited period of time. In the event an individual has not designated a production center, he or she is eligible to do so at this time. Many members have already designated production centers where they may be employed as a local hire. All employment is still subject to the applicable qualification list provisions. We will also waive the 60-day waiting period to change their residency back to New Orleans at the appropriate time. Members must contact Paul Zepp at the DGA (310-289-2077) to obtain a waiver.
Studio vs. Distant Hire Provision: Ideally, permanent residents of New Orleans should be provided with housing and per diem while paid at the studio rate in their temporarily designated local residence. We will consider waivers on a case-by-case basis to deviate from this plan when a member does in fact have a place to stay or if it is determined that enforcing such a policy would make the job disappear. Members must contact Fern Wakneen at the DGA (212-581-0370) to obtain a waiver.
Eligibility/Qualifications List Waiver: If a member is a permanent resident of New Orleans and was employed on a production that relocates to New York or Los Angeles and that member is not on the proper QL, he or she must contact Fern Wakneen at the DGA (212-581-0370) to obtain a waiver to continue employment.
Encouraging Production to Continue in Louisiana: The DGA will be doing outreach to producers that were or are considering shooting a project in Louisiana to determine what the Guild can do to assist them in remaining in the state.

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DGA Foundation