Sometimes the vision of one man or woman can pave the way for a legion to follow. Gordon Parks was one of those individuals. He broke through what had been an impregnable barrier for directors of color and passed down a creative legacy to successive generations of filmmakers.

His story and his accomplishments are an inspiration to every director who has ever looked through a lens in the hope of capturing life to make art. His work as a still photographer and as a filmmaker deftly revealed what at the time were unseen truths–the stark and ugly reality of repression, poverty and racism–and along with them the potential of the human spirit to overcome adversity.

Our cover story about Gordon Parks explores the ability of one director to effect change, seen through the perspective of members whose careers he touched. But although there have been great strides for many notable African American feature film directors since Gordon, the playing field is still far from level for our women and minority members. The statistics are chilling–our most recent research shows that of the 800 episodes of the top 40 TV prime-time drama and comedy series in 2004-2005, 83 percent were directed by Caucasian males.

The Guild has been vigorously challenging the studios and networks for years to do something to increase the employment opportunities for women and ethnic minorities–and we’re beginning to see some results.

Under the leadership of ABC's Steve McPherson and in conjunction with the Guild, ABC/Touchstone started a program to provide women and minorities with specific and real directing opportunities on ABC-produced prime-time episodics. The program engages at least 10 experienced women and minority directors for one or more assignments on the network. In its first year, the initiative included 20 episodes from first-year and returning ABC/Touchstone series.

We’re currently working with NBC/Universal and others to initiate similar programs and if only more studios and networks had the courage and will to create plans backed by resources, the landscape could begin to change.

We continue to do what we can, like organizing and hosting networking mixers with studio executives–most recently with CBS and Paramount–in the hope that these contacts morph into jobs.

But let it also be said that we directors, ADs and UPMs have a responsibility to make sure that we make our best efforts to create diversity in the crews that we put together. I hope that Gordon Parks’ story serves as a reminder that although there is a long way to go, each one of us can make a significant difference.

Michael Apted
President, Directors Guild of America